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Midterm results could impact the Farm Bill

Midterm results could impact the Farm Bill

The Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Last night’s midterm election results could have a significant effect on an important piece of ag legislation.

The Democrats won control of the House of Representatives, capturing 222 seats to the Republican party’s 199, CNN reported. In the Senate, the Republicans maintained control, winning 51 seats compared to 45 for the Democrats.

The Farm Bill will become a key item as the 116th Congress moves forward.

The Farm Bill Conference Committee didn’t reach an agreement on a new bill before the 2014 bill expired on Sept. 30. And the government hasn’t announced an extension of the 2014 bill, meaning funding for programs like the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage are in limbo.

And with a shift in the House of Representatives, a change in how the ag legislation progresses could be on the horizon, said Marin Bozic, an ag policy professor from the University of Minnesota’s Department of Applied Economics.

Republican “Collin Peterson from Minnesota’s seventh Congressional District is going to be the new chairman of the House agriculture committee, but he won’t take the position until Jan. 20,” Bozic said to Farms.com. “I think there will be a push (by Republicans) to wrap up the Farm Bill before the end of this year because we know the Democrats are going to regain control of the House.

“Bottom line, I would give it about a fifty-fifty chance between an extension of the 2014 bill and a completely new bill.”

One of the noted Farm Bill challenges between the two parties is work requirements under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Republicans want to include work requirements as part of program eligibility. Democrats oppose that idea.

Now that the midterm elections are in the rearview mirror, farm groups are urging the 115th Congress to act on the Farm Bill before the Democrats take over.

“While the 2018 midterm elections brought change to the political makeup of Congress, this should not impact the priority of passing the 2018 Farm Bill by the end of this session of Congress,” Jimmie Musick, president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, said in a statement today. “With the Farm Bill having expired, growers are left with much uncertainty and are denied access to several beneficial programs within the bill.”


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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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