6 years, 5 months ago American Farm Bureau Federation
Agriculture Reacts to House Tax Reform Proposal
The House Ways and Means Committee tax overhaul plan released Thursday provides a blueprint for tax reform. The plan is essentially a set of promotional documents, with many details unaccounted for. The documents say the estate tax would be repealed, and that the legislation will lower individual and corporate tax rates. Agriculture groups are reviewing the first draft of the legislation. The American Farm Bureau Federation applauded the introduction, but acknowledged that AFBF staff will be studying the proposal to ensure the plan “reduces the tax burden” on farmers and ranchers. The National Farmers Union opposes the tax plan, while supporting efforts to simplify the tax code. Farmers Union President Roger Johnson says the tax plan would “shift the nation’s tax burden from the top earners in our country to the backs of American family farmers, ranchers and the middle class.” The National Biodiesel Board expressed disappointment because the plan does not include an extension of the biodiesel tax incentives. And, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives also expressed opposition to the tax plan, as the organization says eliminating Section 199 “would raise taxes on millions of farmers.”
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Clovis Withdraws Name from USDA Nomination
Sam Clovis withdrew his nomination to a Department of Agriculture post Thursday. President Trump nominated Clovis earlier this year to serve as USDA’s undersecretary for research, education and economics, effectively known as the USDA chief scientist position. However, Clovis was recently linked to the investigation into the links between the Trump campaign and Russia. Clovis says in a letter to President Trump that he does "not want to be a distraction or a negative influence." He cites "relentless assaults” on the Trump administration that "seem to be a blood sport." White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the administration respects his decision to withdraw. Clovis, who was already serving as the senior White House adviser on USDA, added that he will "continue to serve at the pleasure” of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. His nomination faced a tough road as some in the Senate, including Ranking Agriculture Committee member Debbie Stabenow, questioned his qualifications for the USDA post. Stabenow called the withdraw “a victory for science” and farmers who rely on agricultural research.
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Two More USDA Nominees Get Senate Ag Hearing
The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing for two more Department of Agriculture political nominees next week. Committee leadership announced the hearing for Glen Smith, of Iowa, to be a Member of the Farm Credit Administration Board, and Stephen Vaden (vay-den), of Tennessee, to be USDA General Counsel. The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, November 9th, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. Meanwhile, the nomination of Bill Northey as undersecretary for farm production and conservation remains on hold by Texas Republican Ted Cruz, as Cruz is demanding a meeting with the administration on the Renewable Fuel Standard. Northey's nomination breezed through the Senate Agriculture Committee last month, along with Greg Ibach (Eye'-baw) as undersecretary of agriculture for marketing and regulatory programs. The Senate confirmed Ibach's nomination a week ago, and he was sworn in this week be Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.
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TPP Nations Nearing final Stretch in Talks
The 11 remaining Trans-Pacific Partnership nations are edging closer to sealing the comprehensive free trade pact. Reuters reports that New Zealand recently agreed to amend some specific laws that are not subject to TPP, but are needed to make a path forward for the agreement. The move brings member countries closer to a victory in support of free trade to be finalized at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit next week in Vietnam. Canada though played down the chances of any formal deal next week, citing the need to ensure the provisions in a new TPP would not cause problems for ongoing talks to update the North American Free Trade Agreement. TPP aims to eliminate tariffs on industrial and farm products across an 11-nation coalition whose trade totaled $356.3 billion last year. The deal was worth an estimated $4 billion to U.S. agriculture, annually, before the Trump Administration elected to withdraw the U.S. from the trade agreement.
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Cargill Aiming for Birth to Burger Beef Audit
Cargill plans to launch new technology in tracking cattle to develop a verified sustainability standard for consumers. Called the Cargill Canadian Beef Sustainability Acceleration pilot, the effort should move the company's customers a step closer to providing consumers with beef from operations that have been audited from ‘birth to burger' using an industry developed sustainability standard, according to meat industry publication Meatingplace. Using RFID tags for cattle, they will be tracked from the time producers tag them, through processing at Cargill’s High River beef plant in Canada. A Cargill spokesperson cited research showing consumers want more information about their food, saying the pilot program will help Cargill implement the standard to provide customers “an increased level of trust in the beef they purchase and eat.”
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USDA Invests $2.5 Billion in Rural Electric Infrastructure
The Department of Agriculture Thursday announced $2.5 billion in rural development loans for rural electric infrastructure improvements in 27 states. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says the investments will help “develop and maintain modern, reliable electric infrastructure” for rural communities. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association says the investment is “critical to co-ops’ ability to maintain, expand and improve rural electric infrastructure.” One of the largest awards within the announcement goes to a Florida electric cooperative to build 297 miles of electric lines and improve 66 miles of electric lines for $130 million. The loans announced Thursday also include $127 million for smart grid projects. For more information and state-specific projects, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
