Congress, Conservation, and the Climate Cult: Highlights from Secretary Vilsack’s Testimony to the House Agriculture Committee

Mike Orlando is a law student in the HLS Food Law & Policy Clinic and a guest contributor to this blog. On February 14, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, head of the USDA, testified in front of the House Agriculture Committee (the “Ag Committee”). He urged the Ag Committee to act quickly to pass the next farm bill, noting that delays…

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Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing on Innovation in American Agriculture: Leveraging Technology and Artificial Intelligence

Sarah King is a law student in the HLS Food Law & Policy Clinic and a guest contributor to this blog. On November 14th, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry held a hearing to discuss the use of artificial intelligence in agriculture. They heard from several expert witnesses in the agriculture and technology field, including Dr. Mason Earles,…

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Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing Emphasizes Fair Competition

Emily Hatch is a law student in the HLS Food Law & Policy Clinic and a guest contributor to this blog. On February 9, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry hosted its second hearing on the 2023 Farm Bill, which focused on commodity programs, crop insurance, and credit. In her opening remarks, Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow highlighted the fact that…

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Senate Hearing Highlights Opportunities to Support Specialty Crops

Naima Drecker-Waxman is a law student in the HLS Food Law & Policy Clinic and a guest contributor to this blog. At the beginning of the month, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry held its first Farm Bill hearing of the 118th Congress. The hearing covered the trade and horticulture titles of the Farm Bill. Three experts testified: Alexis…

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Recent House Farm Bill Hearing on the USDA Hemp Production Program

Samantha Capaldo is a law student at Drake University Law School. She is a guest contributor to this blog.  On July 28, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research held the first committee hearing on challenges facing the hemp industry and how the 2023 Farm Bill can address those concerns through the Hemp Production Program. Chairperson Plaskett opened…

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