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House stopgap bill includes ag funding

House stopgap bill includes ag funding

The Commodity Credit Corporation will receive $30 billion to fund farm bill programs

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

A piece of bipartisan House legislation will help American farmers as they continue to navigate the challenges associated with COVID-19.

The House of Representatives passed a stopgap funding bill Tuesday by a vote of 359 to 57 to keep the government running until Dec. 11.

The bill now heads to the Senate for a vote before the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. The new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.

Included in the bill which, if approved by the Senate, would prevent a government shutdown before the Nov. 3 presidential election, is $30 billion for the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).

The government uses CCC money to fund programs like Agriculture Risk Coverage, Price Loss Coverage and Dairy Margin Coverage.

The bill also increases “accountability in the (CCC), which now prevents funds for farmers from being misused for a Big Oil Bailout,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a Sept. 23 statement.

A previous version of the stopgap bill excluded the CCC funding, causing lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to criticize the original legislation.

“I fought back against our leadership and said, We are not going to get behind this unless farmers get the aid (they) need,’” Cindy Axne, a Democratic House representative from Iowa, told KMA Land on Sept. 23.

“House Democrats’ rough draft of a government funding bill shamefully leaves out key relief and support that American farmers need,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Twitter on Monday. “This is no time to add insult to injury and defund help for farmers and rural America.”

Despite the back and forth between Democrats and Republicans, ag organizations are pleased to see farmers’ needs considered in this bill.

“While we were disappointed it recently became a political flashpoint, we are pleased lawmakers on both sides of the aisle recognize that these funds help sustain conservation programs and stock America’s pantry,” Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said in a statement on Sept. 22.


Trending Video

The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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Is there going to be an mop payment this year? 2020
Charles |Sep 27 2020 7:06PM