Afleveringen
-
The House Agriculture Committee held a mark-up session for the farm bill Thursday. Micheal Clements shares more on the future of the legislation.
Clements: Lawmakers in the House of Representatives began the first major steps to reaching the finish line for a new farm bill. However, Joe Gilson, American Farm Bureau Federation Government Affairs Director, says the bill needs bipartisan support to move forward.
Gilson: With the tight margins in the House--Republicans have a majority of five--we need the bill to be a bipartisan bill, otherwise, this will not make it to the House floor. We know that there are some Republicans who will vote against any new spending. And so, this bill, if it has a chance to make it in this Congress, needs to be done with bipartisanship, and that's what we hope to see.
Clements: Gilson says history shows the farm bill has always been a bipartisan effort, bringing broad swaths of food and agriculture together.
Gilson: The Farm Bill has always been done in a bipartisan basis with a coalition of nutrition, environmental and farm commodity organizations, and constituents from across the country supporting this. We need to keep that coalition together to get the bill across the finish line, and farmers and ranchers across the country need to see investments made in the farm safety net.
Clements: Gilson says Farm Bureau supports the bill presented by House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn "GT" Thompson.
Gilson: His mark has some huge investments made to the farm safety net in Title I, he also has a provision in there to maintain interstate commerce for agricultural products, which deals with what California has done with Proposition 12. Chairman Thompson also has improvements to the dairy program and there's more conservation resources to help farmers protect resources they've been entrusted with.
Clements: Learn more at fb.org/farmbill. Micheal Clements, Washington. -
On this Memorial Day as we celebrate with family and friend it’s important to always remember those men and women that paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.
Lee Maddox: The Sacrifice for Freedom: Welcome and Hello again everyone for Tennessee Home and Farm Radio. I’m Lee Maddox
Joe Alexander: The fallen soldiers reside in American flag
Lee Maddox: On this Memorial Day, as we celebrate with family and friends, it’s important to always remember those men and women that paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. And for Loudon County’s Joe Alexander Memorial Day and every day will always be time for reflection for his brothers he lost in Vietnam in 1968
Joe Alexander: I went into the battle with about 40 paratroopers, and of the 40, 8 were killed in action. 13 were wounded in the ones who weren’t wounded, and including those who were, who did survive all survivors were scarred for life.
Lee Maddox: Joe Alexander was a platoon leader in the third battalion of the 506 Airborne Infantry Regiment, and he himself was wounded five times. And he’s thankful that he grew up on the farm in Loudoun County and credits the values he learned there for helping him through his time in Vietnam.
Joe Alexander: And those kinds of things. Were so critical in not just my life but particularly in the military service as a as a patriot in our country,
Lee Maddox: Alexander says Memorial Day should always be remembered by all Americans,
Joe Alexander: Beginning of the Revolutionary War that has died on our behalf so we can have a free country. We can be a sovereign country, we can govern ourselves because so many people have sacrificed their lives but I encourage everyone to take just a moment and it wouldn’t take long during Memorial Day to remember those people who gave their lives in sacrifice in service to our country.
Lee Maddox: And for Tennessee Home and Farm Radio. I’m Lee Maddox -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
-
Memorial Day is often referred to as the unofficial start to summer, and grilling season. Valerie Bass with the Tennessee Beef Industry Council explains why beef is always a great option for grilling, and where you can resources to get the best results.
-
The new Tennessee Farm Bureau Centennial Pavilion is officially open at the Tennessee FFA's Camp Clements. Thomas Capps has more on the impact the building will have on campers.
-
Parts of Tennessee are seeing large numbers of cicadas. This type of cicada only comes out every 13 years and let's their presence be known by swarming tree trunks and their loud chatter. As Dr. Midula Gireesh explains though they're harmless.
-
It was 2018 when congress approved the last farm bill. The legislation that guides our nation’s farm policy is expected to be approved every five years, but currently because of mainly politics, we’re operating off of an extension that congress approved last year.
