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Shining Light on Farm & Food Policy for 20 Years.
Sunday, August 18, 2024
The House and Senate Agriculture Committees are still several months away from voting on a new farm bill, but the major issues in each of the 12 titles are coming into focus even as lawmakers continue offering new proposals they’d like to see included. Here is a summary of the issues in play as well as notable proposals lawmakers would like to see included in the bill.
The Department of Agriculture has unveiled new regulations designed to protect the integrity of USDA’s organic seal and deter and detect organic fraud throughout the supply chain.
A new study finds that rapidly converting 30% of California agriculture to organic practices would dramatically increase food prices and shrink profits for farmers.
Farmers in Ohio expressed strong support for crop insurance during a listening session with members of the House Agriculture Committee on Monday, but some producers wanted the policies to be means-tested or more focused on encouraging climate-smart practices.
The Biden administration plans to spend more than $2 billion on a strategy for making targeted improvements in nearly every aspect of food production and distribution, with an emphasis on assisting small and mid-size operations.
Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy, a longtime member and former chair of the Senate Ag Committee who took a special interest in the nation’s dairy and organic policy, plans to retire at the end of his current term.
USDA’s Risk Management Agency is expanding its whole-farm revenue protection plan with the goal of garnering more participation from aquaculture and organic producers.
More than 60 groups are urging Democratic congressional leaders to prioritize climate-friendly agriculture, food systems and equity in their $3.5 trillion domestic spending package.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says he’ll make sure the Treasury Department understands the importance of stepped-up basis to farm groups. Vilsack was pressed about that issue during an appearance Wednesday before the House Ag Appropriations Subcommittee.