AgNet Weekly with Sabrina Halvorson

Friday morning, the Biden administration issued a temporary pause on pending decisions on Liquefied Natural Gas exports – with the exception of unanticipated and immediate national security emergencies. During this period, they will "take a hard look" at the impacts of LNG exports on energy costs, America’s energy security, and the environment.

Within a few hours, a group of Senators sent a letter to President Biden and Energy Secr...

With the new year comes new regulations, new laws, a new chance to get the farm bill done. There’s a lot going on for our nation’s farmers and ranchers. To get a perspective from the livestock industry, host Sabrina Halvorson talked with Vice President of Government Affairs with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Ethan Lane. You can hear why he says the consistent threats of a government shutdown are toxic for ag businesses.

The deadline is fast approaching for farmers who have done everything they can and simply remain behind on their loans, and want some help. The Inflation Reduction Act provided more than $3 billion for USDA to provide relief for distressed borrowers with certain Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct and guaranteed loans and to expedite assistance for those whose agricultural operations are at financial risk. But the deadline to apply is...

U.S. dairy organizations along with elected officials, U.S. trade officials, and ag leaders are expressing disappointment over the recent decision by the USMCA dispute panel in the challenge against Canada’s dairy trade quotas. The U.S. charged that the quotas don’t line up with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA). Last year, a USMCA panel ruled with the U.S. However, Executive Vice President for Policy Development and S...

Last month, the Senate committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on Examining the Implications of Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency for Clean Water Act Protections of Wetlands and Streams. Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota is on that committee and was at the hearing, and in fact asked several questions of the witnesses. Host Sabrina Halvorson talked with Senator Cramer shortly after about the hearing and ...

President Biden visited a farm in Minnesota this week, where he announced more than $5 billion in new investments from his Investing in America agenda to advance rural prosperity, economic development, competition, and sustainability. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined him on the trip. Sabrina Halvorson spoke with Secretary Vilsack over the phone about the announcement and how the funding for the different programs involved w...

In a recent story for Southeast AgNet and AgNet West, Sabrina Halvorson talked with a representative of the National Cattlemens Beef Association on why they’re against the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act. The OFF Act would make some changes to checkoff organizations. After that aired, Sabrina heard from a farmer and organization leader who is in favor of the OFF Act and invited her to share her thoughts. In this episode, ...

In the second episode in our 2-part series on the tomato suspension agreement, we hear from Michael Schadler with the Florida Tomato Exchange, on why the organization wants the agreement terminated and what it could mean for growers.

Last week we heard from Lance Jungmeyer, President of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, which is against terminating the agreement and the effect it could have on importers and some busine...

Should the U.S. terminate the tomato suspension agreement with Mexico? This agreement is intended to keep Mexico from flooding the U.S. market with underpriced tomatoes, however, some industry leaders say it’s not working, and the agreement needs to be terminated so Mexico can be held accountable. Others worry that terminating the agreement and making Mexico pay duties or fines for these tomatoes will lead to that nation sending us...