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Xochitl Torres Small is expected to receive bipartisan support to become the next deputy ag secretary for USDA. The Senate Ag Committee didn’t vote on her confirmation Wednesday, but Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow said, “Your impressive and wide-ranging background makes you an ideal candidate to help lead the nearly 100,000 public servants USDA has stationed at more than 4,500 locations.” Iowa Republican Joni Ernst says Torres Small has a proven track […]

Agricultural groups want Michigan State University to reevaluate its selection committee for the institution’s next president. Michigan Agri-Business Association President Chuck Lippstreu tells Brownfield excluding agricultural voices could have far-reaching impacts. “Agriculture is by some measures the second largest driver of Michigan’s economy,” he points out.  “One in four people in our state work in some way in the food or agricultural sectors, and MSU plays a critical role in […]

The president of the National Pork Producers Council says freedom to operate is the biggest challenge facing the nation’s pork producers. “If the pigs do well, we do well and that’s what drives us,” he says. “We need that choice.” Scott Hays tells Brownfield federal and state regulations, including the Waters of the United States rule, makes farming more difficult. “WOTUS is like that bad penny that keeps showing up. […]

U.S. ethanol production and stocks notched notable lows last week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production was a four-week low, averaging 965,000 barrels a day, down 11,000 on the week and 26,000 on the year. That’s at least partially due to seasonal maintenance as the industry waits for increased demand during the summer driving season, with travel expected to be back to pre-pandemic levels. The Renewable Fuels Association says […]

A dairy farmer and mother of three says federal nutrition guidelines need to allow whole milk in schools.  Amy Penterman Amy Penterman is a past Dairy Business Association president and farms with her husband Sander near Thorp, Wisconsin.  She tells Brownfield limiting schools to skim and 1% milk is not meeting the nutritional needs of children. “Our kiddos at school are very hungry. I have three young boys in school. […]

With more than a quarter of a billion people facing acute levels of hunger and a large number of people on the brink of starvation, addressing food insecurity isn’t something that will happen overnight. Maximo Torero Cullen, the chief economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization says one area to focus on is strengthening social protection programs. AUDIO: Healthy Living on addressing food insecurity ...

An ag lobbyist says debt ceiling discussions continue to take the oxygen out of the room in Washington D.C. President Joe Biden met with Congressional leaders on Tuesday to negotiate and will meet again on Friday. Tom Sell with Combest, Sell and Associates says the path forward to raise the debt ceiling still includes updates to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. “To try and curb the amount of time or […]

Bipartisan legislation to scale back the Conservation Reserve Program is being introduced in the U.S. Senate. Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley says he and New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker are teaming up on the CRP Reform Act. “The bill will fundamentally change CRP from enrolling prime farmland in the program to enrolling more marginal farmland.” The bill would reduce the CRP acreage cap from 28 million to 24 million acres for […]