Articles by Lydia Johnson

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Year in review: Farm bill stalemate, elections, disasters and H5N1 dominate ag news

In 2024, rural America played a large role in carrying Donald Trump to the White House for a second time. Across the country, hurricanes damaged ag infrastructure in Florida, the Carolinas and the Southeastern U.S., and H5N1 spread to dairy cattle. 

After months of development, the farm bill passed out of the House Ag Committee with four Democratic votes and guarded optimism, but it never even made it to the House floor, ultimately leading to another one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill.


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Farm Hands on the Potomac: Senate Ag adds economist; Ruhland joins FTI Consulting; NGFA hires Foss

Senate Ag Committee ranking member John Boozman added Brad Weddelman to staff as chief economist. The National Grain and Feed Association hired Berit Linnehan Foss as vice president of feed and sustainability effective Dec. 18.

FTI Consulting hired Polly Ruhland to expand the firm’s food, agriculture and beverage practice. USDA announced appointments to the Cotton Board, Popcorn Board, American Lamb Board, Grain Inspection Advisory Committee and American Egg Board, among others. 


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