Download or read book Specialty Crop Issues in the 109th Congress written by and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The U.S. specialty crop sector is comprised of producers, handlers, processors, and retailers of fruit, vegetable, tree nut, and nursery crops. The major U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) commodity price and income support programs do not include specialty crops, but the industry benefits generally from USDA programs related to trade, conservation, credit, protection from pests and diseases, domestic food assistance programs, crop insurance and disaster payments, research, and other areas. Certain programs of the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Labor also affect the specialty crop sector. The 108th Congress passed the first law intended to address selected issues of importance to the specialty crop industry as a whole (the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004, P.L. 108-465). It is widely expected that this act will serve as the basis of more comprehensive debate on policies affecting the sector when the House and Senate Agriculture Committees begin consideration of the omnibus farm bill that would take effect when the current farm act (P.L. 107-171) expires in 2007. Another bill that might serve a similar purpose has been introduced in the 109th Congress. The Specialty Crops and Value-Added Agriculture Promotion Act (S. 1556) would amend the 2004 Act to make some of its authorities permanent, and to address issues related to trade, the revenue insurance program, and marketing opportunities for specialty crops. See CRS Report RL33520, Specialty Crops: 2007 Farm Bill Issues for more information. Bills addressing a number of other industry-related issues were introduced in the 109 Congress. These include appropriations for the programs authorized in P.L. 108-465 (H.R. 2744); planting flexibility proposals that could have affected specialty crop supplies and prices (H.R. 2045/S. 1038; S. 194); and guest worker program reform (S. 359/H.R. 884, and others). This report summarizes the 109th Congress's activity on these bills and other specialty crop issues, and will not be updated.
Download or read book Specialty Crop Issues in the 109th Congress written by Jean M. Rawson and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 11 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Specialty Crops written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Congress is expected shortly to begin consideration of omnibus legislation to replace the expiring Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-171, the 2002 farm bill). Farm bill policies governing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs on marketing, crop insurance and disaster assistance, protection against pests and diseases, export promotion, and domestic food assistance, among others, are important to the competitiveness of the specialty crop sector of U.S. agriculture. The sector includes fruit, vegetable, tree nut, and nursery crop producers, processors, manufacturers, wholesalers, importers, and exporters. Although specialty crops are not eligible for direct support under USDA's farm commodity price and income support programs, the policies that Congress sets for the major farm income and commodity price support programs affect them. Congress inserted a provision in the 1996 farm bill (P.L. 104-127, the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act) permitting program participants to plant different crops on their program acres and still receive benefits. Before final passage of that bill, however, Congress added another provision largely restricting participants from planting fruits and vegetables on those acres, after specialty crop interests expressed concern over the price volatility that the sector could suffer as a result. Congress renewed the planting restriction in the 2002 farm bill. The upcoming farm bill debate on the planting restriction provision, as well as other key policies, will be affected by several new factors. Trade agreement concerns could potentially require a relaxation of planting restrictions, and constrain policies affecting the amount of spending for program crops. In addition, the specialty crop sector is seeking greater federal investment in non-trade distorting programs that would support its role as a high-value segment of U.S. agriculture. As an initial effort in that regard, the 108th Congress passed the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-465). Among other things, the act authorized block grants to states for research and promotion efforts, strengthened efforts to overcome phytosanitary (pest and disease) barriers to exports, and provided mandatory funding for a large competitive research grant program to address a broad spectrum of specialty crop development needs. This report discusses potential 2007 farm bill proposals affecting the specialty crop sector, as foreshadowed by the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 as introduced (H.R. 3242), and by a variety of proposals introduced in the 109th Congress (H.R. 3562/S. 1556; S. 2487; H.R. 6193). The report will track congressional consideration of the 2007 farm bill and will be updated as necessary.
Download or read book Farm and Agricultural Issues written by Robert D. Goodriche and published by Nova Publishers. This book was released on 2006 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In spite of a societal focus on cell phones, microchips and other gadgets, it is the agricultural and natural resources that define a nation. A country may or may not be the leader in a field of technology, but the population must eat more than once a day. This book consists of analyses of issues important to the agriculture industry, including trade, dairy policies, economies, animal agriculture and government assistance programs.
Download or read book Congressional Record written by United States. Congress and published by . This book was released on 1971 with total page 1380 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record began publication in 1873. Debates for sessions prior to 1873 are recorded in The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States (1789-1824), the Register of Debates in Congress (1824-1837), and the Congressional Globe (1833-1873)
Download or read book Report on Activities During The 109th Congress January 2 2007 109 2 House Report 109 746 written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Local Food Systems Concepts Impacts and Issues written by Steve Martinez and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2010-11 with total page 87 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This comprehensive overview of local food systems explores alternative definitions of local food, estimates market size and reach, describes the characteristics of local consumers and producers, and examines early indications of the economic and health impacts of local food systems. Defining ¿local¿ based on marketing arrangements, such as farmers selling directly to consumers at regional farmers¿ markets or to schools, is well recognized. Statistics suggest that local food markets account for a small, but growing, share of U.S. agricultural production. For smaller farms, direct marketing to consumers accounts for a higher percentage of their sales than for larger farms. Charts and tables.
