Category Archives: Blog Posts

What to Expect When You are Expecting a Farm Bill

The process to reauthorize the Farm Bill is never easy, but this time around it has been more challenging than ever. The anticipation of the next five-year Farm Bill has been met with federal budget pressures and Congressional stalemate.

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Farm Policy Roundup – June 14, 2013

Senate Passes Farm Bill This week, the United States Senate passed the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013. The bipartisan vote was 66-27, with 18 Republicans joining the Democrats in the majority.  American Farmland Trust praised the Senate for passing the bill which includes reattaching conservation compliance with crop insurance premium assistance.

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House Farm Bill Coalition Letter

  June 11, 2013 {Sent to each member of the House individually} Dear: The undersigned organizations applaud the House Committee on Agriculture for expeditiously moving forward on a five year farm bill. The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013 (H.R. 1947) achieves spending cuts that reduce the Federal budget deficit, saving [...]

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Farm Policy Roundup – June 7, 2013

Final Senate Farm Bill Vote on Monday The 2013 Farm Bill cleared yet another major hurdle on Thursday with the U.S. Senate voting 75-22 to invoke cloture, a procedure that limits debate and firmly establishes a timeline for a final vote. Immediately after the vote, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that on Monday, June [...]

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American Farmland Trust Supports Thompson-Fortenberry Conservation Compliance Bill

PRESS RELEASE WASHINGTON, D.C., June 5, 2013 –American Farmland Trust (AFT) President Jon Scholl praised the introduction of H.R. 2260, The Crop Insurance Accountability Act of 2013, by Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) and Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.). “AFT is pleased that Congressmen Thompson and Fortenberry are leading the effort to re-link conservation compliance with crop insurance premium [...]

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Farm Policy Roundup – May 31, 2013

Senate floor consideration of S. 954, the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 will resume on Monday, June 3 when the Senate returns to session.  Continued support for the conservation compliance agreement is needed in the Senate to keep provisions intact to protect fragile soils and vulnerable wetlands while also providing an effective [...]

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Farm Policy Roundup – May 24, 2013

Senate floor consideration of S. 954, the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 began this week, with a handful of amendments receiving votes. The Senate adjourned for Memorial Day recess yesterday, with farm bill consideration scheduled to resume on Monday, June 3 when the Senate returns to session. As of May 23, the [...]

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Farm Policy Roundup – May 17, 2013

House and Senate Agriculture Committees completed work this week on their respective versions of the 2013 Farm Bill. Highlights of both markups are below. Major differences exist between the bills, primarily on nutrition and commodity programs. A significant development in the Senate bill was the committee’s support for reattachment of conservation compliance to crop insurance [...]

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American Farmland Trust Calls on House of Representatives to Remedy Two Conservation Issues in 2013 Farm Bill

American Farmland Trust (AFT) congratulates House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) on successfully concluding the Committee’s draft of the 2013 Farm Bill. AFT President Jon Scholl said, “The Committee bill is a critically important step toward the end goal we all share of a five-year farm bill.  I [...]

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Act Now! Tell the Senate to Keep Conservation Compliance in the Farm Bill

Yesterday, a conservation milestone was reached. A historic compromise, bringing together agriculture and conservation groups, passed approval in the Senate Agriculture Committee with bipartisan support as the committee finalized their draft of a new five-year Farm Bill. American Farmland Trust was a leader in brokering the non-partisan conservation compliance agreement included in the draft bill, [...]

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  • Random Quote

    Changes in the 2012 Farm Bill appear both likely and may be significant, if not radical. Our country’s economic situation will be the most significant driver and agent of change in the 2012 Farm Bill. — Jon Scholl, President, American Farmland Trust