House considers expanding H-2A farm, year-round visas
As two powerful House committees consider boosting the H-2A foreign agricultural temporary visa program to allow for the first time yearround instead of just seasonal or temporary guest workers, a new nonpartisan immigrant policy study cites a continued uptick of issuing more agriculture worker visas to aid a farm worker labor shortage.
Collections for Indiana Grain Indemnity Fund halted
Indiana grain farmers and elevators should note that collections for the Indiana Grain Indemnity Fund ended July 1. Farmers no longer must pay a 0.2 percent premium on the gross value of all the grain they market to licensed grain buyers.
Cotton farmers could receive PLC aid eligibility in FY 2018
Cotton farmers could have a new safety net; the Senate Appropriations Committee has passed a fiscal year 2018 appropriations bill that contains a provision making cottonseed eligible for Price Loss Coverage (PLC) payments in the 2014 farm bill.
Illinois studies changes after 2011 Missouri River flood
URBANA, Ill. — A recently released University of Illinois study examines the history of the Missouri River, damages and changes from the 2011 flood and its current condition, which concluded the river needs a comprehensive plan with multistate cooperation.
