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: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.