Farm Bill

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Although the mid-term election results aren't final, House Republicans may have a very thin majority in the next Congress to pass a farm bill that will be a top priority for many in the party's rural base. 

Mace Thornton has joined Stratovation Group as partner and COO to lead integrated client services and Christopher Galen has been selected to serve as the executive director of the American Butter Institute.

Samuel Crowell has joined the American Seed Trade Association as the new senior director of international programs and policy and the National Pork Producers Council has selected Kelly Cushman as its new vice president of domestic policy.

The Consumer Brands Association has picked David Chavern to serve as the organization’s new president and chief executive officer, while Jacqlyn Schneider is a new partner at FGS Global’s food and agriculture practice.

Some farm groups are calling on Congress to allow farmers to reallocate the base acreage they have enrolled in farm programs, a move that could allow growers to increase their potential government payments.

The National Council for Agricultural Education has tapped Travis Park to be the new director of agricultural education, National FFA board chair and National FFA adviser, and former North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp has been named director of the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is appealing to Congress to increase commodity program reference prices and marketing loan rates in the next farm bill while also increasing assistance for dairy producers.

The Senate Agriculture Committee plans a few farm bill hearings before the end of the year with an eye toward trying to get a new bill enacted as soon as 2023.

Producers of fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops will be asking lawmakers for more funding in the next farm bill, including new research to meet the sector’s pressing need for automation and new crop-protection products.