The House Agriculture Committee's Livestock & Horticulture Subcommittee today called on representatives of cattle and sheep ranchers, general farm organizations, retailers and processors to work together to fully explore development of a voluntary country-of-origin labeling (COOL) program. "Our visits with various participants in the COOL debate suggest there is real opportunity to develop a sour... Read more »
U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest and Ranking Minority Member Charlie Stenholm have formally requested that the General Accounting Office analyze costs to the agriculture and forestry sectors from additional water quality regulations proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency. In their bipartisan letter requesting the GAO study, Reps. Combest (R-TX) and Stenholm (D-TX) ... Read more »
In the most recent hearing of the House Agriculture Committee's review of federal farm policy, a panel of output sector group presidents testified before the Committee today. Hearings, like today's, are being held throughout the spring to complement the ten field hearings held around the country during which producers are able to testify. "I think all of the members at this table know we have a p... Read more »
Today, by vote of 397-1, the House of Representatives passed the Freedom to E-File Act (S. 777), legislation which would allow farmers and ranchers to file paperwork with the U.S. Department of Agriculture electronically. "As in any other business, advanced technologies and the Internet are becoming increasingly common and important tools for American farmers and ranchers," Combest said. "This bi... Read more »
In a hearing today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry reviewed legislation (H.R. 3453) introduced by its Chairman, Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), which would increase available funds for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). "TEFAP provides vital food assistance to families who fall on hard times, while not entrapping them in a cy... Read more »
Today, the House Committee on Agriculture, led by Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) convened in Kutztown, Pennsylvania for the sixth in a series of ten field hearings designed to give producers the opportunity to participate in the formulation of federal farm policies. On Saturday, April 1, the Committee convened in West Chester, Ohio. The farm policy field hearing series has allowed Members of the C... Read more »
U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) says a House-Senate conference to finalize legislation for crop insurance improvements will begin soon with the aim of making expanded livestock and market revenue coverage available beginning with winter wheat crops seeded this September. Immediate improvements take place strengthening the program's management and integrity. Chairman... Read more »
Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry passed by voice vote the Freedom to E-File Act (H.R. 852), legislation providing for electronic form filing by producers. "The biggest obstacle facing farmers is not lack of knowledge, or fear of the unknown," said Subcommittee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA). "Rather, the biggest obstacle to inter... Read more »
Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Resource Conservation, and Credit received testimony from the Clinton Administration and industry representatives and reviewed issues surrounding certain authorities of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) — specifically, the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS). "The role of grain inspection ... Read more »
Leaders of the House Agriculture Committee noted China's progress Tuesday in issuing orders to its port cities to receive the sales of U.S. meat, citrus as well as the continued expansion of Pacific Northwest wheat. Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) and Ranking Minority Member Charlie Stenholm (D-TX) said that the good faith follow-through by the Chinese on last April's Agreement on U.S.-China Agricu... Read more »
