The first Ag Census since 2002 is officially underway. Producer should epected to receive forms in the mail this week. The Census is a chance for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to collects new and accurate data on the nation’s farmers and ranchers. Completed forms are due by Feb. 4, 2008 – via mail or online. The census looks at … Read More
Wisconsin Could have Banner Year
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle reported that at current pace, Wisconsin farmers will produce 24.1 billion pounds of milk in 2007, the greatest amount since 1990. He also announced his Next Generation Agriculture Plan for the state. The record-setting milk production is in addition to dramatic growth in the state’s dairy exports, a small but steady increase in the number of … Read More
Pa. Announces Project: Grow Dairy 2012
The Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence announced a new plan to help grow the state’s dairy industry during the group’s Dairy Task Force meeting held last week. The meeting included members who represent all facets of the industry. “Project: Grow Dairy 2012,” initiated by the task force steering committee, was developed after reviewing current task force programs and shaping a … Read More
Amendment Dropped from Farm Bill
An amendment that would have banned fatty foods and high-calorie beverages from school vending machines was dropped from the Senate version of the Farm Bill. The National School Nutrition Standards Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), would have been the first legislation to update the nutrition standards since 1979, a period in which scientific … Read More
Senate Passes Farm Bill
The Farm Bill was passed by the Senate on Friday will a 79-14 vote. The $286 bill expands subsidies for wheat, barley, oat, soybeans and several other crops and creates new grants for vegetable and fruit growers. It also increases loan rates for sugar producers, extends dairy programs and provides more dollars for renewable energy and conservation programs to protect … Read More
Chairman Peterson Optimitic on Farm Bill Passing
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson had an upbeat outlook on prospects for quick action on the next farm bill, but Senate Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin suggested a slower farm bill time line. Both men, however, are in agreement that a hard cap on farm program payments won’t make it into the next farm bill. Both said the differences between … Read More
More News on Farm Subsidies
The Senate on Tuesday blocked the first of several planned attempts to slash farm subsidies in the $286 billion farm bill. The Senate rejected, 58-37, an amendment by Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., that would have phased out most farm subsidies and replaced them with stronger crop insurance for all farmers. The money saved would have been … Read More
Recommendations for Farm Subsidies
House Agriculture Committee chairman Collin Peterson is recommending that Congress should “make a serious effort” to prevent federal farm subsidies from going to nonfarmers in the new 2007 Farm Bill. Senators were to vote in coming days on two proposals to tighten farm subsidy rules. One would put a “hard” cap of $250,000 a year on payments per farm. The … Read More
Hostetter to Lead Pa. Target Teams
Congratulations go out to Heather Hostetter, Lebanon, Pa. for her new position as the project manager for the Center for Dairy Excellence’s Dairy Profit Team, Target Team and Practical Dairy Advisor programs. Hostetter will work with the center’s 100 existing profit teams across the state to provide better administration, coordination and accountability of the Dairy Profit Team Program. She will … Read More
DBA Signs Green Tier Charter
The Wisconsin Dairy Business Association (DBA) is helping dairy producers and processors make America’s Dairyland a bit greener by signing the industry’s first charter with the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Green Tier program. Green Tier is Wisconsin’s innovative program for organizations that voluntarily pledge to go beyond environmental compliance. “Wisconsin should be proud of DBA’s commitment to helping dairy … Read More