President Trump has signed a measure to continue funding the government through September, with some small increases to ag programs.
The continuing resolution keeps spending largely in line with last year’s levels, but there are increases at USDA for WIC. The resolution also puts overall USDA spending at around $400 million more than last year.
Areas like EPA experienced a $2 billion increase, but ethanol groups were disappointed. The legislation did not include any backings of year-round E15.
Senator Deb Fischer tells AgriPulse she is disappointed about E15 getting left behind, but says it is a good overall bill. She says it had broad support and will prove good for ag producers and consumers alike. The bill will fund the government through September, which is when the current extension of the 2018 Farm Bill expires.
NRCS leadership affects how conservation dollars, technical assistance and working-lands priorities reach farmers and ranchers.
At the center of the announcement is the Blue Point Project in Louisiana, a $3.7 billion ammonia facility, USDA says, that will become the world’s largest ammonia plant once completed.
Texas Farm Bureau takes us behind the scenes at USDA’s sterile fly facility, considered a first line of defense against New World Screwworm, a fight Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller fears is “futile.”
The Texas Agriculture Commissioner says crews are still working to contain fires while farmers and ranchers begin assessing damage.
The two-year fellowship focuses on developing leadership and policy skills for the next generation of agriculture advocates.
Conservation programs may work better when they recognize yield risk and cash-flow pressure during adoption.
