Articles by Philip Brasher

When it comes to government subsidies, U.S. farmers may be falling behind many of their competitors, far behind in some cases. China, Brazil and India and other countries are far out-spending the United States on agricultural support, and some lawmakers say it

Congress is kicking off an appropriations process that could produce a pivotal showdown between congressional Republicans and the White House over its regulatory agenda.

Lawmakers are getting ready to put in place a critical piece of President Barack Obamas trade agenda. Bills to grant the president Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) are expected to be dropped in the House and Senate sometime after Congress returns after this weeks recess.

The Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) is the top priority for many, but it is isnt the only trade bill the business community would like to see the new Congress deal with. Congress also is overdue to write a new miscellaneous tariff bill (MTB).

Republicans and Democrats are trading accusations of hypocrisy over renewing the $500,000 Section 179 business expensing allowance and other expired tax benefits.

Congressional critics of crop insurance are citing the rising cost estimates for the 2014 farm bills commodity programs to justify slashing growers premium subsidies.

A Texas judges order that has indefinitely delayed some of President Obamas executive actions on immigration could benefit farms and processors that rely on immigrant labor.

Negotiations continue in the Senate over a bill that would grant President Obama trade promotion authority, a key step toward closing a new Pacific Rim trade agreement.

A House Republican bid to roll back some Dodd-Frank regulations through reauthorization of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is running into a wall of Democratic opposition. The White House threatened this week to veto the bill (HR 2289), and only two Democrats

ethanol, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Renewable Fuels Standard, RFS, Scott Irwin, University of Illinois, Timothy Cheung, ClearView Energy Partners, USDA, Tom Vilsack, Rural Energy for America Program, REAP, National Chicken Council,