Easter candy is big business. Americans are projected to spend $1.9 billion to fill Easter baskets with sweet treats this year, says the National Retail Federation. A survey conducted by the group estimates that shoppers will fork over, on average, $18.12 for Easter candy—up from $14.40 just five years earlier. In other words, shoppers seem…
DetailsWASHINGTON (Mar. 21, 2008)—Though U.S. shoppers still pay far less for their food than shoppers in any other country, opponents of farm policy who once complained about low commodity prices are now taking aim at family farmers for higher prices at checkout lines. They claim that some farmers’ recent good fortunes are to blame for…
DetailsWASHINGTON (Mar. 17, 2008)—Any farmer can tell you that thriving in rural America is more than just having the right equipment and an available workforce. One of the most important tools available to America’s farmers and ranchers—among the smartest and savviest businessmen and women anywhere in the world—is education and access to information. But for…
DetailsWASHINGTON (Mar. 13, 2008)—Growing frustrated and worried about the endless stalemate over the farm bill, U.S. farmers and ranchers are calling on Congress to put differences aside in the interest of quickly passing a bill with a safety net that reflects the best of both the House and Senate passed bills. “It has been eight…
DetailsWASHINGTON (Mar. 11, 2008)—Members of the Texas Congressional delegation could start receiving a lot of farm bill letters from people in the Houston area who depend on local hunger relief groups. That’s because the Houston Food Bank has issued a “Call to Action” to get the pending farm bill passed soon. A template Congressional letter…
DetailsWASHINGTON (Feb. 14, 2008)—Forty-two farm groups today sent a letter to leaders from the House and Senate Agriculture Committees expressing concern that a farm bill proposal unveiled earlier this week is “seriously under-funded.” House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Ranking Member Robert Goodlatte (R-Va.) introduced the new farm bill package, which was drafted…
DetailsWASHINGTON (Feb. 11, 2008)—More than 20 farm organization told lawmakers today that they oppose including provisions in a final version of farm bill that “fall outside” of the provisions contained in the versions approved by the House and Senate. “We fully believe the new farm bill must not be shortchanged,” the farm groups, including the…
DetailsWASHINGTON (Feb. 7, 2008)—Although it has been nearly two months since the U.S. Senate approved a farm bill by an overwhelming, bipartisan vote, and over a half-a-year since the House approved its version, efforts to protect tax shelters and loopholes that raise taxes on everyone else continues to threaten successful completion of a farm bill.…
DetailsORLANDO, FL. (Feb. 5, 2008)—As bleak as the budget situation looks for the farm bill right now, “it doesn’t get any better beyond 2008,” a policy analyst with Informa Economics told sugarbeet farmers at their annual convention today. A number of issues—from a shrinking budget baseline to a growing budget deficit, a slumping economy, increased…
DetailsWheat farmers fed up with hunger are showing that community comes first with a Pendleton, Oregon-based program called Bushels for Betsy. Tom Winn, a former administrator of the Oregon Wheat Commission, started Bushels for Betsy, which he named after his daughter. Through the program – a cooperative partnership of the Oregon Wheat Foundation, Pendleton Flour…
DetailsWashington (Jan. 29, 2008)—Farmers and ranchers from across the country are urging Congress and the President to quickly pass a strong new farm bill as part of their economic stimulus agenda. “When our manufacturing sector went into a tailspin earlier this decade, the Wall Street Journal reported that a strong agriculture sector was helping hold…
DetailsNEW ORLEANS (Jan. 17, 2008)—The message coming out of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual conference held here this week was crystal clear: farmers have already sacrificed a lot in the farm bill and should not be the source of additional funding cuts. The farm bills passed by the House and Senate “represent significant reform,”…
Details