Time Well Spent

July 25, 2012Blog

As my time is Washington is quickly waning, it is hard to look back and believe that I have already been here for over two months.  It seems like only yesterday that I said goodbye to my family and boarded an airplane for the first time, and set off to explore an exciting new chapter … Read More

Biotechnology and the House Farm Bill

July 20, 2012Blog

By Brittany Jablonsky, Government Relations Representative One area in which the farm bill draft recently passed by the House Committee on Agriculture differed significantly from the version of the bill passed by the Senate last month was a section dealing with agricultural biotechnology. These provisions, found in the horticulture title of the House bill, would … Read More

USDA Announces 2.0 Version of Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass

July 20, 2012Blog

By Brittany Jablonsky, Government Relations Representative On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture unveiled an update to its Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass highlighting all of the ways USDA supports local and regional food projects. The Compass consists of an interactive U.S. map showing local and regional food projects and an accompanying narrative … Read More

Extending Disaster Programs and NFU’s Response

July 19, 2012Blog

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU government relations representative Although NFU members have been feeling the effects of the drought all summer, it has only begun making headlines this week in the wake of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) heavy focus on emergency outreach. More than 1,200 counties in 29 states have been granted a disaster … Read More

Conserving and Restoring America's Natural Resources

July 16, 2012Blog

Editor’s note: The following blog post is written by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. It is reposted here with permission. Every day, the work of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conserve America’s lands and natural resources stretches across our nation. As President Obama and I work together to boost the rural economy and … Read More

House Agriculture Committee passes FARRM Act

July 12, 2012Blog

By NFU government relations staff It’s a mixed bag, but it’s progress. After a more than 13-hour-long markup, the House Agriculture Committee approved its version of the 2012 Farm Bill, known as the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act. Some of the provisions supported by NFU made it into the House bill, some … Read More

Supreme Court Upholds ACA

June 29, 2012Blog

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU government relations representative On Thursday the Supreme Court released its ruling on the constitutionality of the health reform law passed in 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In a 5-4 decision, the Court upheld the ACA in its entirety, with the exception of the provision giving the federal government power to … Read More

Senate Passes 2012 Farm Bill

June 21, 2012Blog

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU government relations representative Today the Senate concluded its debate on the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, ending with a 64-35 vote for final passage. Below is a list of individual Senators’ votes: YEAs —64 Akaka (D-HI) Alexander (R-TN) Barrasso (R-WY) Baucus (D-MT) Begich (D-AK) Bennet (D-CO) Bingaman (D-NM) … Read More

Wednesday Farm Bill Roundup

June 20, 2012Blog

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU government relations represenative Today the Senate considered and voted on numerous amendments to the 2012 Farm Bill, with approximately 10 remaining for tomorrow, as well as a vote to end debate and then another on final passage of the bill. Notable amendments and NFU victories include: ·       Sen. Durbin, D-Ill. and … Read More

Senate Debate Concludes Today on Senate Farm Bill

June 20, 2012Blog

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU government relations representative Yesterday the Senate debated and voted on 25 amendments to the 2012 Farm Bill, and debate will continue throughout the day today with a vote on final passage of the bill likely to occur this evening. Some of yesterday’s notable amendment votes and NFU victories included: Passage of … Read More