Crop Disaster Program The legislation provides crop production loss assistance in a manner similar to previous disaster programs for quantity losses occurring from natural disasters and related conditions that occurred in 2005 or 2006 or 2007, with the losses for 2007 crops covered only if the crop subject to the loss was planted prior to February 28, 2007. A producer would choose one of the 3 yea... Read more »
Despite stiff opposition from President Bush, the U.S. House of Representatives has prevailed to pass a supplemental appropriations bill that includes about $3 billion for agriculture disaster assistance that will provide needed relief to farmers and ranchers nationwide who experienced serious losses in 2005-2007. After President Bush vetoed the supplemental spending legislation that included agri... Read more »
Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry approved proposals for the Farm Bill sections under its jurisdiction. Congressman Leonard Boswell of Iowa is the Chairman of the Subcommittee. The Subcommittee considered a discussion draft outlining two subtitles of Title I of the Farm Bill and approved two amendments by roll call vote. Copies of the discussion draft, a se... Read more »
Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research approved proposals for the Farm Bill titles under their jurisdiction. The Subcommittee considered discussion drafts outlining each title and approved several amendments by voice vote. Copies of the discussion drafts and the amendments approved by the subcommittee are available online. A brief summary of the titl... Read more »
Today, the House Agriculture Committee approved three measures regarding farm-based renewable energy, eminent domain, and hunger relief efforts. H. Con. Res 25, H.R. 926, and H. Res. 79 were all passed by voice vote and were ordered to be reported favorably to the House floor. A brief summary of each measure is included below. To view the approved bill text and section by section breakdown of each... Read more »
Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, along with Ranking Member Bob Goodlatte and other members of the Committee, held a press conference to outline the first steps in the development of the 2007 Farm Bill. The Agriculture Committee will begin subcommittee markups for the Farm Bill during the week of May 21. Each subcommittee will conduct markups on the Farm Bill titles unde... Read more »
Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, held a hearing to review the industry response to food safety concerns of fresh and fresh-cut produce. Congressman Dennis Cardoza of California is the Chairman of the Subcommittee. The Subcommittee heard testimony from two panels of witnesses comprised of government and industry representatives as well as food safet... Read more »
Today, Congressman Bob Etheridge, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, held a hearing to review the Federal Crop Insurance Program. The Subcommittee heard from producer representatives who suggested some specific changes in the program. "I am a believer in crop insurance, and I want to ensure that farmers and taxpayers are gett... Read more »
The U.S. House of Representatives sent a bipartisan message to President Bush last night - we must provide disaster assistance to farmers and ranchers who are struggling to recover from weather related damage in recent years. Following President Bush's veto of the first supplemental appropriations bill that funded war costs and agriculture disaster assistance, Congressional leadership decided to c... Read more »
Yesterday, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing to review food aid and agriculture trade programs operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Congressman Mike McIntyre of North Carolina is Chairman of the Subcommittee. Title III of the 2002 Farm Bill auth... Read more »
