Updated November 26, 2024 Coalition Urges Passage of Farm Bill NCSL is joined by the National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Council of State Governments and International City/County Council Management Association in strongly recommending passage of a comprehensive farm bill before the end of the 118th Congress. Passing this bill is vital to maintaining America’s agricultural productivity and security, growing our rural economies and providing vital nutrition assistance programs. Agriculture and Rural Development State-Federal
Updated November 08, 2024 Soil Health Active soil health practices can be another tool for states looking to mitigate the impacts of drought and other climate conditions, and bolster food supply systems. Agriculture and Rural Development Environment and Natural Resources Table
Updated August 16, 2024 Task Force Meeting Covers Threats, Opportunities in the Ag Industry Legislative leaders from 18 states and Canada learned about challenges in the agriculture industry during a bipartisan meeting in early August. Agriculture and Rural Development State Legislatures News
Updated June 25, 2024 Task Force Tackles Ag Industry’s Hottest Topics The biannual meeting of NCSL’s Agriculture Task Force in St. Paul, Minn., gathered legislators and legislative staff for a full day of tours followed by bipartisan policy sessions covering the agriculture economy, sustainable aviation fuel, and new and beginning farmers. Agriculture and Rural Development State-Federal State Legislatures News
Updated March 29, 2024 Of Crops and Credit: Commodities Programs Steady Prices, Support Producers As Congress works on a new farm bill, the section of the law addressing agricultural commodities is a top priority. The third largest of the bill’s 12 sections, or titles, the commodities title helps provide financial security and assistance to producers. Agriculture and Rural Development State-Federal State Legislatures News
Updated March 20, 2024 Farm Bill Is Safety Net in an Uncertain Ag World The farm bill’s crop insurance program helps farmers and ranchers mitigate potential financial risks of adverse market and growing conditions. Agriculture and Rural Development State-Federal State Legislatures News
Updated March 18, 2024 Conservation Issues Are Central to the Ongoing Farm Bill Debate Key to the debate over the farm bill are tailored, research-based conservation assistance programs that emphasize locally adaptable practices and allow farmers and ranchers to target responses to land management issues. Agriculture and Rural Development State-Federal State Legislatures News
Updated July 17, 2023 Arizona Lawmakers Find Common Ground on Water With a megadrought threatening the supply of Colorado River water to the West, the Arizona Legislature agreed to invest $1 billion to find new water sources and will ask the federal government to investigate diverting floodwaters from the Mississippi River. Agriculture and Rural Development Environment and Natural Resources State Legislatures News
Updated April 21, 2023 Field to Table: A Farm Bill Primer With the current farm bill set to expire on Sept. 30 and Congress holding hearings to determine stakeholder priorities, NCSL offers background on this vital legislation and a summary of the state priorities the organization is working to safeguard as the 2023 version is drafted. Agriculture and Rural Development State-Federal State Legislatures News
Updated February 06, 2023 Farmers Market Legislation State policymakers are considering legislation related to farmers markets such as appropriating funding, addressing food safety needs and supporting the use of nutrition programs. Agriculture and Rural Development
Updated December 08, 2022 Fighting Food Waste States are passing laws to protect food donors from liability, offer donors tax incentives, clarify date labels, and ban food waste from landfills. Agriculture and Rural Development
Updated February 24, 2022 Check Out NCSL's New Resource on Food Safety During the COVID-19 pandemic, we went from dinner out to dinner in. Americans took to cooking at home and the use of food-delivery apps more than doubled as takeout often took the place of eating at restaurants. Agriculture and Rural Development Environment and Natural Resources Health Map State Legislatures News