Agriculture groups argued against California’s Proposition 12 to the Supreme Court last week. The American Farm Bureau Federation and National Pork Producers Council challenged the ability of one state to set agricultural production standards for the entire country. California’s Proposition 12 law bans the sale of pork from hogs that don’t meet the state’s arbitrary production standards, even if the …
NCBA Participates in White House Conference
For the first time in more than half a century, President Biden this week hosted the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The event was designed to catalyze action for the millions of Americans struggling with food insecurity and diet-related diseases like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. Various representatives from the agriculture industry attended, and that included National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) …
AFBF Says Court ESA Ruling ‘Sends a Message’
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) says an appeals court ruling on Modernized Endangered Species Act regulations sends a message to lower courts. Modernized Endangered Species Act regulations will be reinstated after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a district court improperly vacated 2019 revisions. The appeals court determined a district court erred by reversing the regulations without …
Producers Convey Pork Industry Priorities during NPPC Fly-in
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) held its fall Legislative Action Conference last week, as nearly 100 pork producers were in Washington, D.C., meeting with their members of Congress to discuss pork industry priorities. Over the two-day event, producers asked lawmakers to: Press the Biden administration to join the 11-nation Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership and to negotiate an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework …
TRUCKS Act Gains Support
Legislation that affects agricultural trucking is getting some support. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) of South Dakota introduced the TRUCKS Act, formally known as the Trucking Regulations Unduly Constricting Known Service-providers Act. It would allow states to issue a new Small Business Restricted Commercial Driver’s License without having to meet the federal safety program Entry-Level Driver Training requirements that were passed …
NCBA Not Ready to Back Bills
Earlier this week we told you that House Agriculture Committee Chair David Scott had introduced the Small Family Farmer and Rancher Relief Act, H.R 8590. The legislation, designed to help small farmers and ranchers in the cattle industry, would provide financial assistance by strengthening the safety net and create opportunities to increase competition and help small ranchers access new marketing opportunities. While the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) says it’s …
Agriculture Coalition Letter to Senate on Farm Labor
The Agriculture Workforce Coalition is calling on the Senate to pass an agriculture workforce reform bill this Congress. The coalition sent a letter to Senate leaders this week, which was signed by dozens of agricultural organizations including the American Farm Bureau Federation, the International Fresh Produce Association, the National Farmers Union, and several associations from states where ag labor is …
House Ag Chair Scott Introduces Livestock Legislation
Last week, House Agriculture Committee Chair David Scott from Georgia, introduced H.R 8590, the Small Family Farmer and Rancher Relief Act. The legislation is designed to help small farmers and ranchers in the cattle industry. In a statement, Scott said “It’s a crisis in this nation that we’ve lost an average of 17,000 cattle ranchers per year. The drivers of the loss are complex, …
NCBA Backs Food and Energy Security Act
During this week’s Cattle Industry Summer Business meeting, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced it does support the Food and Energy Security Act introduced by Senator John Thune of South Dakota. The bill would require federal regulators to disclose how proposed rules would impact food and energy prices. “The Biden administration proposed a massive climate disclosure rule that will …
Sales Tax Exemptions for Florida Ranchers
The Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) wants to remind ranchers in the state that after lobbying for several years to remove the sales tax on fence, FCA members were finally able to secure this exemption during the 2022 legislative session, and that officially began the first of this month. Florida tax code requires a sales tax to be applied to all things sold. …