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House Farm Bill Prospects Improving

5 years, 9 months ago AFBF

House Republican leadership worked out a deal to bring up two different immigration bills for votes next week. One of the bills is the conservative measure authored by Representative Bob Goodlatte that the Freedom Caucus wanted to be brought up for a vote before they would commit votes to the farm bill. Because that vote was in place, Freedom Caucus Chair Mark Meadows told reporters that he was ready to vote in favor of House Ag Chair Michael Conaway’s farm bill. Politico says Meadows support could potentially be huge. It signals that other conservatives are likely to fall in line and give Conaway the votes he needs to get the bill (HR 2) passed through the House. Meadows, a North Carolina Republican, says he’s not happy with everything currently in the House Farm Bill. He plans to continue to push for subsidy limits on payments made to farmers. Meadows had tried to get an amendment to the floor in the House but was stymied by the Rules Committee. “Am I happy with everything in the Farm Bill? No,” Meadows says. “Am I working with my colleagues to get a better farm bill? The answer is yes.”

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Groups React to Senate Farm Bill

The American Soybean Association was pleased that the Senate Ag Committee passed its proposed Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. The ASA is calling for swift passage by the full Senate. “Soybean farmers across the country are in need of certainty during this time of low crop prices and volatile conditions affecting our export markets,” says ASA Vice President Davie Stephens. The American Farm Bureau Federation also was pleased with the Committee’s passage of the bill, given that low prices, rising interest rates, and the uncertain future of exports all hang heavy over America’s farm and ranch land. “We applaud the spirit of cooperation in the vote,” says AFB President Zippy Duvall. “We’re eager to see that spirit carry through onto the Senate floor in the days ahead. Farmers and ranchers are counting on lawmakers to come together and pass the farm bill soon.” The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association will be focusing on support for the bipartisan farm bill when the group hosts its annual D.C. Fly-In. “USCA appreciates the work that the Senate Ag Committee leadership did in seeking input from all groups and stakeholders in drafting this bill,” says USCA President Kenny Graner.

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Ag Groups Want #TradeNotTariffs

Ag groups have spent weeks engaging the Trump Administration for more insight into the future of trade tariffs. Those agricultural producers and related industries that depend on exports are now turning to Congress for help. The White House declared that Friday would be the day it announces the final list of $50 billion in Chinese products that would be charged a 25 percent tariff under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. In response, China says it will impose tariffs on approximately 106 U.S. goods amounting to approximately $50 billion. “Adding a 25 percent tariff on exports to China for U.S. wheat is the last thing we need during some of the worst economic times in farm country,” says National Association of Wheat Growers President Jimmie Musick. National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Skunes says, “Farmers cannot afford the immediate pain of retaliation, nor the longer-term erosion of long-standing market access with our closest allies.” Dennis Slater, President of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, says, “Tariffs are taxes on American consumers and will put good-paying U.S. manufacturing jobs at risk.

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Federal Judge Rules Against California’s Glyphosate Labeling Requirement

The national agriculture coalition fighting against California’s false and misleading Prop 65 labeling requirement for glyphosate picked up another win in court. U.S. District Court Judge William Shubb upheld the preliminary injunction prohibiting the state from enforcing the requirement until the court issues a final ruling on the matter. The California Attorney General had filed a motion to lift the preliminary injunction that was issued by the court in February. Shubb denied the motion, keeping the injunction in place until the court considers all the facts in the case. “California is attempting to implement a policy that will cause damage to American farmers,” says National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Chandler Goule. “The facts and science are on our side and show that glyphosate is safe for use.” In the order, Judge Shubb ruled that “the state’s additional arguments don’t change the fact that the majority of agencies that have examined glyphosate have determined that it’s not a cancer risk.” The judge also reiterated that the heavy weight of the evidence in the record is that glyphosate is not known to cause cancer.

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Farmers Set to Attend the NFU Beginning Farmers Institute

The National Farmers Union says twenty beginning farmers and ranchers from across the United States will participate in the 2018-2019 Beginning Farmers Institute Program. The institute is designed to help the next generation of farmers to succeed by providing mentorship, technical training, as well as leadership development for participants. NFU President Roger Johnson says his group is happy to welcome another large, diverse class of Beginning Farmer Participants to the Farmers Union family. “Ensuring the hands of a well-equipped next generation of farmers and ranchers is a top priority for Farmers Union,” he says. Class sessions will take place in Washington D.C., Washington state, and California. Those sessions include hands-on training that will emphasize many of the challenges beginning farmers will face in their careers, including business planning, access to capital, land acquisition, marketing, and many more. Participants in this year’s class come from a wide variety of operation types, ranging from two-acre farms to large grain operations. Women and veterans have been some of the most active participants in the program, and they make up 14 of the 20 classroom participants in 2018.

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USDA Launches Interactive Map of Opioid Epidemic Resources

The USDA recently launched a new interactive feature on its website to help rural communities combat the opioid epidemic in rural America. There’s a new interactive map available on the rural opioid misuse webpage. The map is designed to help visitors learn more about, access, and replicate actions that other rural leaders are taking in small towns across the country to address the epidemic. The map will help visitors find out more about the most successful prevention, treatment, and recovery options that others are using to fight opioid abuse. Anne Hazlett, Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, says the epidemic has taken a monumental toll on many of the small towns and rural places that are the heartbeat of our country. “USDA is a strong partner to rural leaders in addressing this issue through programs for prevention, treatment, and recovery, as well as programs that build rural resiliency and prosperity for the future.” USDA collected information on the most successful practices in combatting the opioid epidemic through a series of regional “roundtables” and through the “What’s working in your town?” form on the USDA opioid misuse webpage.

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