More in Conservation Programs

Jan. 28, 2013

Article

Texas farmers will get back water, vow to continue lawsuit

Farmers along the Brazos River who had their water rights curtailed in December are breathing easier this week after news that those rights will be restored, but Texas Farm Bureau Legal Counsel Regan Beck says that doesn’t alter plans to prosecute a standing lawsuit against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)....More
Jan. 24, 2013

Article

Farm programs sign-up set to begin mid-February

The USDA has announced that enrollment for 2013 farm programs, including direct payments, will begin Feb. 19....More
Jan. 23, 2013

Article

Ag secretary addresses Brazil, U.S. cotton issue

On several recent occasions, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack has referenced the importance of resolving the longstanding Brazil WTO case through new farm policy while expressing 1) concern about Congressional failure to act on long-term policy and 2) questions about continuing to transfer funds to Brazil as part of an agreement to prevent retaliation....More
Jan. 23, 2013

Article

Vilsack highlights unlimited opportunity in rural America

During a Jan. 14 address to the American Farm Bureau Federation, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted the unlimited potential of rural America, and also challenged rural Americans to embrace a proactive message that highlights this opportunity for the rest of the nation....More
Jan. 23, 2013

Article

Fiscal cliff legislation contained farm equipment windfall

In terms of tractor and other farm machinery purchases, “there was a huge windfall in the 2013 tax legislation,” says Roger McEowen, director of Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation....More
Jan. 23, 2013

Article

Farm issues abound: Legislation, labor, estate taxes and drought

On Sunday morning (Jan. 13), Bob Stallman, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) president, took to the podium at the opening of the AFBF annual meeting carrying a long list of farm country issues – both tribulations and triumphs -- to highlight....More
Jan. 18, 2013

video

Survival of STAX plan for cotton may be up in the air

As the farm bill debates heat up, members of Congress and their staff reach out to organizations like the Agriculture and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University for analyses. That can give the center’s economists insight as to what members might be thinking. Texas A&M’s Joe Outlaw says the signs may not be good for the Stacked Income Protection Plan or STAX offered by the National Cotton Council. He spoke at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences in San Antonio....More
Jan. 17, 2013

Article

Farm bill failure creates uncertainty 1

Failure of the U.S. Congress to pass a farm bill during the last legislative session and apparent apathy from leaders in the House of Representatives to take up the issue anytime soon creates an air of uncertainty and skepticism from farmers and the agricultural industry, according to an agriculture economics professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock....More
Jan. 17, 2013

video

Misconceptions continue to cloud farm bill debate, Texas A&M economist says

A number of media pundits seem to think the House and Senate Agriculture Committee versions of the new farm bill would make cotton farmers “well off.” That’s not the case, according to Texas A&M University’s Joe Outlaw. Outlaw outlined some of the features of the legislation, which some hope will serve as the starting point when the committees attempt to restart the farm bill process later this year....More
Jan. 11, 2013

Article

AgriLife Research recognizes plant pathologist as Senior Faculty Fellow

Dr. Charlie Rush, a Regents Professor and Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant pathologist in Amarillo, was named a Senior Faculty Fellow at the annual Texas A&M AgriLife Conference Jan. 8 in College Station....More
Jan. 11, 2013

Article

Texas files Supreme Court suit against New Mexico over water rights

The severe drought that has plagued U.S. agriculture over the last couple of years, the growing tensions over water rights between the U.S. and Mexico over water rights in the Rio Grande River, the diminishing reserves of available water in the Colorado River, and the greater demand from large Western cities and industries are just some recent headlines that point to growing concerns that water is indeed a real crisis for all stakeholders who depend on it....More
Jan. 10, 2013

Article

Cotton producers, other farmers may see steeper budget cuts in new farm bill

National Cotton Council officials say farmers may see higher cuts in farm program spending now that fiscal cliff has been averted and the 2008 farm bill extended for another year....More
Jan. 9, 2013

Article

Chad Crivelli is 2013 Farm Press High Cotton Award winner for Far West region

Chad Crivelli grew his first cotton crop in 1995 as an FFA project. He was the first-ever national fiber crop award winner from California — and he’s been growing cotton ever since....More
Jan. 8, 2013

Article

Linwood Vick is 2013 Farm Press High Cotton Award winner for Southeast region

He’s the quintessential modern day, young farmer: cell phone in one hand, explaining tobacco harvesting instructions in Spanish, and office phone in the other, explaining spraying information for cotton in English....More
Jan. 7, 2013

Commentary

Views of rural America, U.S. agriculture range from less relevant to resurgent

Two starkly different views of rural America and U.S. agriculture emerged in recent weeks — one hopeful and optimistic, the other discouraging and maybe even a bit cynical....More
Jan. 7, 2013

Article

Johnny Little is 2013 Farm Press High Cotton Award winner for Mid-South region

Johnny Little of Holcomb, Miss., is the 2013 Farm Press High Cotton Award winner for the Mid-South region...More
Jan. 4, 2013

Article

Budget, communication are key challenges for new AgriLife Extension director

Doug Steele, new director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, says the agriculture industry has changed since he left the state back in 1992, but many of the same problems remain and will offer challenges as he settles into his new position...More
Jan. 4, 2013

Article

Wife, family, land are key values for Southwest High Cotton winner John Wilde

This devotion to the farm and to practices that make the land better and more productive earned John Wilde the Farm Press/Cotton Foundations 2013 High Cotton Award for the Southwest region. He will be presented the award at a recognition breakfast at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences at San Antonio....More
Jan. 3, 2013

Article

2013 Farm Press High Cotton winners announced

Cotton has had its ups and downs in the last few years. But that hasn’t stopped the winners of this year’s Cotton Foundation/Farm Press High Cotton awards from trying to produce the best and most environmentally-friendly crops they can....More
Jan. 2, 2013

Article

Farm bill extension draws mixed response

A nine-month extension of the 2008 farm bill – tied to legislation allowing Congress to step away from the “fiscal cliff” – was secured following a late-hour House vote on Jan. 1....More
Jan. 2, 2013

Article

2008 farm bill extended nine months 1

The 2008 farm bill has been extended for nine months....More
Dec. 28, 2012

Article

Five Year U.S. Ag Census is important farm document

Farmers and ranchers across America should be in possession of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) five-year agriculture census form, mailed out to ag producers of all fifty states beginning earlier this month...More
Dec. 28, 2012

Article

Confidence plunges on chances for new farm bill

Now, just days away from year’s end and with a new farm bill – or even an extension of the 2008 farm bill – tied up in the “fiscal cliff” budget debates in Washington, D.C., the inability of the major legislative players to strike a deal looms large....More
Dec. 28, 2012

Article

New leadership team announced for House Agriculture Committee

On Dec. 20, Chairman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma named five members to serve as Subcommittee Chairmen of the House Agriculture Committee for the 113th Congress....More
Dec. 21, 2012

Article

Lucas announces new leadership team for the Agriculture Committee

Chairman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma has named five members to serve as Subcommittee Chairmen of the House Agriculture Committee for the 113th Congress....More