Does the Heritage Foundation Hate American Farmers?
We wish the Heritage Foundation and all opponents of farm policy would understand: there is no free market when it comes to agriculture.
Praise for Perdue in Advance of his Confirmation Hearing
Farmers and ranchers have found a champion in Governor Sonny Perdue, the nominee for Secretary of Agriculture.
Farm Advocates Ask Congress to Back Crop Insurance
A group of 59 wildlife, environmental, agricultural and farm credit advocates sent letters to Congress this week asking officials to back crop insurance during budget debates.
EWG’s ‘New’ Database Used For Same, Old Purpose: To Attack Farmers.
It is more of the same as EWG tries to push another false story.
‘A World of Hurt in Farm Country’
“No one saw this large and sustained drop coming,” explained Dr. Joe Outlaw of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University.
New Year, But Same Outlook for Farm Economy
Americans still enjoy the lowest prices for food and basic necessities of any society due to our continued commitment and investment in sound farm policy.
2016: A Year in Review with Farm Policy Facts
With a new year on the horizon, Farm Policy Facts is taking a look back at some of the top stories of 2016.
Fact Check: Corporate Farms Vs. Family Farms
Farm policy opponents love to rail against “corporate farms.” These operations, they say, have run family farmers out of rural America. But is it true? Not according to a recent report by the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS).
It is true that modern-day farms in America are no longer one-or-two acre plots plowed by oxen and planted by hand — the inefficient, gothic scenes of yesteryear.
#FarmerPortraits
Farm Policy Facts is beginning a new series this month on its digital platforms called #FarmerPortraits.
Losing Our Farm Families is a Scary Scenario
Halloween is big business these days. But how much of the record-setting revenue will be flowing to the sugar farmers that made the sweet treats possible?
American Agriculture Remains Important Even if Not Discussed During Presidential Debates
There are no food lines. The grocery stores are all stocked. It is our investment in farm policy that enables this phenomenon and highlights how necessary farm policy is to our country.
Chinese Subsidies Soar, Sales of Their Stockpiles Loom
On September 13, U.S. trade officials announced that the United States was targeting China in an international trade case over the legality of its rice, corn, and wheat subsidies. The U.S. agricultural community cheered, as U.S. negotiators showed a desire to start rooting out the trade-distorting policies that are so manipulating world commodity markets.
Standing Up for America’s Farm & Ranch Families
Our nation’s farm families provide us with the safest, most abundant, most affordable food and fiber supply in the history of the world. A fact that is so true it has become a cliché.
Farm Policy (Finally) Gets a Fair Shake from a Major Media Outlet
“We find people who are vital in this country, doing something great, doing something that this country depends upon, who don’t have a voice for political reasons, or political forces organized against them and we go in there and make sure they have a platform for millions of people to hear their voices.”
New Videos Illustrate Support for Farmers & the ‘Dire Consequences’ for Gutting Farm Policy
A pair of videos, released this week from agricultural groups, seeks to educate Americans on the bipartisan support for America’s farmers.
Foreign Subsidy Schemes Sour Markets
India’s massive sugar handouts have kept inefficient producers in business, promoted overproduction, and helped depress global prices, according to a new study.
New Study Reveals a Shocking Lack of Knowledge about Farm Policy at Farmers’ Expense
A major medical journal with a private vetting process published a study from authors with a clear agenda to attack one part of farm policy by using old data and one title of an even older farm bill to make a dubious association between farm policy and obesity.
New Public Opinion Polls Shows Strong Support for Farmers and Farm Policy
In an election year that has seen sharp divides among candidates and voters on the major issues of the day, there is one policy area that is receiving widespread, bipartisan support: farm policy and crop insurance.
EWG Still Using Old Data & Misleading Tactics to Generate Anti-Farmer Headlines
Last week, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) sent out a report with this headline: “The Rich Get Richer: 50 Billionaires Got Federal Farm Subsidies.” The piece was meant to draw attention to the “problem” of well-known billionaires and celebrities pocketing farm subsidies. The only problem is, there isn’t a problem.
New Study Shows the Sweet Truth in Classic Farm Policy Debate
Circulating half-truths and misinformation is how agriculture’s opponents have operated for decades, and they’re not about to let pesky things like facts and expert analysis get in the way.
A Wide Array of Voices Rally in Defense of the Farm Bill
It is not every day that there is widespread agreement in our nation’s Capitol, especially when it comes to budget matters. So, it is significant to highlight when such accord is demonstrably on display.
