Farm
bill could hinge on budget talks [Associated Press]
A
farm bill that stalled in Congress before the election could see quick action
by the end of the year if congressional leaders decide they need its spending
cuts - including a small reduction in the $80-billion-a-year food stamps
program - to make a deal for averting the "fiscal cliff." The farm
bill passed by the Senate in June would save $23 billion over 10 years, while a
version passed by the House Agriculture Committee in July would save $35
billion. The savings come from cuts to farm subsidies and by tightening
eligibility requirements for those who receive food stamps, now known as the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP….Farm groups are
aggressively pushing a combination of the farm bill and the fiscal package,
seeing the deficit reduction as the last, best vehicle to get the bill done
this year. "I think it's going to be very hard to get a farm bill done
unless a decision is made very quickly to be part of a package," said Bob
Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Editorial: Delay in passing
farm bill has been an unwise policy [Fresno Bee]
Now
that the election is over, it's time to get to work on the farm bill….There is
no doubt that the farm bill needs to be reformed -- especially in the area of
farm subsidies -- and we must spend less on the many programs in the bill. Much
of the debate, of course, is how much to cut. The proposed House cuts are not
realistic, while the cuts in the Senate version are much more balanced.…There
are some in Congress who suggest delaying the farm bill until after new members
begin serving in January. That's the easy way out, but does not serve the
interests of the nation's farmers. They need to know what the farm policy will
be before making planting decisions and financial commitments for next year.
Pass a farm bill now.
Higher
taxes are to start with flip of a calendar [New York Times]
Americans’
taxes will rise in a few weeks. Though the direction is clear, the exact amount
is yet to be determined….On Tuesday, Congress will reopen discussions about how
to deal with the combination of spending cuts and tax increases looming at
year-end, and maybe even dip a toe into a broader tax overhaul….While
legislators are expected to try to reverse or temper many of the scheduled tax
increases, at least a few appear to be a certainty….The estate tax is another
sticking point, though both parties do not want the estate tax to rise as
sharply as it is scheduled to under current law.
Family
farms called vulnerable to estate tax [Marysville Appeal-Democrat]
The
Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau is hosting a seminar on estate tax planning for farms
this week, with attorney Robin C. Bevier speaking on how to protect the family
farm or ranch from potentially catastrophic estate taxes.…"The estate tax
is a big deal for farmers because their assets are tied up in the land,"
Megan Foster, executive director of the Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau, said last
week. "The next generation doesn't have liquidity because the value of the
estate is in the family farm. So, when the tax bill comes, they don't have the
cash and are often forced to sell off some if not all of their land."…Foster
said the Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau is encouraging local growers to share their
experiences in dealing with the estate tax so that the YSFB can work with the
California Farm Bureau Federation and the American Farm Bureau Federation on
estate tax reform in Congress.
Editorial: A chance for
immigration reform [San Francisco Chronicle]
…Any
solution will be a complicated. Strong border protections must be guaranteed
and significant steps have already happened. Deportations must be fairly
enforced with wait times and detention conditions improved. A flexible policy
that prizes skilled immigrants must be fashioned. A guest worker program to
fill jobs in construction and agriculture will have be crafted.…This country
has neglected a pressing issue for too long. Politics have finally shifted to
provide a way forward. President Obama must seize the moment.
Organic
food to be tested periodically [Wall Street Journal]
The
U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday it would require periodic tests of
organic food starting next year to help ensure producers aren't using
prohibited pesticides, genetically modified organisms or other nonorganic
substances. Under existing USDA regulations, organic-food producers must get an
initial inspection before being certified to produce organic food. But the
agency hasn't required they get continued periodic testing to ensure their
products remain free of nonorganic material. The USDA is mandating that agents
test annually a minimum of 5% of the farms or production facilities they are
contracted to monitor. That is enough testing, the USDA said, to discourage use
of prohibited substances without raising costs to the organic industry. It will
be up to the private, USDA-accredited agents as to which facilities to test.
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