The House of Representatives Wednesday took action to avert a pending rail strike. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on the house floor Wednesday, stated, “A shutdown would grind our economy to a halt, and every family would feel the strain,” while adding, “Small businesses wouldn’t be able to get their products to market. Many of them, as I say, farmers.” National …
Congressional Vote on Rail Strike a Welcome Development
(NCGA/November 30, 2022) — The U.S. House of Representatives voted to block a national rail strike that would have dire consequences for the nation’s economy. The vote comes as the country continues to struggle with supply-side issues and problems with key transportation hubs, including low-water levels along the Mississippi River. The National Corn Growers Association said the vote was a …
Comment Extension for Packers and Stockyards Act Rulemaking Welcomed
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a 45-day extension of the comment period for the proposed rule titled, “Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act.” The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the extension while urging USDA to proceed in a cautious, deliberative manner. NCBA Senior Director of Government Affairs Tanner Beymer, explains why this extension …
Farmers, Ag Organizations Against EPA Proposal
More than 16,000 farmers and agricultural organizations recently united against EPA’s proposed revision to its 2020 atrazine registration review decision. The farmers and agricultural organizations representing corn, citrus, grain sorghum, sugar cane, and other crops, submitted comments calling for the agency to base decisions on credible scientific evidence. Efforts to help farmers speak out against the proposal were coordinated by …
Ag Groups Argue Against Proposition 12 in Supreme Court
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 …