Download or read book How Our Laws are Made written by John V. Sullivan and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Major Studies Issue Briefs of the Congressional Research Service Bibliography Indexes to the Supplement written by and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Access to Affordable and Nutritious Food Measuring and Understanding Food Deserts and Their Consequences written by Michele Ver Ploeg and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2010-02 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 directed the U.S. Dept. of Agr. to conduct a 1-year study to assess the extent of areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food, identify characteristics and causes of such areas, consider how limited access affects local populations, and outline recommend. to address the problem. This report presents the findings of the study, which include results from two conferences of national and internat. authorities on food deserts and a set of research studies. It also includes reviews of existing literature, a national-level assessment of access to large grocery stores and supermarkets, analysis of the economic and public health effects of limited access, and a discussion of existing policy interventions. Illus.
Download or read book Federal Crop Insurance written by Dennis A. Shields and published by . This book was released on 2015-02-16 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Download or read book The Intended and Unintended Effects of U S Agricultural and Biotechnology Policies written by Joshua S. Graff Zivin and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2012-03-15 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Using economic models and empirical analysis, this volume examines a wide range of agricultural and biofuel policy issues and their effects on American agricultural and related agrarian insurance markets. Beginning with a look at the distribution of funds by insurance programs—created to support farmers but often benefiting crop processors instead—the book then examines the demand for biofuel and the effects of biofuel policies on agricultural price uncertainty. Also discussed are genetically engineered crops, which are assuming an increasingly important role in arbitrating tensions between energy production, environmental protection, and the global food supply. Other contributions discuss the major effects of genetic engineering on worldwide food markets. By addressing some of the most challenging topics at the intersection of agriculture and biotechnology, this volume informs crucial debates.
Download or read book Managing Cover Crops Profitably 3rd Ed written by Andy Clark and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2008-07 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cover crops slow erosion, improve soil, smother weeds, enhance nutrient and moisture availability, help control many pests and bring a host of other benefits to your farm. At the same time, they can reduce costs, increase profits and even create new sources of income. You¿ll reap dividends on your cover crop investments for years, since their benefits accumulate over the long term. This book will help you find which ones are right for you. Captures farmer and other research results from the past ten years. The authors verified the info. from the 2nd ed., added new results and updated farmer profiles and research data, and added 2 chap. Includes maps and charts, detailed narratives about individual cover crop species, and chap. about aspects of cover cropping.
Download or read book Setting Course written by Craig Schultz and published by . This book was released on 1994 with total page 404 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Legislative Calendar Committee on Ways and Means 109th Congress Session 1 2 January 4 2005 January 3 2006 written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Ways and Means and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 396 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Cases in Environmental Politics written by Norman Miller and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As with Miller's 'Environmental Politics', this casebook emphasizes the struggle for power among stakeholders in environmental politics and policy-making. Each case is presented through a narrative introduction and three or four primary source documents that illustrate whose interests are at stake.
Download or read book The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States Cfius written by Congressional Research Congressional Research Service and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2016-08-12 with total page 38 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is comprised of nine members, two ex officio members, and other members as appointed by the President representing major departments and agencies within the federal executive branch. While the group generally has operated in relative obscurity, the proposed acquisition of commercial operations at six U.S. ports by Dubai Ports World in 2006 placed the group's operations under intense scrutiny by Members of Congress and the public. Prompted by this case, some Members of the 109th and 110th Congresses questioned the ability of Congress to exercise its oversight responsibilities given the general view that CFIUS's operations lack transparency. Other Members revisited concerns about the linkage between national security and the role of foreign investment in the U.S. economy. Some Members of Congress and others argued that the nation's security and economic concerns have changed since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and that these concerns were not being reflected sufficiently in the Committee's deliberations. In addition, anecdotal evidence seemed to indicate that the CFIUS process was not market neutral. Instead, a CFIUS investigation of an investment transaction may have been perceived by some firms and by some in the financial markets as a negative factor that added to uncertainty and may have spurred firms to engage in behavior that may not have been optimal for the economy as a whole. On July 12, 2016, Senator Charles Grassley introduced S. 3161 to include the Secretary of Agriculture as a permanent member of the CFIUS and to include the national security impact of foreign investments on agricultural assets as part of the criteria the Committee uses in deciding to recommend that the President block a foreign acquisition.
