Blog

Editor’s note: The following blog post is written by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. It is reposted here with permission. Every day, the work of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conserve America’s lands and natural resources stretches across our nation. As President Obama and I work together to boost the rural economy and … Read More

By NFU government relations staff It’s a mixed bag, but it’s progress. After a more than 13-hour-long markup, the House Agriculture Committee approved its version of the 2012 Farm Bill, known as the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act. Some of the provisions supported by NFU made it into the House bill, some … Read More

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU government relations representative On Thursday the Supreme Court released its ruling on the constitutionality of the health reform law passed in 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In a 5-4 decision, the Court upheld the ACA in its entirety, with the exception of the provision giving the federal government power to … Read More

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU government relations representative Today the Senate concluded its debate on the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, ending with a 64-35 vote for final passage. Below is a list of individual Senators’ votes: YEAs —64 Akaka (D-HI) Alexander (R-TN) Barrasso (R-WY) Baucus (D-MT) Begich (D-AK) Bennet (D-CO) Bingaman (D-NM) … Read More

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU government relations represenative Today the Senate considered and voted on numerous amendments to the 2012 Farm Bill, with approximately 10 remaining for tomorrow, as well as a vote to end debate and then another on final passage of the bill. Notable amendments and NFU victories include: ·       Sen. Durbin, D-Ill. and … Read More

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU government relations representative Yesterday the Senate debated and voted on 25 amendments to the 2012 Farm Bill, and debate will continue throughout the day today with a vote on final passage of the bill likely to occur this evening. Some of yesterday’s notable amendment votes and NFU victories included: Passage of … Read More

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU government relations representative Today the Senate plans to finish up its work on the 2012 Farm Bill, including a vote on an amendment offered by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and cosponsored by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Richard Lugar, R-Ind., to eliminate the sugar program. This amendment would be disastrous for … Read More

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU government relations representative The Senate has begun its work on amendments to the 2012 Farm Bill (also known as S. 3240, the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012), and NFU has been working hard to make sure that important amendments supporting family farmers and ranchers receive top priority. This … Read More

By Chandler Goule, NFU vice president of government relations The average consumer, whether it is in the grocery store or at the pharmacy counter, is often confronted with the decision of whether to pay full price for a branded or patented widget or pay less for a generic, yet equally good, product. As Americans face … Read More

By Jeremy Peters, NFU director of climate and energy The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and Delta Farmers Advocating Resource Management (Delta F.A.R.M.) held the annual Conservation in Action Tour May 30-31, in the Mississippi Delta region of northwest Mississippi. NFU sponsored the tour and NFU Climate and Energy Director Jeremy Peters participated in the … Read More