Congress Faces Unfinished Business: Farm Bill Negotiations Continue in 2014

Jan 06, 2014

United States lawmakers have been working on drafting a renewed five-year $500 billion farm bill measure for the past two years, and it looks like negotiations may soon come to a close this month.

Lawmakers have been on break for the last couple of weeks, but farm bill lawmakers and their staff have been working behind the scenes to try and reach a compromise on the food and farm legislation. The House and Senate disagree over certain components of the bill, but perhaps the most controversial part being over cuts to the $80 billion-a-year food stamp program.

Congress has other unfinished business to attend to besides the farm bill too. The continuing resolution funding the government expires Jan. 15. Congress has two options, pass an omnibus spending bill or approve another continuing resolution. If Congress fails to act, the government will face another partial shutdown.

Long story short, Congress has their work cut out for them.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.