The U.S. Dept. of Labor (DOL) announced on Friday, May 29 that it is suspending the final rule of December 18, 2008 to the H2A Temporary Agricultural Guest Worker Program for nine months effective on June 29, 2009, and in the meantime is reinstating the previous rule.
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Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) President Steve Hirsch recently hosted Sen. Sherrod Brown on his farm for a roundtable listening session on the upcoming farm bill.
The administration announced this morning (July 31st) that it is increasing the amount paid for dairy products through the Dairy Product Price Support Program (DPPSP). USDA estimates show that these increases, which will be in place from August 2009-October 2009, will increase dairy...
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has granted an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) request for a two-year stay of its ruling in the National Cotton Council v. Environmental Protection Agency decision issued on January 7, 2009. This “stay of the mandate” makes the original EPA...
On Monday, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals granted EPA's request for a two-year stay in the implementation of its January 2009 pesticide permit ruling. The rule would have required Clean Water Act permits for many pesticide applications.
Members of the 12-member congressional supercommitte charged with finding ways to reduce the federal budget deficit by $1.2 trillion over 10 years made it official late Monday: they have failed to reach an agreement.
Senate and House committees have approved the Korea, Colombia and Panama free trade agreements (FTAs) in mock mark-up sessions, moving them closer to finalization.
The Senate appears to be drifting away from the original climate change bill, authored by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), and John Kerry (D-Mass.) and moving toward a compromise measure designed to draw support from Republicans and moderate Democrats.
While drought has had harsh impact, we don't believe a waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard would provide meaningful relief to livestock producers. Steps to alleviate feed-related concerns (relaxing restrictions on haying & grazing on Conservation Reserve Program acres) provide a better solution.
The Copenhagen talks on climate change wrapped up Sunday with a whimper rather than a bang, by most accounts. A “Copenhagen Accord” document was produced by the U.S., China and other parties at the conference, putting down on paper commitments by nations to act individually to combat global warming.
Farm Bureau Urges "No" Vote on Legislation; "Yes" Vote on Peterson Amendment
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce held 4 days of hearing on a draft climate change bill drafted by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) during which the committee heard from over 50 witnesses, including former Vice President Al Gore, former Senator John Warner and...
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) told reporters Tuesday that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is committed to move on the climate change bill after the Senate finishes legislation to reform the financial regulatory system. Kerry said this should allow for a spring vote on the climate measure.
Ohio Farm Bureau is disappointed that H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, passed the House on Friday but is committed to defeating the legislation if it is brought up in the Senate.
The House-passed climate change bill still faces many legislative hurdles with passage in the Senate seen as very difficult. Several climate change measures are being drafted in the upper chamber, where regional and philosophical differences are even more sharply defined.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Waxman-Markey climate change bill may not pass the House of Representatives unless it becomes more farm-friendly. The warning, sounded by Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), presents a new obstacle to the White House’s effort to get...
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (Jan. 6, 2011) – The 2011 Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program application is now available on the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s website. All applications must be submitted electronically no later than 5 p.m. on April 6, 2011.
Senate and House bills that would expand and reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay restoration program would impose severe economic hardship on agriculture and put further pressure on farming to move out of the watershed, according to Wilmer Stoneman, Virginia Farm Bureau’s associate...
A bill is moving through the California Legislature that would extend the state’s upcoming ban on small cages for egg-laying hens to out-of-state egg producers. The bill has received support from legislators who opposed Proposition 2.
Concerns about costly new taxes, mandates and federal regulations were on the minds of Ohioans Saturday at the 19th annual 8th District Farm Forum as a capacity crowd gathered at Edison Community College in Piqua to meet with Congressman John Boehner and talk energy, food safety and animal care...
U.S. Rep.-elect Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, will sit on the Agriculture Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the House of Representatives next year. The Agriculture Committee has jurisdiction over renewable energy, conservation, animal and plant health and agricultural research and development.
The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging members of the Senate to support a bipartisan bill that would continue America’s transition to home-grown biofuels.
Vice President Joe Biden, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and other Obama administration officials and Cabinet secretaries will participate in a rural tour across the country through September. The tour is designed to show how the Agriculture Department and other federal agencies are working to...
In the first stop of the Obama Administration's rural tour in Wattsburg, Pa., Wednesday, Vice President Joe Biden announced the availability of $4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act loans and grants to help bring broadband service to unserved and underserved communities across...
Vice President Biden today announced 94 Recovery Act investments in broadband projects that will create jobs and expand economic opportunities within 37 states. These investments in high-speed Internet infrastructure will help bridge the technological divide in communities that are being left...