Category Archives: General Interest

Ruth Simon reported yesterday at The Wall Street Journal Online that, “As business owners pore through the new tax law, many are asking themselves a fundamental question: Will changing how their company is structured cut their tax bills? “‘This is one of the most pressing issues for taxpayers and business owners,’ said Mark Everson, vice… Continue Reading

A news release yesterday from USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) stated that, “Last year’s hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts, devastated parts of the South, Midwest, Northern Plains, and California, and were a stark reminder that agriculture is an inherently risky business. Federal crop insurance indemnities for these disasters totaled more than $1 billion in 2017. “The… Continue Reading

Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski reported recently that, “Tens of thousands of soybean and cotton farmers across the country are taking free but mandatory training in how to properly use a weed killer blamed for drifting and damaging crops in neighboring fields. “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency required the training and other restrictions last fall… Continue Reading

DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday that, “Congress may be close to an agreement to replace the Section 199A language in the new tax law to curb the advantages for farmers selling products to cooperatives instead of private companies. “Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters on Tuesday he understands a possible fix would… Continue Reading

The Associated Press reported recently that, “A pair of U.S. senators is introducing legislation designed to improve organic farming research. “Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine say their legislation would reauthorize and incrementally increase funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative. “They… Continue Reading

A news release yesterday from Culver’s stated that, “Culver’s is celebrating National FFA Week in a big way. Through its Thank You Farmers® Project, the restaurant will launch its fourth annual FFA Essay Contest on Feb. 19. The three winning essay writers will win $7,500, $5,000 and $2,500, respectively, for their FFA chapters. “The FFA… Continue Reading

Associated Press writer Andrew Demillo reported on Friday that, “Arkansas’ ban on the use of a weed killer blamed by farmers in several states for crop damage will remain in place after a state judge dismissed a legal challenge by a maker of the herbicide. “Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza dismissed the lawsuit by… Continue Reading

Gregory Meyer reported on Friday at The Financial Times Online that, “Archer Daniels Midland and Syngenta, two giants of industrial agriculture, have settled lawsuits over the release of a new biotech corn strain that upended US grain exports to China. “ADM, an international grain dealer, had accused Swiss-based seed company Syngenta of negligence when it… Continue Reading

DTN writer Emily Unglesbee reported earlier this week that, “New details are emerging from a lawsuit calling for EPA to vacate the registration of Monsanto’s dicamba herbicide. “Originally filed in January 2017, the lawsuit’s newly released briefs claim EPA ignored key requirements of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and violated the Endangered… Continue Reading

A news release on Wednesday from Rep. Marcia Fudge (D., Ohio) indicated that, “Today, [Rep. Fudge] and Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02) introduced legislation to reauthorize the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI). The Healthy Food Financing Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2018 authorizes $125 million to provide loans, grants and financing opportunities for food retailers, farmers markets, cooperatives and… Continue Reading