-
Lawmakers in both the House and Senate focused on the Biden administration’s trade agenda for 2024. Micheal Clements says farmers and ranchers would like to see a more aggressive approach to opening up markets to American agriculture.
Clements: The Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee held annual hearings this week regarding the president’s trade agenda. Dave Salmonsen, American Farm Bureau Federation Senior Government Affairs Director, says its an opportunity for the administration and Congress to collaborate.
Salmonsen: This is a required report in which the administration lays out what their accomplishments have been and what they plan on doing in the upcoming year. And this year you had the U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Katherine Tai came before the committee's and laid out their ideas on trade for the year. So, it provides an opportunity for some real interaction between the administration and the Congress on trade and the trade agenda going forward.
Clements: Salmonsen says there was bipartisan concern that the administration isn’t doing enough to improve trade.
Salmonsen: A lot of the discussion was about the fact that this administration does not pursue the traditional trade agreements. There was a lot of discussion about the fact that ag exports aren't keeping up with the volume and dollar value of ag imports. And also, the lack of enforcement, especially in bringing trade cases with China. So, there was an awful lot of, let us say, suggestions for improvement.
Clements: Salmonson says AFBF seeks more effort from the administration on trade.
Salmonsen: We’re not having the growth that we were used to having, going backwards some. We’re not expanding our markets in a way that we want to. We need to diversify. More than half of our ag exports only go to five regions. We would like to sell more to a greater variety of countries, but unless we have an administration that’s really willing to get in there and negotiate trade agreements, and lower barriers that other countries have, we just really can't use that approach to grow our exports.
Clements: Learn more at fb.org. Michael Clements, Washington. -
Nominations are open for the 2025 Farm Dog of the Year contest. Chad Smith has more on the award that comes with cash prizes and bragging rights.
Smith: The American Farm Bureau Federation’s seventh annual Farm Dog of the Year contest, co-sponsored by Nestlé Purina PetCare, celebrates farm dogs and the many ways they support farmers and ranchers. AFBF Vice President of Communications Terri Moore talks about what makes the Farm Dog of the Year contest so important.
Moore: It's really that it provides a window into the world of agriculture through a shared love of pets. People who may know nothing about agriculture feel this instant connection through something they love. And let's face it, we've had some pretty amazing farm dogs. This is our seventh year now, and you can go to fb.org and look at those first six videos and I dare you not to cry.
Smith: Moore says the contest celebrates the many roles dogs play on farms and ranches across the country.
Moore: The best candidates are dogs that are truly useful on the farm, whether that's as a watchdog, a herder, or a helper to its master. We've had some pretty dramatic stories of dogs saving the lives of people and other animals, but it doesn't have to be that dramatic either. And it's more than just being a good work dog. It's a dog that has a special place in the family's heart. It's both a companion and a worker.
Smith: Moore says the nomination process is simple.
Moore: Any Farm Bureau member can nominate their dog, and if you know another farmer who has a great dog, please encourage them to enter the dog. If you're not a member yet and have a pet you want to enter, that's easy as well. You could join us right at fb.org, and that nomination form is really simple. We're so fortunate to have Purina as a sponsor, and they provide $5,000 in prize money to the winner, plus a year's worth of pet food, and then our People's Choice pup winner will get $2,500.
Smith: For more information or to nominate your dog, go to fb.org/farmdog. Chad Smith, Washington. -
The US House and Senate put out different versions of proposed Farm Bill's. Rod Bain has more on if either of these dueling proposals has a chance of passing before the end of the year.
-
Rep. Rusty Grills, Newbern, helps to secure funding for road repair to vital transportation outlet for grain farmers.
-
Greene County's Reese Ottinger is on a mission to build a barn at her South Greene High School to help her ag program and achieve a Gold Award in Girl Scouts.
-
Some folks might not think of turfgrass or sod as part of agriculture, but it’s a really big program at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
-
Those devastating storms that crossed the state on Wednesday have had dramatic impacts to many Tennesseans with the loss of life and property. And for our farms in the path, its now a matter of assessing the damage and trying to build back.
