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Congress United On Farm-Bill Package
Top advisers say the president will veto the bill.
Lawmakers Finish Farm Bill, White House Repeats Opposition
Congressional negotiators announced a final agreement on a $300B farm bill Thursday, as the White House and key conservatives continued to signal opposition to the legislation.
Survey Shows US Honey Bees Death Increased Over Last Year
A survey of bee health released Tuesday revealed a grim picture, with 36.1 percent of the nation's commercially managed hives lost since last year.
Harkin Calls On EPA To Continue Renewable Fuel Standards
‘There is no question rising food prices are turning into a global concern, but the call for EPA to halt the growth in U.S. ethanol use and cut short the promise of biofuels for our nation’s energy security is without merit.’
Lawmakers Make Strides On Farm Measure
Details of the legislation are expected to be unveiled Thursday on Capitol Hill.
Farm Bill Stuck On Sugar-Support Proposal
The initiatives a priority for House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, a Democrat whose rural Minnesota district is among the nation's top producers of sugar beets.
Farm Bill Upends Normal Political Order
Bush/Pelosi are on a collision course over the farm bill. Bush is aligned with liberal activists pushing for reform. Pelosi’s protecting billions in subsidies to the richest farmers.
Corn Ethanol Loses More Support
Two dozen Republican senators asked the EPA to ease requirements on blending ethanol and other renewable fuels into the gasoline supply, saying the mandates are contributing to increases in food prices.
Bill Would Allow Roadside Farm Stands To Expand Sales
State retail regulations make it difficult for farmers to package their produce and sell it in pies, jams, bags of dried fruit at their roadside stands.
ME: Fuel Costs Squeezing, Pressuring Farmers
Hay farmers fear if they increase prices too much, animal owners won't be able to afford to buy hay, and may get rid of their animals because they can't afford to feed them.
Farm Bill Conference Includes Measure To Close Enron Loophole
Since 2000, the "Enron Loophole" has exempted electronic energy markets for large traders from government oversight.
McCain Tells Iowans He'd Veto Farm Bill
"I do not support it. I would veto it," he said. "I would do that because I believe that the subsidies are unnecessary."
ME: Free Farm Energy Audit Workshop, 5/14
Efficiency Maine auditor A.J. Ballard will lead attendees through the farm to demonstrate the audit findings and share what farmers can look for on their own farms to maximize energy efficiency.
Al Gore's Climate Solutions Fund Closes $638 Million
The fund will be focused on equity investments in small companies in four sectors: renewable energy; energy efficiency technologies; energy from biofuels and biomass; and the carbon trading markets.
CA: Farm Belt Plan To Cut Air Pollution Criticized
The district's governing board voted 8-3 in favor of a plan that could keep families from using their fireplaces up to 35 days each winter, require employers to make a portion of their workers car pool.
Farm Bill Follies
Congress avoids every opportunity to reform wasteful and outdated subsidies.
New Farm Bill Retains Big Crop Subsidies
Report: Farming Critics Fault Industry's Influence
The Pew Charitable Trusts/Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health report calls for broader regulation of industrial livestock/poultry farming, including restrictions on using antibiotics for growth promotion.
Haiti Trade Provision Stirs Debate Over Farm Bill
Haiti would benefit from trade preferences Rep. Rangel wants in the farm bill, but the move risks injecting trade politics into legislation already stirring controversy over farm subsidies.
Grain Companies' Profits Soar As Global Food Crisis Mounts
Facing a potential public-image problem, food companies say they plan to use profits to develop technologies that will improve farmers' efficiencies.
High Energy Costs From Climate Bills
Projected cost increases per household ranged from $76 a year more to as much as $723 a year more by 2030.
Food Scientists Say Stop Biofuels; Pres. Bush Says Opposite
Bush declared the United States should increase ethanol use because of national energy security and high gas prices.
Farm Bill Leaves Safety Net Intact
A farm bill appears to fall short of Bush's goal of big cuts in subsidies to affluent farmers. Will Mr. Bush will sign it?
The Real Cost Of Tackling Climate Change
Claims on behalf of alternative energy sources do not match up to the scale of energy required, or aren’t cost-competitive in current form.How will we make up the difference?
House-Senate Conferees OK Farm Bill Outline
"From what I have seen, this deal looks like a nightmare for those who were hoping for a better farm bill," said Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis. "Negotiators managed to avoid every opportunity to reform wasteful, outdated subsidies while piling on additional layers of unnecessary spending."
Negotiators Reach Tentative Farm Bill Deal
The outline includes an $861M increase for nutrition programs, partially paid for by slashing crop subsidies by $400M and cutting a program to pay farmers for ruined crops by $250M.
Haggling Over Farm Bill Hurts Those On Food Aid
The House and Senate voted Thursday to extend for one more week the 2002 version of the farm bill. Senate/House negotiators are haggling over various tax incentives.
TRUCC Act Would Require 100% Pass-Thru Of Fuel Surcharges
NH: USDA To Visit Ag Operations Across The State
During the upcoming June Area Survey, the New England Field Office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be out and about accounting for approximately 70,054 square miles of land throughout the state.
VT: Innovation Makes A Farm For All Seasons
At Johnson's Craftsbury Village Farm, Pete Johnson is already waist-deep in hardy greens.
Bush Criticizes Farm Bill
Pressuring lawmakers to cut the bill's price tag or pass a one-year extension of current law.
National Wetlands Maps Debut on Google Earth
ME: Ag Commissioner Has Cost Share Funds for New Water Sources
Any commercial Maine farm business is eligible to apply to the program.
Green Acres II: When Neighbors Become Farmers
A growing number of suburban Americans are earning extra cash by growing food in their backyards.
CA: Raw Milk Issue Not Black And White
Mark McAfee may be the most closely watched farmer in America.
ME: Future Of Farming Is Topic Of Meeting, 4/28
Planning for a Future of Agriculture in 21st Century Franklin County will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the West Farmington Grange Hall.
ME: Chicken Farmers Hatch Mobile Processing Plan
Farmers who raised chicken for meat banded together, raised grant money, formed a co-op and, last fall, bought a mobile processor.
Maine Network Offers Shared-Use Equipment
The Maine Grass Farmers Network is purchasing a no-till drill and a manure spreader to loan to farmers.
Why You're Paying More At The Grocery Store
Food costs rose by 4% in 2007, and the USDA predicts they'll rise by as much as 4.5 percent this year -- the highest food-price inflation since the early 1990s.
Farm Bill Must Be Fiscally Fit
When it doubt, go the cheaper route.
Analysis: Congressional Climate Is Tough For Farm Bill
ME: Seed Demand Increases With Higher Food Prices
More people appear ready to plant their own gardens in hopes of saving money.
Corn-Based Ethanol Tied To Higher Food Costs
Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said the growing emphasis on corn-based ethanol has contributed to higher food prices, and the nation should begin "moving away gradually" from ethanol made from food such as corn.
Farm Bill Complicates Plight Of Honeybees?
House/Senate negotiators are hammering out final details on a farm bill that will supercharge the industrialized crop production scientists believe weakens vital pollinators.
