Some House Republicans say they hope the farmer fly-ins this week will spur action on a farm bill, although there’s no sign of a breakthrough between the House and Senate, and time is fast running out.
The House Ag Committee’s bill still has a funding gap that needs to be fixed, but some committee Republicans said Monday evening that Senate Ag Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., should make the next move.
“It takes two to tango, and right now we do not have a dance partner,” said Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D.
But, but, but: House Ag Democrat Jasmine Crockett of Texas said she believes the only option will be another extension of the 2018 farm bill.
“We can't get anything done in this session,” Crockett said. “The fact that we can't stand up and make sure that our farmers as well as everyone who eats which is all of us are taken care of just tells you just how bad we’ve devolved.”
Hog producers press for Prop 12 fix
Members of the National Pork Producers Council are joining row crop producers on Capitol Hill this week to urge lawmakers to make progress on a new farm bill. One of the group’s top priorities is a legislative fix to California’s Proposition 12, which sets housing standards for laying hens and sows.
NPPC president Lori Stevermer said the group is concerned the ballot initiative would lead to a patchwork of production regulations across the country. She said the “uncertainty is what’s really weighing on people’s minds.”
Vilsack notes reference price benefit disparity in House bill
Reference price increases in the House farm bill disproportionately benefit a small number of growers of rice, cotton and peanuts, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack told members of the National Farmers Union Monday.
Citing an analysis from the majority on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Vilsack said the House bill’s changes would provide far more money to rice farmers than to corn and soybean growers.
“Can there be increases to reference prices? For sure, but not at a point where it creates a circumstance where you have to take money from the nutrition programs, or where you have to deal with budget gimmicks,” Vilsack said.
Treasury pushed to prioritize domestic feedstocks for 45Z credit
Lawmakers are calling on the Treasury Department to ensure the new 45Z clean fuels tax credit is limited to products made from domestic feedstocks.
In a letter, more than 40 lawmakers say the 45Z guidance should be issued ahead of its Jan. 1 statutory deadline. Additionally, Treasury should make it clear that the credit only applies to biofuels produced from domestic feedstocks, according to the letter.
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The lawmakers say existing state low carbon fuel standards and the federal 40B tax credit drive demand for foreign tallow and used cooking oil over domestic feedstocks, putting American farmers and processors at a disadvantage.
The National Oilseed Processors Association and the American Soybean Association say failing to limit the credit to domestic suppliers will continue to incentivize foreign feedstocks. “Making certain that 45Z is limited to domestic feedstocks will ensure that this important tax credit is implemented as intended in support of the American farmer, processor, and the U.S. taxpayer,” NOPA President and CEO Kailee Tkacz Buller said in a statement.
Lawmakers seek briefing on Chinese-manufactured agricultural drones
Thirteen House Republicans want a briefing from USDA and Homeland Security officials regarding the use of Chinese-manufactured drones for agricultural purposes.
In a letter, the lawmakers say the U.S. has imported thousands of spray drones manufactured by the Chinese drone company DJI, which has also been classified by the Defense Department as a Chinese military company. "The risk of these DJI agricultural spray drones being manipulated to carry out an attack in the United States cannot be ignored,” the lawmakers argue.
The lawmakers also say the data collected by the drones could be “weaponized by the CCP to gain access into granular level detail on the stability and condition of the U.S. agriculture sector.
America’s food supply cannot rely on technology that is manufactured and controlled by China.”
Settlements reached in meat company wage-fixing case
More meat companies have settled claims that they conspired to fix wages, without admitting liability.
The law firm of Hagens Berman announced Monday it had reached settlements with National Beef Packing Co. for $14.2 million, Cargill Meat Solutions Corp. ($29.75 million) and Hormel Foods Corp. ($13.5 million).
If approved by a federal court in Colorado, that would bring the total amount of settlements in the wage-fixing case to about $200 million. Tyson, JBS, American Foods, Seaboard Foods and Perdue have all settled.
Lawmakers ask EPA to look at benefits of acephate
Missouri Republican Rep. Mark Alford and several lawmakers are urging EPA to take more time before canceling all but one use of acephate.
EPA said in April that the organophosphate insecticide poses dietary risks. But Alford and fellow lawmakers, including Republican Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin and Democrat Don Davis of North Carolina, say EPA needs to look closely at the benefits of the chemical.
It is used on cotton, soybeans, peanuts and citrus, the lawmakers note in a letter. EPA would allow it only to be to be used for tree injection.
“We believe it is essential that EPA allow adequate time for the development and review of additional data being developed by registrants and other stakeholders that seeks to address EPA’s concerns and allow for continued use of this critical tool,” the lawmakers say.
Cantaloupes recalled in five states due to possible salmonella contamination
An Arizona company has recalled 224 cases of whole cantaloupe due to potential salmonella contamination. Eagle Produce LLC based in Scottsdale, Arizona initiated a recall of cantaloupes distributed in Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Texas and Virginia last month. Routine sample testing in Michigan detected salmonella in a retail cantaloupe, triggering the recall.
So far, no illnesses have been reported, according to a FDA notice.
Correction: Friday’s Daybreak incorrectly reported AFBF's estimate of the two-year drop in farm income. The correct figure is 23%.
