Agriculture Policy

By Bobby Frederick, Director of Legislative Affairs and Public Policy On the legislative front, this week was supposed to feature a critical vote over government funding and potential action on a farm bill compromise. However, the death of America’s 41st president, George H. W. Bush, left Congress eager to pay its respects and avoid a partisan showdown. Congress on Dec. 5 quietly passed a two-week continuing resolution that keeps federal government agencies open through Dec. 21. Both the House and Senate are in session next week and a vote on the farm bill is possible if not likely. The ... Read More

In a letter submitted Nov. 21, the NGFA urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to withdraw its information request and suspend further rulemaking on potential changes to the official U.S. grain standards for soybeans.  The American Soybean Association, North American Export Grain Association, National Oilseed Processors Association and U.S. Soybean Export Council all joined in signing the statement. AMS made its request for information regarding the official U.S. standards for soybeans on June 29. The letter cited “the atypical ... Read More

By Bobby Frederick, Director of Legislative Affairs and Public Policy On election night, the country delivered a split verdict by flipping control of the House to Democrats and retaining Republicans in the Senate, solidifying their majority by a few seats. Ten days later, as votes continue to be counted, election results have improved for Democrats. It appeared on election night that Republican Rep. Martha McSally would become Arizona’s first female senator. However, Democratic Rep. Krysten Sinema clinched that prize earlier this week. Meanwhile, the Florida Senate race is undergoing ... Read More

By Bobby Frederick, Director of Legislative Affairs and Public Policy While farm bill conference negotiations between House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders and staff have been going on for weeks, the first — and likely only — meeting of all 56 farm bill conferees took place on Wednesday (Sept. 5). During the three-hour meeting, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; as well as House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texas, and Ranking Member Collin Peterson, D-Minn., joined the other House and Senate ... Read More

Agricultural groups led by the American Farm Bureau Federation will appeal a South Carolina district court ruling that reinstated the controversial 2015 “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule in several states. Judge David Norton of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina ruled on Aug. 16 that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not follow the Administrative Procedures Act in finalizing its rule to delay the 2015 WOTUS by two years until 2020. The 2015 WOTUS rule expanded EPA’s jurisdiction over the nation’s bodies of water, leading many industries ... Read More

As House and Senate lawmakers prepare for the first farm bill conference meeting on Sept. 5, NGFA is advocating for certain policy priorities, including conservation program reforms and official inspection exception provisions. The Farm Bill Conference Committee is composed of 56 members, including nine senators and 47 representatives. “We are committed to working together on a farm bill that delivers certainty and predictability to our farmers and families as quickly as possible,” the leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees said in a joint statement. Conservation: ... Read More