Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Increased pressure on lawmakers this week apparently has had an effect on plans for the 2007 Farm Bill.
As reported earlier this week on Iowa Independent, the current farm policy has been criticized over the fact that wealthy individuals and large farming operations have been swallowing up 70 percent of federal farm program dollars.
Most presidential candidates have been waiting on the sidelines as the debate unfolds.
But news today shows that Minnesota Democrat Collin Peterson, chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, has apparently changed his tune on subsidy caps. In an article today on the Brownfield Network website, Peterson is quoted as saying that some sort of limits on farm commodity payments are likely to be added to the 2007 Farm Bill. Peterson had earlier dismissed the concept as unworkable for southern agriculture.
And on the Senate side of the debate, ag committee chairman Tom Harkin of Iowa is now saying that the Senate version of the Farm Bill is likely to put a cap on commodity payments.
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter