Insights and Stories of Charles Abbott

Oct. 15, 2013 at 4:39 am CDT

Farm subsidy reformers praised a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to make the wealthiest growers pay more for federally subsidized crop insurance, the first eligibility limit on a program that costs US$9 billion a year. The non-binding House vote late on Friday will be a factor in upcoming […]

By Charles Abbott

Oct. 2, 2013 at 1:19 pm CDT

Overshadowed by the government shutdown, the U.S. farm subsidy law expired for the second time on Tuesday with lawmakers still deadlocked over how to confront cuts in food assistance programs for low-income Americans. Analysts say Congress is more likely to revive the farm law for another year or two — […]

By Charles Abbott

Sep. 30, 2013 at 5:27 pm CDT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will shut off its gusher of statistical reports in the event of a federal government shutdown, leaving traders and food producers in the dark about most activities in the world’s largest farm exporter. But inspections of meat are considered among essential services that will continue […]

By Charles Abbott

Sep. 19, 2013 at 5:55 pm CDT

The Republican-run U.S. House of Representatives voted to cut spending on food stamps for the poor by US$40 billion over 10 years on Thursday, defying a veto threat from the White House in the name of fiscal reform. House majority leader Eric Cantor, the driving force behind the legislation, said […]

By Charles Abbott

Jul. 26, 2013 at 10:32 am CDT

Faced with a huge sugar surplus, the U.S. government published a rule on Friday that allows it to sell excess amounts at a loss to ethanol companies for making biofuels for cars and trucks. The Agriculture Department said the “sugar-for-ethanol” program, authorized by a 2008 law, would be “if needed […]

By Charles Abbott