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. …
US Hopeful for a Free Trade Agreement with UK
USDA Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh, just off a major trade mission to the UK, sees that effort as setting the stage for a later free trade deal with Great Britain. Bronaugh says the trade mission resulted in both direct ag sales and talks on trade barriers that could lead to more formal US-UK negotiations. “I think we’re all very hopeful …
Survey Says Shoppers Want Clearer Meat Labels
The National Chicken Council (NCC) released findings from a recent national survey of Americans regarding consumer attitudes about chicken and plant-based ‘chicken’ alternatives. Survey participants included individuals who consume meat and animal products, along with flexitarians, vegetarians and vegans. The results indicate the majority of Americans want clearer product labeling and separate shopping sections for plant-based products. One in five …
Forcing Compliance on Trade Policies
Making Canada Stick to Dairy Trade Policies. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Last month, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office initiated the second U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement dispute regarding Canadian dairy tariff-rate quota policies. The U.S. is requesting dispute settlement consultations regarding Canada’s dairy tariff-rate quota, or TRQ allocation measures. The TRQs deny allocation access to eligible applicants, including retailers, …