Congress is on the clock once again. This time, a deadline for funding the federal government could have implications for farm programs.
Congress needs to pass a new continuing resolution by Nov. 17 to avert a government shutdown, and leaders of the Senate Ag Committee are working to include a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill in the CR.
The ranking Democrat on the House Ag Committee, David Scott, on Friday endorsed a one-year extension. Earlier last week, committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson indicated to Agri-Pulse he was open to the idea as well.
But, but, but: It remains to be seen when House and Senate can reach agreement on a CR - and what will be in it.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., last week floated the idea of a “laddered” stopgap bill that would set varying expiration dates for different areas of the government, triggering the threat of rolling shutdowns into the new year.
Johnson told Fox News Sunday that he was up late Saturday night working on a new CR. "We recognize that we may not get all the appropriations bill done by this deadline of Nov. 17, but we're going to continue in good faith,” Johnson said.
Senior House Ag Dem: Scott ‘working hard’
A senior Democrat on House Ag, California Rep. Jim Costa, says Scott, D-Ga., is “working hard” to keep the panel’s minority members together as they negotiate with Republicans on a new farm bill. But Costa wouldn’t answer directly when asked on this week’s Agri-Pulse Open Mic interview whether he was pleased with Scott’s leadership.
“I’m not going to make comments about my colleague’s performance. I think that’s counterproductive toward trying to get people to work together and get the job done,” Costa said.
Thompson has been trying to get Democrats to agree to changes in the bill that would provide funding to address commodity program reference prices and other issues. Scott presented the ideas to fellow Democratic colleagues recently, but so far the proposals don’t appear to have gone over well.
DeSantis picks up Reynolds endorsement
In what Ron DeSantis himself has called a “huge get,” Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will endorse the Florida governor’s campaign for president today.
The Des Moines Register reported Sunday that Reynolds would endorse her fellow governor’s flagging effort at a rally. A recent Register poll shows President Donald Trump leading among likely attendees of Iowa’s Republican caucus with 43%. DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley are tied with 16%.
The caucus is slated for Jan. 15.
US pork producers want trade benefit from Biden’s Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity
Pork producers are expressing skepticism about the U.S.-led Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, an effort to forge closer relationships with 11 western hemisphere nations
President Biden met with leaders Friday from nations including Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru and Uruguay. The White House says it wants the APEP to “catalyze investment in innovative climate financing solutions” and “develop a robust regional workforce in the digital technology sectors of the future,” among other goals.
The National Pork Producers Council says that while it supports the goals of the partnership, “it has concerns that the administration may forgo formal trade deals in the region.”
The Biden administration has consistently eschewed traditional, tariff-reducing, free trade agreements.
Take note: Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., chairman of the Foreign Relations subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, sent a letter last month to Biden administration officials asking if “expanding trade and investment” is a goal for the APEP and whether the framework “will create a pathway to opening negotiations for foreign trade agreements with participating nations that currently lack one.”
Voters concerned about high food prices and rising hunger rates: Feeding America poll
U.S. families continue to feel the strain of higher grocery bills, with 82% of likely voters saying they’re concerned about high food costs right now, according to a new poll of 1,200 voters from Feeding America, the organization that represents food banks. An even higher 87% are concerned that hunger is on the rise in America.
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The survey found that 70% of likely voters want the government to do more to address food insecurity, the group said.
The survey was released in the wake of a recent food insecurity report from USDA showing that an estimated 44 million people in the U.S., including 13 million children, are food-insecure.
USDA shrinks beef board as cattle inventory declines
The Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board will have two fewer members as the result of a shrinking national beef herd and changes in import levels.
A new USDA rule will trim the beef board’s membership from 101 to 99. Idaho will gain one new representative on the board, while Montana, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin will each lose one. The rule takes effect Dec. 6.
Recent rains boost Miss. River levels
Barge companies are increasing their loads amid a rise in Mississippi River water levels brought on by recent rains.
River gauges near St. Louis show water levels at 3.8 feet on Nov. 3, higher than the negative 3.47 feet the gauge was reading on Sept. 17, according to Soy Transportation Coalition Director Mike Steenhoek. Water levels at Memphis were -7.29 feet that day compared to their record low of -11.99 on Oct. 17.
Take note: Despite being able to carry more grain than in previous weeks, Steenhoek says barges are still seeing restrictions of between 15% and 25% on the size of their shipments.
EPA finishes review of certification programs for pesticide applicators
EPA has approved 67 separate state and tribal plans to certify pesticide applicators of restricted-use pesticides.
In a process delayed by the COVID pandemic, it’s taken more than six years to implement a 2017 rule that includes more comprehensive training requirements and generally requires applicators to be at least 18 years old.
In addition, “recertification programs must ensure that applicators continue to maintain a level of competency necessary to use RUPs without causing unreasonable adverse effects,” EPA says. “Certifications are now valid for a maximum of only five years, whereas previously there was no federal limit.”
Send questions and comments to Associate Editor Steve Davies.
