Rural Growth Key To New Farm Bill

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack called for rural economic development as the key to a vibrant farm sector April 21, an unorthodox beginning for an overhaul of U. S. farm policy. Marking the start of a two-year process to forge a new Farm Bill, Vilsack told a House Agriculture Committee hearing that he wanted to “expand

Boost Lunch But Cut Junk Food: U. S. Senator

The U. S. government would launch an all-out ban on selling junk food at school under a key Senate chairman’s proposal, but funding for school lunch and child nutrition programs would grow by only half as much as the White House proposed. Senator Blanche Lincoln, chairman of the Agriculture Committee, proposed a $4.5-billion increase over


U. S. House Bill Would Derail EPA Regulations

With congressional action on climate legislation in doubt, two House committee chairmen have filed a bill to block the government from regulating greenhouse gases under its own power. The lawmakers say Congress, not “unelected bureaucrats,” should set envi ronmental policy. The Environmental Protection Agency cleared the way for regulation under air pollution laws a month

Obama Export Plan Nudges Farm Trade Agenda Forward

U. S. farm exporters are relieved that trade has finally made it on to President Barack Obama’s agenda, although his new goal to double U. S. exports in five years might be a little too optimistic. After a year when farm expor ters wondered aloud whether the administration even had a trade policy, Obama linked


Commons To Grill CN On Rail Siding Closures

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says he wants the Commons agriculture committee to investigate CN’s decision to stop serving 52 Prairie sidings where farmers load grain into producer cars. “Farmers know that this Conser vat ive government has always defended producers’ access to hopper cars,” the minister said. “We know that producers are concerned about transport

U. S. Senate Panel Rejects $250,000 Farm Subsidy Cap

The Senate Budget Committee rejected a proposed $250,000-a-year limit on farm subsidies March 26 in a rebuff to reformers and the Obama administration. President Barack Obama proposed a $250,000 payment cap in his fiscal 2010 budget plan. It was part of a package of farm cuts estimated to save nearly $16 billion over 10 years


Iowa’s Harkin remains chair Senate ag

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin will remain as chairman of the Agriculture Committee when the Senate reorganizes in January, Democratic leaders said last month. Harkin was Agriculture chairman during passage of the 2002 and 2008 farm laws. He backed a provision in the 2002 law that rewards stewardship of “working” farmland and in the 2008 law

U. S. House panel to monitor CDS clearinghouse pace

Futures exchanges from Chicago and New York will be asked to report in early December on their progress in forming clearinghouses to stabilize credit default swaps, a U. S. House of Representatives committee chairman said recently. The clearinghouses are regarded by U. S. regulators as a way to restore liquidity to the swaps market and