New Survey Demonstrates Crop Insurance Support Strong Among Farmers
A new survey demonstrates a strong level of support for crop insurance among farmers growing a diverse set of crops across the country, and opposition to any legislative proposals that weaken this important risk management tool.
Shining A Light on Women in Agriculture One Photo at a Time
“Where are the women?” was not an existential question Marji Guyler-Alaniz asked herself one day after leaving her corporate job of 11 years. Rather it was a realization that the imagery – and perhaps even the perception – of the American farmer needed an update.
American Presidents on the Importance of Agriculture
On this President’s Day, Farm Policy Facts combed through a bit of presidential history to find the words and views of some of our past leaders on the importance of American agriculture.
Pulling Back the Curtain on EWG’s Playbook
It is easier to sell fear than facts. This is a concept that the Environmental Working Group (EWG) knows all too well and has built a brand and an empire based on that business model. But, people are catching on to that game.
2015: A Year in Review with Farm Policy Facts
From continued attacks on the farm safety net in Washington to a sour farm economy, Farm Policy Facts takes a look at the top agriculture stories of 2015.
Video Aims to Combat Misrepresentations of Farm Policy
The National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) recently released a new educational video to illustrate how Americans benefit from crop insurance and to push back on the tactics of farm policy opponents who try to misrepresent the facts surrounding crop insurance and other important facets of U.S. farm policy.
Pressure Builds for USDA to Act to Help U.S. Cotton Farmers
In the midst of dire economic conditions, U.S. cotton farmers can find encouragement from a growing chorus of support for a proposal to help mitigate their current financial struggles.
Farmers Contend with Sour Farm Economy, Weak Exports and Ag Policy Critics
To be clear, farmers aren’t asking for a headline or a pat on the back. They’re asking for a fair shake when disasters strike and the ability to compete on a global stage. Honestly, it’s the least we can do for the folks who provide the nation with food and fiber.
Strong Ag Sector is Critical for National Defense
As President George W. Bush once said, “A nation that can feed its people is a nation more secure.” But, the reality is, the more we chip away at the investment in our national food and fiber supply, the more vulnerable we become.
Rural America Reminds Lawmakers to Keep Their Promise to Protect Crop Insurance from Cuts in Spending Bill
“It ain’t over till it’s over,” said the great Yogi Berra. He was referring to the New York Mets’ season in 1973, but the sentiment could easily describe the fight to stave off cuts to federal crop insurance this year.
Don’t Keep Farmers Waiting on Tax Certainty
Rather than stack the deck against agriculture, let’s ensure farmers and ranchers have the tools they need to feed the world.
U.S. Farm Policy Helps Farmers Fight Bad Actors on the World Stage
The full-scale reality of what American farmers are up against when it comes to competing with foreign treasuries rather than foreign farmers was the topic of a hearing at the House Committee on Agriculture this week.
Texas Conservation Project Helps Farmers Manage Finite Water Resources
“2011 was a game changer. It altered the lives of all of us in production agriculture,” explained Rick Kellison, the project director of the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation (TAWC), during a farm tour near Lubbock, Texas where the Southwest Council of Agribusiness (SWCA) convened its annual meeting last week.
Ag Outlook Underscores Importance of Capital, Strong Farm Policy
The next few years very well may be defining for the future outlook of agriculture. And the whole world has a lot riding on the outcome.
U.S. Crop Insurance Gets International Spotlight
The importance of crop insurance to meet the needs of a growing world population took center stage this week in Kansas City as agricultural leaders from more than 30 countries gathered for the International Association of Agricultural Production Insurers (AIAG) to learn more about the American system.
Foreign Ag Support Programs Put American Farmers at a Competitive Disadvantage
American wheat farmers lose close to $1 billion in revenue each year because certain countries are violating trade rules under the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements, according to a new study.
Libertarian Think Tank Continues Clueless Farm Policy Critique
“Heritage Action and groups like it had better get serious because they are losing credibility fast and they are damaging the conservative cause.”
Crop Insurance Critic Plans Biased Research Project
“The group claims it wants to measure farmers’ attitudes on crop insurance, but instead of asking unprejudiced questions, it simply requests farmers to back its inaccurate representation of crop insurance.”
Farm Policy Makes Good Economic Sense
Despite what farm policy critics would have you believe, farm policy is anything but a handout for farmers. In fact, newly released data from the National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) demonstrates that farmers are taking care of their own and in the process reducing the cost to the federal government.