-
With the Strawberry Festival coming up in Portland children's author, Shannon Anderson, came to an elementary school and read her book called "I Like Strawberries." The book is a fun way to introduce kids to agriculture.
-
Ag groups in Carter County recently held a dinner for farmers to discuss safety and mental health on the farm. Organizers wanted farmers to leave the night feeling appreciated and for them to know they are not alone.
-
Movement on the farm bill process took place in Washington, D.C. this week. Chad Smith has more on the progress farmers and ranchers have been waiting for.
Smith: House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson and Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow released overviews of each committee’s version of the new farm bill this week. Joe Gilson, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, talked about each release.
Gilson: Chairman Thompson released a five-page outline of his 2024 farm bill, and he also announced a House Agriculture Committee markup date of May 23. Moving to the Senate, Chairwoman Stabenow released a section by section of her farm bill, very substantial, clocking in at 94 pages. She has not indicated a date for a markup, but we're looking over both overviews that were sent out and trying to read through them and what it means for the farm bill.
Smith: He says both documents provide valuable insight into what the next farm bill may include.
Gilson: Both overviews make large investments in Title I. We also see from Chairman Thompson's bill will include provisions to prevent states from regulating animal welfare outside of their borders. In Chairwoman Stabenow’s bill, it does make conservation programs permanent. One thing she also wants to do is impose a $700,000 adjusted gross income limit for commodity program payments.
Smith: Gilson says this month will be critical in determining what’s next in the process.
Gilson: The May 23 markup from the House Ag Committee, depending on how that goes, will determine what happens in this Congress in terms of the Farm Bill. If we get a solid bipartisan vote out of that committee, I think, it can move to the House floor and really put pressure on the Senate.
Smith: Learn more at fb.org/farmbill. Chad Smith, Washington. -
USDA's Animal Health and Plant Inspection Service just released a new rule that could possibly decimate the Tennessee Walking Horse industry.
-
Groundbreaking on a new poultry research facility happened Thursday at the Middle Tennessee Research Center in Spring Hill. The facility will include four full size broiler houses, and a laboratory. The research effort is a partnership between Tyson and The University of Tennessee.
-
US House Agriculture Chairman, Representative Glenn Thompson, announced his version of a new Farm Bill on Wednesday, and plans to hold a committee vote on it later in May. Meanwhile in the Senate side Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan revealed her own version of a new Farm Bill. Rod Bain has more on how this is leaving people in the ag industry both hopeful and uncertain.
-
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Chad Smith has more on ways to help someone struggling with their mental health in farm country.
Smith: Studies show that farmer suicide rates are several times higher than the national average. Jessica Cabrera, managing director of member engagement with the American Farm Bureau Federation, says mental health among farmers and ranchers is an important topic.
Cabrera: There are just so many unpredictable experiences in farming, experiences such as natural disasters, lots of financial uncertainty, fluctuating markets, labor shortages, trade disruptions. There's so many factors that contribute to extreme stress for farmers and ranchers. And they also often live in a very isolated setting, which can compound the issue. I think it's really important to break the stigma around mental health challenges.
Smith: If you or someone you know is struggling, the Farm State of Mind website has many resources to help.
Cabrera: You'll find a national resource directory that is searchable. You'll find helpful tips like how to help someone in emotional pain or how to start a conversation with someone. We have videos, including video and radio public service announcements. We have a peer-to-peer support community resource called Togetherall. That resource offers a space for farm family members ages 16 and older a way to express themselves anonymously and to receive and give peer support.
Smith: Cabrera says anyone can be an advocate for mental health in rural America.
Cabrera: I would say the most impactful way to advocate for mental health wellness among farmers and ranchers is to let everyone know it's okay not to be okay. Just reducing that stigma alone, encouraging those who are struggling to reach out for help and to let them know that that is a completely acceptable way to move forward. Empowering people to believe that reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness.
Smith: For more information, go to fb.org/farmstateofmind. Chad Smith, Washington. - Laat meer zien