Policy Articles
More Time for Market Concentration Proposal Comments
Published November 23, 2022
The USDA announced a 45-day extension to the comment period for its market competition proposal. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Chicken Council, and other livestock groups sought the extension. NCBA Senior Director of Government Affairs Tanner Beymor says the…Feels Like Groundhog Day
Published November 23, 2022
Millions of dollars were spent on the 2022 political campaigns, but it resulted in very few changes. Syngenta Senior Manager of Federal Government and Industry Relations Mary Kay Thatcher says there won’t be many new faces on Capitol Hill. "Every…SD Farm Bureau Members Debate Regulatory Pressure
Published November 21, 2022
South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderVal says farm bill talk was kept to a minimum at the state convention. Regulatory issues dominated the resolutions process. "We just had a referendum in Sioux Falls that would have prohibited any more…Connecting With Lawmakers
Published November 21, 2022
Minnesota Farm Bureau President Dan Glessing says the next step is for his membership is building relationships with new and existing legislative leadership. "Lawmakers and elected officials want to hear our issues to try to help. They realize that producing…Rail Strike Possible
Published November 21, 2022
One major railroad union ratified a tentative labor agreement with the Class I railroads and other rejected it. Out of the dozen rail unions, eight are in favor of the contract and four are not. A strike could happen as…Agriculture Depends on Metro and Rural Lawmakers
Published November 21, 2022
Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish is looking forward to working with the new agriculture committee chairs; Representative Samantha Yang of Brooklyn Center and Senator Aric Putnam of St. Cloud. "We have to work together. To have a strong rural…Two Lawsuits Become One
Published November 21, 2022
The federal court in Minneapolis has consolidated two beef lawsuits into one. The National Farmers Union and R-CALF USA filed their lawsuit against the four major beef packers in 2019. Retail groups, including Hy-Vee and Kroger, filed a similar lawsuit…MN Ag Committee Leadership Named
Published November 21, 2022
The leadership for the 2023 Minnesota legislative session is shaping up. Senator Aric Putnam of St. Cloud will chair the agriculture and rural development committee. Putnam was first elected in 2020 and is a communications professor at the College of…Humanitarian Grain Deal Extended
Published November 21, 2022
The Black Sea Grain Initiative was scheduled to expire over the weekend, but was extended for another 120 days. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said this deal will continue to facilitate the safe movement of grain and fertilizer from…