DTN Ag Policy Blog

Climate Not Changing in Senate

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:01:00 GMT

Senators keep telling reporters in Washington that a climate bill will not pass this year, and they keep writing it. Still, some world leaders keep showing up in Washington hoping for action.

Rules Coming for SURE

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:50:00 GMT

USDA sent proposed final rules last week on the SURE disaster program to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review. A USDA spokesman said the department expects rules to be finalized in a matter of weeks.

NFU Urges Passage of Health Care Bill

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:18:00 GMT

Again, the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union have taken opposite views on major policy issues being debated in Congress. Much like the differing views on climate change, AFBF and NFU have gone the opposite direction on the health-care bill that could be voted on as early as Friday in the House.

Climate, Windmills and Checkoffs on the Agenda

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:58:00 GMT

This whole week has been strange for climate legislation and the upcoming United Nation's meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December. Besides the Republican boycott, three other senators began running around trying to get rally caps on for the bill as if there was some practical way to actually get a climate bill passed this year.

Soybean Growers Spell Out Climate Bill Concerns

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:18:00 GMT

The American Soybean Association on Wednesday issued a paper outlining its concerns and issues for climate change legislation.

Farm Bureau Opposes House Health Care Bill

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:26:00 GMT

The American Farm Bureau Federation released a statement Tuesday from AFBF President Bob Stallman that urged all members of the House to oppoe the House health care bill that could see a floor vote as early as Thursday.

GOP Ranking Members Caution Boxer on Climate Bill

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Ranking Republicans on six Senate committees cautioned Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., from pushing to write the climate bill in her committee without better analysis or addressing the concerns of other senators in both parties.

Classifying Carbon Subsidies in Trade

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:04:00 GMT

One area of focus related to agriculture and climate change will come after the United Nations meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, but likely to generate a great deal of debate in coming years: How are carbon incentives or "subsidies" going to be classified under the World Trade Organization?

NFU Balances Out Climate Arguments

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:54:00 GMT

The American Farm Bureau Federation got the opportunity to testify before Senate Environment and Public Works Committee this week in opposition to the Senate climate bill but Democrats did not invite a farm group backing the legislation to balance out arguments

Climate Notes From Tuesday

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:52:00 GMT

One element that came out of Tuesday's hearing with the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing is the idea that the Environmental Protection Agency could use new legislation for the major greenhouse-gas emitting industries, yet want to preserve the authority of the Clean Air Act for other industries.

Climate Focus Begins in Senate

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:03:00 GMT

While we are waiting on the Senate Agriculture Committee to lay down a marker on climate legislation, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., is taking a lead on possible agriculture provisions that could go into the bill.

A Few Minor Scheduling Issues in Washington

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:40:00 GMT

Just in case you miss it, there's a lot of stuff going on this week in Washington. There's so much stuff in fact that I wish some of these people had consulted with the press before booking it all, especially since some of us have head colds.

Writing About Infrastructure

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:40:00 GMT

DTN spent the last three days running a series I wrote on rural infrastructure, sort of a follow-up to a larger series we ran a little more than a year ago. After spending several weeks reporting for the series I can declare pretty simply that rural infrastructure is just not what people want to read about.

UT Study Shows Huge Biomass Revenue Potential

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:16:00 GMT

A study from the University of Tennessee shows farms in some states could see biomass revenue gains range from $9,419 per farm in Florida to more than $43,000 per farm in Kansas if those states had Renewable Energy Standards, or there were a national policy.

Group Seeks to Stop USDA Livestock Loans

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:07:00 GMT

A group of advocates for small farmers will present a petition today to USDA seeking to cut off Farm Service Agency direct loans or loan guarantees for building livestock operations.