GAO

During 2020 and 2021, the FSA provided $31 billion in aid to more than 950,000 producers of agricultural commodities, including crops, dairy, and livestock.  The goal was to help offset losses and costs associated with the COVID pandemic.  Th...

A new report from the Government Accountability Office is encouraging the Federal Communications Commission to evaluate benchmark broadband speeds. The report states, “We recommended that the FCC determine whether its current definition of broadband really meets the needs of small businesses.” ...

A new report says the Market Facilitation Program created deep regional inequities, favored certain crops over others, and funneled money to large agricultural operations over smaller farms. Senator Debbie Stabenow, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Ag Committee, announced the Government Accountability Office report ...

The Government Accountability Office is looking into President Trump’s $28 billion Market Facilitation Program.  The GAO is investigating allegations that the money was mismanaged and distributed unfairly.   The investigation came at the request of Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow, who says she thinks the aid program was biased.  She argues th...

A report by the Government Accountability Office shows supply and demand factors, such as a drought that affected the price of cattle feed, affected changes in prices of fed cattle—those ready for slaughter from 2013 through 2016. The price of fed cattle has fluctuated widely from 2013 through 2016 and experienced a sharp downturn beginning in late 2015, raising concerns about the market and quest

The Government Accountability Office says the Department of Agriculture complied with rulemaking procedures during its withdrawal of The Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule. The office reviewed the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s process to withdraw the rule after many groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, filed lawsuits claiming USDA did not follow proper

Senate Ag Committee members Chuck Grassley and Debbie Stabenow raised concerns with the USDA’s FSA about farm program payments to deceased farmers.  The Senators sent a letter to the agency, saying that they need to be careful stewards of taxpayer money and work to avoid wasteful payments.  The lett...

The Government Accountability Office will investigate an appearance by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt in a video by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.  Pruitt appeared earlier this year in a promotional video against the EPA Waters of the U.S. rule.  In th...

A report by the Government Accountability Office predicts climate change will cost U.S. agriculture up to $9.2 billion between 2020 and 2039 in lost crop yields.   The report also details how extreme weather events, including wildfires, has cost the government $350 billion over the last decade, when including crop and flood insurance costs.n  I...

The crop insurance industry is calling a report by the Government Accountability Office "disheartening."  Last week, the GAO recommended that Congress considers directing the USDA to adjust the expected rate of return for crop insurance.  In...