Saturday, February 7 marks one year anniversary of 2014 Farm Bill

Feb 05, 2015

Farm Bill brought more funding to a variety of agriculture initiatives

There’s a very special anniversary taking place on Saturday, February 7.

It was on February 7, 2014 that US President Barack Obama signed the 2014 Farm Bill into law.

At the time, the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry called it “the most significant reform of American agriculture policy in decades.” The bill reduces the country’s deficit by $23 billion.

On the eve of the anniversary, Secretary Tom Vilsack said the legislation affects more than just farmers and food producers.

"Thanks to the Farm Bill, farmers have a common-sense risk management system in place to protect their families and livelihoods from future disasters,” he said in a release. “It's helped families become first time home buyers. It's supported rural businesses as they grow and create jobs. Communities have clean drinking water, some for the first time. Farm Bill disaster assistance programs have helped to rebuild lives.”

Almost every aspect of agriculture in the United States is set to benefit from the 2014 Farm Bill including providing $100 million in funding for the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program, $200 million for an agricultural research foundation, $150 million for water and wastewater support and restored disaster assistance back to 2011 and is going to establish a permanent program for livestock disaster.

Video: Sow Welfare and Group Housing Systems - Dr. Laya Alves

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Laya Alves from the University of São Paulo, in Brazil, discusses how animal welfare regulations are evolving globally and their impact on pig production systems. She explains challenges in group housing, pain management, and euthanasia decisions, while highlighting the role of training and management in improving outcomes and economic sustainability. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Translating welfare requirements into daily farm routines without compromising economic sustainability remains one of the biggest challenges faced by producers globally today."

Meet the guest: Dr. Laya Alves / laya-kannan is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, focusing on animal welfare in pig production, including pain management, euthanasia, and economic decision making. Her work integrates welfare science with practical farm management and sustainability. She collaborates globally to develop applied tools for producers.