POLICY WATCH
Trump/Biden Respond to AFBF Survey
For the past 40 years, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has asked every presidential candidate to provide responses to issues likely to impact and affect farmers and ranchers and rural communities. Both President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have completed the 2020 AFBF questionnaire. The responses are unedited and are shared in the same style that they were provided to AFBF. Check out what the candidates have to say about issues impacting agriculture.
Sen. Fischer Calls for Funding of Commodity Credit Corporation
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer called on Congress this week to immediately reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). The CCC provides mandatory funding for some of the Farm Bill’s most important provisions. Notably, it funds safety net programs that provide farm payments when crop prices or revenues decline for major commodity crops. The Trump administration has called for a replenishment of its borrowing authority to cover the programs and payments funded by CCC as required by law. Because CCC funds were used to help farmers and ranchers impacted by retaliatory tariffs and COVID-19 through the Market Facilitation Program and the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, some in Congress are considering not immediately reimbursing the CCC via the expected continuing resolution to extend government funding. Without Congressional reimbursement CCC funds for agriculture programs could be short delaying program payments.
Livestock Forage Disaster Program Triggered in More Counties
Drought conditions have triggered the implementation of the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) in several Nebraska counties. The U.S. Drought Monitor conditions serve as a trigger for this program. LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately-owned land, leased land where the producer has a risk in grazing or fire on federally managed land. Counties that have triggered for this program include: Burt, Cheyenne, Colfax, Cuming, Dawes, Deuel, Dodge, Douglas, Garden, Sheridan, Sioux, Stanton, Thurston, and Washington. Livestock producers in these counties interested in learning more about LFP and applying for assistance should contact their county FSA office.
UNL International Trade Webinar Series
The University of Nebraska Clayton Yeutter Institute of International Trade and Finance and the CME Group Foundation is sponsoring a webinar series entitled “International Trade: Measuring and Managing Risk and Uncertainty” taking a deeper look at the issues impacting trade and international markets that ultimately impact Nebraska agriculture. The series started in mid-September with webinars running through October 9. Upcoming programs include:
- Monday, Sept. 21 – Managing Risk in Agricultural Trade
- Friday, Sept. 25 – The Special (Trade) Relationship: U.S.-UK Negotiations
- Tuesday, Sept. 29 – U.S. Trade Negotiations: Is the Phased Approach Here to Stay?
- Friday, Oct. 9 – WTO Dispute Settlement: Is There a Future for the Appellate Body?
Register to participate for the free webinars today!
