Bloomberg By Alan Bjerga Perdue pursues deregulation, business-friendly policies Former Georgia governor shows ‘Trump administration at work’ Sonny Perdue.Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg In a town where deregulation is king, Sonny Perdue rules. Rather quietly. Perdue is the U.S. secretary of agriculture, running an agency with a $140 billion budget and a low profile. His traveling press corps, when there is one, can squeeze into the back of a van. He may be the most aggressive enforcer of President Donald Trump’s pro-business and Read More …
Category: Media Coverage
Modern Farmer | Should a Poultry Farm Be Considered a Small Business? The OIG Says No
Modern Farmer By Dan Nosowitz In a wonky, little-seen report released last week, the Office of the Inspector General made a huge statement about the lives of poultry farmers. The OIG took a look at the loans issued by the Small Business Administration, a federal agency that guarantees loans to—you guessed it—small businesses that might otherwise have trouble getting them. Specifically, this report looked at loans to contract poultry farmers, and it comes to a startling conclusion: these farmers are Read More …
KTIC / Rural Radio Network | Farmers Oppose Bayer-Monsanto Merger
KTIC / Rural Radio Network WASHINGTON, D.C. — An overwhelming majority of surveyed farmers are concerned about the proposed Bayer-Monsanto merger and believe it will have a negative impact on independent farmers and farming communities, a poll has found. Bryce Doeschot talks with Joe Maxwell of the Organization for Competitive Markets about a recent poll that shows farmers are against the Monsanto/Bayer Merger: http://krvnam.streamon.fm/listen-pl-3641 According to the poll, of the farmers who responded: 93.7 percent are concerned about the Read More …
Politico | Farm groups launch opposition to King’s interstate commerce bill
Politico’s Morning Agriculture By Liz Crampton Farm groups launch opposition to King’s interstate commerce bill: More than 60 progressive farm groups sent a letter to House Agriculture Committee members today saying that they oppose H.R. 4879/3599, which would make it illegal for states to enact laws prohibiting the trade of agricultural goods based on how they were produced. The bill, introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), is designed to thwart state regulations like the one in California that bans the sale of eggs from Read More …
Cleveland.com | Family farmers question how they’re taxed
Cleveland.com By Laura Hancock, cleveland.com COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio family farmers are questioning how a beef tax that is supposed to promote the industry is being used. The questions come amid allegations that the organization that receives the tax money is connected to large, multi-national corporate producers. When a head of cattle is sold in Ohio, farmers pay $2 into the Beef Checkoff Program, Capitol Letter, cleveland.com’s daily Statehouse briefing, reported Friday morning. Fifty cents goes to the federal government, Read More …
Jefferson City News Tribune | Farming for the future, legislating for the locals
Jefferson City News Tribune By Allen Fennewald Family farm advocates have a simple request for Missouri politicians: pass legislation to enhance family farmers in rural communities who are watching their way of life dwindle against the backdrop of growing corporate agribusinesses and global trade. The Organization of Competitive Markets and Family Farm Action coalition blame agribusiness corporations’ and international entities’ increasing control of American agriculture for stifling markets and causing a rapid decline in small family farms. Missouri’s rural Read More …
FERN News | Big Beef targets Virginia ranchers with increased checkoff tax
FERN News By Leah Douglas Virginia State Sen. A. Benton Chafin last week introduced a bill that would significantly hike “checkoff” taxes that cattle growers in the state must pay. The move follows efforts in other states — including recently in Oklahoma — to increase or introduce state-level checkoff taxes, which are charged in addition to the $1-per-head tax collected at the federal level. Many local ranchers oppose both the tax and the idea that it will be imposed by Read More …
Charleston-Gazette Mail | WV farmer part of lawsuit to give contract growers more legal strength
Charleston-Gazette Mail By Max Garland Staff writer An organization headed in part by a Pendleton County farmer has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture for rolling back rules that would have given contract farmers more legal muscle against the meat companies they work for. It’s not the first time Mike Weaver, who raises chickens under contract for poultry giant Pilgrim’s Pride on his farm near Fort Seybert, has called out issues in the contract farming business. He Read More …