Farm Bill Stalled: Decision Pushed Beyond Election Day

Gina Clark — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 19:13:12 +0000

Sweeping legislation that would set food and farm policy for the next five years is in limbo, waiting for lawmakers to decide its fate after the election.
The latest deadline for the farm bill passed unceremoniously at midnight on Sept. 30, without a push from lawmakers to pass a new farm bill or an extension.

Congress will have to scramble in the lame-duck session set to begin Nov. 12 to come up with some agreement on the farm bill before benefits run out at the end of the year — which if allowed to happen eventually would have major consequences.

“Family farmers and ranchers can’t wait — they need the certainty of a new farm bill this year,” National Farmers Union President Rob Larew said in a statement after the meetings. “With net farm income projected at historic lows, growing concentration in the agriculture sector, high input costs and interest rates, and more frequent and devastating natural disasters, Congress can’t miss this opportunity to pass a five-year farm bill.”

The law began 90 years ago with various payments to support farmers, but now has an impact far beyond the farm, with programs to create wildlife habitat, address climate change, and provide the nation’s largest federal nutrition program.

Source:

NFU Supports Right-to-Repair Provisions in Clean Air Act

Gina Clark — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 15:03:42 +0000

Today, National Farmers Union (NFU) announced support for a petition to require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce provisions in the Clean Air Act (CAA) that allow farmers and ranchers to repair their own equipment.

“Farmers need the Right to Repair. We face all sorts of challenges, and the freedom to repair our own equipment shouldn’t be an issue,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “We’re glad to join in this specific effort to push for Right to Repair through the EPA’s enforcement mechanisms and we will continue to push broadly for all legal and legislative avenues to secure that right.”

The petition, filed by Right to Repair advocate Willie Cade, asks the court to issue a writ of mandamus compelling the EPA to take action requiring John Deere to comply with the CAA.

n the highly consolidated farm equipment industry – where just four companies control over 95% of the market – Right to Repair has become an increasingly important issue as companies wield their market power to restrict access to diagnostics and repair of their equipment. Past broken promises by equipment manufacturers underscore the need for farmers to have certainty.

As part of the , NFU is pushing for legislative, regulatory, and legal fixes on Right to Repair, market consolidation, and other issues impacting farmers’ ability to operate in a fair market.

Source: Willie Cade

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Farm Bill Stalled: Decision Pushed Beyond Election Day

NFU Supports Right-to-Repair Provisions in Clean Air Act

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