On July 16, Tyson food, Inc. (Tyson) announced a hostile takeover of Hillshire Brands Co. (Hillshire) with the hope that the Department of Justice (DOJ) would quickly approve the merger. On July 24, NSAC along with 81 other like-minded organizations wrote a letter opposing a quick review and asking for DOJ to undertake a more […]
Competition & Anti-trust
Farmers, the 4th, and Fair Food System Action
As our country stands ready to celebrate our independence – many of us with a well-deserved day off – let’s take a moment to tip our hats to the folks who will still be working: farmers. Our farmers, ranchers, and growers work 365 days a year, rain or shine. They grow our fruits and vegetables, […]
Whither the 2015 Agriculture Funding Process?
On Thursday, June 19, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) postponed consideration of the Senate’s three-part spending package for Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development for fiscal year 2015. The Senate began consideration of the FY 2015 appropriations package on Tuesday, and was scheduled to begin to voting on amendments on Thursday. However, Majority […]
GIPSA Rider is Anti-Farmer and Anti-Free Market
The full House may soon be considering its FY 2015 agriculture appropriations bill (HR4800) that contains a legislative rider that is anti-farmer and anti-free market. In addition to the two specific issues discussed in the previous blog post that are the topic for an important floor amendment, the GIPSA rider contained in the House bill […]
What is the “GIPSA Rider” and why is the House once again attacking farmers’ rights?
A legislative rider tacked onto the 2015 agriculture funding bill will strip USDA’s ability to protect farmers rights… Read More →
House Appropriations Debate Recap, More Action In House and Senate Next Week
What’s next for agriculture funding in 2015?… Read More →
House Committee Votes to Undermine Farmer Rights
House Appropriations Committee fails to remove the anti-farmer provision that limits USDA’s ability to ensure fair and transparent markets for contract livestock producers… Read More →
House Subcommittee Passes 2015 Agriculture Funding Bill
The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee passed a bill to fund USDA and FDA programs in 2015… Read More →
Busy Week Ahead for USDA Funding in 2015
Next week is a big week for agriculture appropriations. On Tuesday, May 20, both the House and the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees will debate and almost certainly pass their respective agriculture funding bills for fiscal year (FY) 2015. The full Senate Appropriations Committee will then take up the agriculture appropriations bill on Thursday, May 22. […]
Livestock Industry Examined by House Agriculture Committee
On April 30, the Livestock, Rural Development, and Credit Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to discuss challenges facing the livestock industry. The most common topics cited were feed costs, drought, animal disease, trade, and the regulatory requirements that impact this sector of the agricultural economy. Panel 1 – Questions for USDA The […]
More 2015 Funding Hearings – Food Safety, Rural Development, and Marketing Programs
This week, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee held hearings on the Obama Administration’s FY 2015 funding requests for three USDA mission areas – Food Safety, Rural Development, and Marketing and Regulatory Programs, which includes the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). The Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee also held […]
NSAC, Farmers Partner to Advocate on Sustainable Agriculture Funding
This week, a dozen family farmers and sustainable agriculture advocates from eight states traveled to Washington, DC to share their stories with the members of Congress who will decide on the coming year’s agricultural budget. In meetings Wednesday and Thursday, farmers called upon their legislators to invest in a more sustainable food and farm future […]
What Does the President’s 2015 Budget Mean for Sustainable Agriculture?
President Obama sent his budget proposal for 2015 to Capitol Hill yesterday. The overall spending number in the proposed budget for the next fiscal year (FY) would match the two-year budget deal Congress reached last year, though the President also includes an aspirational $56 billion add-on, which he calls the Opportunity, Growth, and Security (OGS) […]
2014 Farm Bill Drilldown: Subsidy Reform and Fair Competition
With the 2014 Farm Bill recently signed into law, NSAC is doing a blog series that delves into the details of the bill for sustainable food and farming systems. This post discusses the highlights and the missed opportunities for commodity and crop insurance reform and agricultural market competition. Previous “drill down” posts on a wide […]
What is in the 2014 Farm Bill For Sustainable Farms and Food Systems?
At the start of this long and twisted farm bill reauthorization process, NSAC released an ambitious farm bill platform with the goal of expanding opportunities for family farmers to produce good food, sustain the environment, and contribute to vibrant communities. Reflecting input from sustainable and organic farmers, rural and urban communities, and food entrepreneurs, the […]
Congress Outlines 2014 Funding Package
Update: Both the House and Senate passed the omnibus package this week, and the President is expected to sign the bill shortly. For a detailed breakdown of the funding levels provided in the bill, see our updated appropriations chart. On Monday, January 13, House and Senate appropriators released the text of the fiscal year (FY) 2014 […]
NSAC Delivers 2014 Sustainable Agriculture Funding Requests
On Tuesday, December 17, NSAC delivered a letter to members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, urging them to support sustainable agriculture priorities in the final fiscal year 2014 appropriations legislation. The Committees are currently working to finalize legislation that would fund the government for the rest of FY 2014. Both Committees passed their […]
Senators Weigh In on Livestock and Poultry Market Fairness
Eight Senators today sent a letter to Senate Agriculture Leadership signaling their strong objection to language contained in the House version of the Farm Bill that would severely restrict the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ability to ensure fair and competitive livestock and poultry markets under the Packers and Stockyards Act. Co-authored by Senators Jon […]
House Passes Bill to Slash Government Funding and Repeal Affordable Care Act
Update: On Friday, September 20, the House passed its short-term continuing appropriations resolution, 230-189. Two Democrats voted Aye on the bill, while one Republican voted against the bill. Click here for the full roll call vote. On Thursday, September 19, the House of Representatives passed a rule to govern debate on a short-term continuing appropriations […]
House Committee Releases Bill to Fund Government into December
Late on Tuesday, September 10, the House Appropriations Committee released a draft of its continuing appropriations resolution (CR) for the first two and a half months of fiscal year (FY) 2014. With few exceptions, the bill would fund programs until December 15 at the levels provided in the final FY 2013 CR. Despite the House […]
Groups Urge Ag Leaders to Reject Restrictive House Language Regarding Fair Markets and Contracts
Today, NSAC joined over 140 farm, consumer, faith, and rural organizations in a letter urging House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders to reject a provision in the House-passed farm bill that severely restricts the USDA’s ability to address anti-competitive and unfair business practices in the livestock and poultry sectors. A version of this letter was […]
New Wrinkles in Smithfield Sale
The proposed sale of US pork processing giant Smithfield Foods to Chinese food company Shuanghui is receiving new scrutiny from investors and Senators. As we noted when the deal was proposed back in May, this potential purchase raises concerns of further consolidation in the US pork industry. Smithfield already controls nearly a third of the […]
Conservation, Rural Development, and Fair Markets & Contracts – Groups Weigh In on Farm Bill
This week NSAC signed onto letters to Congress concerning conservation, rural development, and fair competition provisions of the House and Senate farm bills, ahead of what could still possibly be an August replete with Agriculture Committee staff meetings to begin to work out the details of a final farm bill. Conservation NSAC was one of […]
Smithfield Merger Scrutinized in Senate Hearing
The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing yesterday, entitled, “Smithfield and Beyond: Examining Foreign Purchases of American Food Companies” to evaluate the proposed purchase of Smithfield Foods by the Shuanghui Group, a Chinese-based conglomerate. If finalized, this acquisition would be the largest purchase of a U.S. corporation by a Chinese company. In advance of the […]