AFBF Policy Change on Guest-Worker Caps
If an immigration-labor deal develops in Congress, the American Farm Bureau Federation might be willing to accept caps on the number of visas for a year-round agricultural worker program.
Delegates at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) convention in Salt Lake City on Tuesday voted for changes in the group's policy book used to lobby Congress for legislation.
Read More
State Farm Bureaus Honored for Outstanding Programs and Membership Achievement
Awards recognizing excellence in implementation of outstanding member programs and membership achievement in 2023 were presented at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 105th Convention.
Read More
Louisiana Farm Bureau Members Attending National Convention, Shaping Next Farm Bill
More than 65 Louisiana Farm Bureau Members and their families are traveling to the 105th American Farm Bureau Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s at the convention where voting delegates from all 50 states and Puerto Rico set policy positions for the nation’s largest general farm organization.
Read More
Newly Appointed Farm Bureau Members To Lead National Program Committees
Farm Bureau farmer and rancher members play an important role in our communities and our organization by serving on governing boards and committees at local, state and national levels. Several newly appointed volunteers will provide leadership beginning in 2024 as members of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers and Promotion & Education committees.
Read More
H-2A Growth Slows, But Remains Strong
The Department of Labor recently released full fiscal year usage data for the H-2A program. Given agriculture’s ongoing struggle to recruit domestic workers and a very tight U.S. labor market overall, it should be no surprise that H-2A program usage reached new highs again in fiscal year 2023 (October 2022-September 2023), though the rate of growth was down considerably from last year.
Read More
Dog that Fended Off a Pack of Coyotes is Nominated for Farm Dog of the Year
The dog that fended off a pack of coyotes last year and was badly injured in the process has been nominated for Farm Dog of the Year.
Casper, a Great Pyrenees, spent weeks at the veterinarian and months at home in Decatur, Georgia, recovering from his injuries. One year later, 3-year-old Casper is fully healed and thriving.
Read More
AFBF Appreciates Farm Bill Extension, Urges New Bill
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the passage of a stopgap spending bill by both the House of Representatives and Senate, which includes a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill. Farm Bureau sent a letter to all members of Congress Tuesday urging passage of the continuing resolution that included a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill.
Read More
AFBF Congratulates Rep. Johnson On Speaker Election
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the election of Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) to be Speaker of the House.
“AFBF congratulates Rep. Mike Johnson on his election to Speaker of the House. Speaker Johnson has a strong history of supporting America’s farmers and ranchers, which has earned him the ‘Friend of Farm Bureau’ award multiple times.
Read More
Ten-Hut! Farm Bureau Women Sharpen Skills at Communications Boot Camp
Fifteen farm and ranch women leaders graduated from the fall session of Women’s Communications Boot Camp hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The agricultural leaders completed an intensive four-day course that featured hands-on sessions focused on public speaking, working with the media and messaging. Program graduates will use their training to strategically support Farm Bureau’s priority issues.
Read More
Turkey Prices Fall as Thanksgiving Approaches
The cost of purchasing a turkey could be lower this Thanksgiving, thanks to a drop in avian influenza cases and a recovery of the turkey population in the United States. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed turkey and egg prices in the latest Market Intel report, which states the average price for an 8-to-16 pound turkey typically served for Thanksgiving was $1.27 per pound in August 2023, 22% lower than the same time last year.
Read More
Dairy Make Allowances Reform a Must
American Farm Bureau Federation economist Danny Munch presented testimony today on behalf of AFBF and its membership at the ongoing Federal Milk Marketing Order Pricing Formula hearing. This is the third time an AFBF representative has testified at the hearing. AFBF Chief Economist Roger Cryan previously testified on cheese and butter pricing and milk composition.
Read More
AFBF Offers Testimony on Cheese and Butter Pricing at FMMO Hearing
American Farm Bureau Federation Chief Economist Roger Cryan presented the testimony below on behalf of AFBF and its membership at the ongoing Federal Milk Marketing Order Pricing Formula hearing. This is the second time Cryan has testified before the hearing, and he is expected to testify several additional times.
Read More
Severe Weather and Low Mississippi River Levels Bring Uncertainty to Harvest
2023 has already yielded its fair share of major weather disasters. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has confirmed 15 weather disasters with total economic losses exceeding $1 billion each as of August 8.
Read More
Cost of Summer Cookout Down Slightly From 10-Year High
Celebrating the 4th of July with a cookout will cost significantly more than two years ago, although prices have fallen slightly from record highs in 2022. Families will pay $67.73 to host an Independence Day cookout with 10 family members or friends, based on the 2023 American Farm Bureau Federation marketbasket survey.
Read More
Outstanding County Farm Bureau Projects Sought for CAE Awards
The American Farm Bureau Federation is currently accepting applications for the County Activities of Excellence program. Up to 24 innovative county Farm Bureau activities from across the nation will be selected to display at the 2024 AFBF Convention and Trade Show. Multiple county Farm Bureaus working together to plan and carry out an activity may submit a joint CAE application.
Read More