Category: Legislative Updates

USDA Awards $90 Million in Conservation Grants

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by LICA-National

The Agriculture Department will be awarding $90 million for 53 projects through a program aimed at developing new technologies and approaches for conservation efforts, Secretary Tom Vilsack said Thursday.

The money — some of which comes from the Inflation Reduction Act — is being allocated through the Conservation Innovation Grants program, which funds tool development and on-farm trials for habitat conservation, forestry, energy conservation, economics and indigenous knowledge projects. Around $69.7 million is going to on-farm trials projects, while $20.2 million will be put toward projects in the "classic" segment of the program, which focuses on the creation of practices and technologies.


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Traffic Fatalities Fall Again in 2023

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by LICA-National

U.S. traffic fatalities fell in 2023 for the second straight year, three years after traffic fatalities surged in 2020 and 2021 as the nation grappled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, despite the modest decrease in traffic fatalities over the past two years, traffic fatalities in 2023 remained significantly higher than a decade ago. This is according to a report released today by TRIP. The report, Addressing America’s Traffic Safety Crisis: Examining the Causes of Increasing U.S. Traffic Fatalities and Identifying Solutions to Improve Traffic Safety. TRIP’s documents trends in traffic fatalities from 2013 to 2023 at the national and state levels, examines causes for the increase in traffic fatalities, and prescribes a broad, comprehensive approach to reducing traffic fatalities in the U.S.


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Farm Bill Action in Flux

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by LICA-National

When the going gets tough in the Senate, you usually rely on some of the senior members to provide some wisdom and guidance based on their years of experience. One of the senior members of the Senate, Charles Grassley (R-IA) this week shared his perspective and optimism for action on the farm bill, set to expire in September. Senate Ag Committee veteran Chuck Grassley sees a glimmer of hope for a farm bill as reported by Agri-Pulse this week. Georgia Democrat Raphael Warnock has told Senate Ag Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., that her proposed reference price increases are too low.


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NACD Urges Bipartisan Farm Bill Action

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by LICA-National

The Senate Committee on Agriculture Ranking Member John Boozman released a framework outlining Senate Republican farm bill priorities. NACD commends that the framework supports NACD’s top farm bill request by calling for the incorporation of all remaining Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) conservation investments into the conservation title of the bill. The framework also supports NACD priorities to simplify and streamline conservation programs, bolster Natural Resources Conservation Service watershed programs, and incentivize the enrollment of marginal land within the Conservation Reserve Program.


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And What If Farm Bill Negotiations Stall……..

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by LICA-National

Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, says Congress is going to have to pass another stopgap spending bill in September to keep the government funded into fiscal 2025, and she won’t be surprised if it includes a farm bill extension. Interviewed for this week’s Agri-Pulse Newsmakers, the House Ag Committee member says she doesn’t know how long the extension would run.


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Infrastructure Funding Making its Way to States/Localities

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by LICA-National

Reports out of Washington about the slow pace of spending from the massive infrastructure funding Congress approved and the President signed continue to put pressure on federal and state agencies to get the money out. The huge influx of money has been a boon to consultants to plan and design projects eligible for the federal spending. The American Road and Transportation Builders Association continues to track the flow of construction funds.


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House Committee Begins Farm Bill Debate

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by LICA-National

Yesterday the House Agriculture Committee began consideration of its proposed 5 year reauthorization of the farm bill. The bill faces a September deadline for consideration and has a long way to go for approval in a difficult political environment. Here is what leaders of some of the major ag organizations are saying about the House Committee proposal.


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Celebration of Modern Agriculture

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by LICA-National

One of LICA’s first visits on the National Mall was with Bill Hurley, Vice President of Global Government Affairs for AGCO Corporation and Chairman of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers Agriculture Sector Board. The event is organized by AEM and features a display of the technology in farm machinery that’s helping to feed and fuel a growing global population. Exhibiting companies shared how advanced technology is helping farmers not only increase production but also protect the environment with improved sustainability. Hurley says technology enables farmers to apply precision practices to individual plants in a field.

Hurley expressed the importance of associations like LICA in the event to build awareness on the role that agriculture plays in the nation’s economy. Hurley also discussed how agricultural is one of the premier stewards of the land and uses advanced technology to preserve the land and increase productivity.