WASHINGTON, D.C., May 21, 2013 – “The time is long overdue for our nation to have a comprehensive agricultural labor plan that works for all sectors of agriculture and across all regions of our nation. The Senate Judiciary Committee today passed a balanced immigration reform bill today that included a fair and workable farm labor provision that sets the stage for Senate action begin... READ MORE

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 20, 2013 – The American Farm Bureau Federation, in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, has announced the 2013 Farm Bureau Photo Contest. The contest is open to all state and county Farm Bureau members and staff above 18 years of age at the time of entry, including professional photographers.... READ MORE

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 16, 2013 – “Senate passage of S. 601, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), takes us one step closer to water transport upgrades needed to boost the nation’s economic growth and is welcome news for America’s farmers, ranchers and agribusiness owners.... READ MORE

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 15, 2013 – “The House Agriculture Committee today approved its version of the 2013 Farm Bill. That bill joins the version approved on Tuesday by the Senate Agriculture Committee. This provides a great reason for optimism we will have a new long-term farm bill this year. That belief is further supported by the fact that the bills are more striking in their simil... READ MORE

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 15, 2013 – Farmers and ranchers need a tax code to manage the risks associated with agriculture while complying with tax liabilities, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. In a statement filed today with the House Ways and Means Committee for a hearing on small business taxation, AFBF urged congressional members to maintain cash accounting tools and highe... READ MORE

The Senate is on a roll! In this case, rolling down the river by passing it’s version of the Water Resources Development Act. American Farm Bureau transportation specialist Andrew Walmsley explains why this is a big deal in this story from AFBF’s Johnna Miller. ... LISTEN

You haven’t heard this said a lot: Congress got a lot done this week! At least when it comes to the farm bill. American Farm public policy director Dale Moore talks about what got done in this story from AFBF’s Johnna Miller. ... LISTEN

Farmers and small business owners nationwide are speaking up against the Health Insurance Tax (HIT), which will be levied on health insurance companies’ net premiums as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Dean Norton, New York Farm Bureau President and AFBF board member, says the HIT tax will limit employers’ options for providing health insurance while burdening employees,... LISTEN

Our nation is grappling with aging infrastructure, particularly on inland waterways and ports.  ... READ MORE

Recently, a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation staff was interviewed on the subject of proposed changes to U.S. international food aid. The question was whether the United States should shift food aid donations to cash instead of American-grown food. ... READ MORE

A milestone in the history of the American Farm Bureau Federation was reached on May 3 when the official newspaper, FBNews,was printed and shipped by mail for the last time. In-depth coverage of agriculture-related legislative and regulatory activity continues via a free FBNews e-newsletter and website, fbnews.fb.org. ... READ MORE