Jonathan H. Harsch

The National Farmers Union argues that despite hard-fought gains scored in the 2018 farm bill, it’s urgent to build on these gains by launching new federal incentives to curb U.S. ag production in order to raise farm income.

Food banks and other non-profits are stepping up to help the government turn what would be wasted food much needed nourishment to "food-insecure" families.

Increased competition for limited water supplies and higher costs are forcing California farmers to use new technology to improve their irrigation systems and water management practices.

Of the 155 state ballot measures decided in last week’s elections, California’s Proposition 12, which sets new animal confinement rules, could turn out to have the greatest national impact for both farmers and consumers.

The Heartland Summit last week highlighted a rural investment drought, with the 19-state Heartland region capturing just $3.8 billion in venture capital funding last year, out of the $74.1 billion national total.

Rural areas struggling with low commodity prices and a stalled farm bill are getting over $4 billion in new USDA grants and low-interest loans for new or upgraded water and sewer systems, electric power lines, and other essential infrastructure.

When House and Senate conferees meet today to hammer out a new farm bill, one urgent request comes from 306 organizations seeking $60 million a year in “permanent funding for the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP).”

Counties in heavily forested areas of the western United States are pleading with Congress to provide permanent funding for a program designed to partially compensate them for the sharp decline in timber sales from non-taxpaying national forests.

A campaign is under way to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program to prevent a funding lapse from reoccurring.

An alarming shortage of food-animal veterinarians across the U.S. is causing lost livestock production, lost rural income, and serious threats to food safety and human health, stakeholders say.