Farm Bill Developments DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday that, “After two days of blasting holes in the Senate Agriculture Committee farm safety net, House Agriculture Committee leaders have made it clear they want a target-price program for farmers. [prepared testimony from the House hearings from Wednesday and yesterday can be viewed here [...]
Farm Bill: House, Senate Perspectives DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday that, “Conflicting views between the House and Senate Agriculture Committees on fairness in the farm bill played out simultaneously Wednesday morning. “Leaders on a House Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities and Risk Management questioned whether the farm bill passed by Senate counterparts is [...]
Farm Bill Issues DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday that, “A bipartisan group of 44 senators sent a letter Tuesday to Senate leaders calling on them to bring the farm bill to the floor. “In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., senators stated, ‘With [...]
Farm Bill and Policy Issues A news release yesterday from the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) stated that, “As the House Agriculture Committee continues farm bill hearings this week, the [NCGA] and several other agriculture groups today sent a letter to House Ag Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Collin Peterson on the importance of [...]
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is continuing to move more swiftly and consistently to take enforcement action in response to animal welfare violations. As part of its effort to make its actions transparent and accessible to the public, APHIS is highlighting enforcement actions taken in response to violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and Horse Protection Act (HPA).
Farm Bill Issues Pat Westhoff, the director of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri, noted in a column on Saturday that, “The farm bill cleared its first hurdle last month, gaining approval from a key Senate committee. There are no guarantees that all the remaining hurdles will be cleared [...]
Farm Bill Issues DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday (link requires subscription) that, “The crop insurance industry could benefit from ‘common sense structural changes,’ according to a pair of senators, who cite a recent government study in calling on the Senate Agriculture Committee to further investigate reducing premium subsidies to farmers. “In a [...]
Farm Bill Issues DTN Political Correspondent Jerry Hagstrom reported yesterday that, “All crops need a farm program that protects them from multiyear price drops, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas said Tuesday, a position with which House Agriculture ranking member Collin Peterson agrees. “In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with The Hagstrom Report and DTN, Lucas, [...]
WASHINGTON, May 10, 2012--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to revise its definition of “retail pet store” to close a loophole that has threatened the health and humane treatment of pets sold sight unseen over the Internet and via phone- and mail-based businesses. Under the current definition of “retail pet store,” which was developed over 40 years ago and predates the Internet, some breeders selling pets are taking advantage of a loophole that improperly exempts them from the basic requirements of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The proposed rule will close this loophole, ensuring animals sold over the Internet and via phone- and mail-based businesses are better monitored for their overall health and humane treatment.
Farm Bill Issues DTN Political Correspondent Jerry Hagstrom reported yesterday (link requires subscription) that, “During the congressional recess and this week, both aides and lobbyists were reluctant to speak on the record about the proposed farm bill. “One aide to a senator who is not a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee said committee aides [...]