NSP Visits Capitol Hill This Week
National Sorghum Producers led a June fly-in to Washington, D.C., holding 21 meetings over two days with House and Senate Members and staff to reiterate sorghum farmers’ farm bill priorities. The group also met with the new Acting Chief of Staff with USDA NRCS and the EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality. Thanks to Amy France, NSP Vice-Chair from Scott City, Kansas, and former NSP Chairman JB Stewart of Keyes, Oklahoma, for leading this month’s engagement with many key policy makers on the Hill. Also participating on this fly-in were Aly Ghormley of Madisonville, Texas, and Joshua Strine of Caledonia, Ohio, who were both recipients of the National Sorghum Foundation Bill Kubecka Memorial Scholarship.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Thompson Provides Farm Bill Update, Says “No Better Return on Investment” Than Farm Policy
Washington farm journalist Jim Wiesemeyer sat down with the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Congressman G.T. Thompson (R-PA), on Wednesday to discuss the 2023 Farm Bill. Chairman Thompson reiterated the confidence he has in Speaker McCarthy and other House leaders, stating, “Speaker McCarthy has been a great ally in the farm bill process so far. He understands the seriousness, the logistics to make it happen, what’s needed. One important point is: We’ve never had Republican leadership rowing in the same direction when it comes to a farm bill as it now is with Speaker McCarthy, Scalise, Stefanik and Whip Emmer. We’re working together on everything from member education to future whip operations.” Chairman Thompson has consistently shared his vision for a Farm Bill that is “bipartisan, bicameral, highly effective, and on time.” He elaborated more on the timing of the legislation with Wiesemeyer, stating, “An extension is short sighted, and it really falls short of us making the refinements needed… We’re going to be on course to do this by what I’ve always committed to – completing a farm bill on time. We’ve made the case again that a successful farm bill enhances our farm safety net for our producers and a baseline funded bill does not mean that we can’t make program improvements. But I’m not rooting for the extension. We must invest in the safety net for our farmers and ranchers.” The full interview with Chairman Thompson may be found here.
House Appropriations Committee Advances Agriculture Appropriations Bill
This week, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) resolved the impasse presented by a handful of Members over disagreements over the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which allowed House business to proceed. Amongst that business is the appropriations process, which began in earnest this week. The House Appropriations Committee gathered on Tuesday to consider the first of twelve funding bills. On Tuesday, the Committee advanced the FY 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill favorably. On Wednesday, the Committee considered the FY 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill’s report language includes important direction on a number of topics, including urging USDA to provide inflation adjustment to Administrative and Operating expense (A&O) reimbursement and equitable relief for specialty crop policies under crop insurance without a renegotiation of the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA). House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD), stated, “This legislation supports critical ag research and plant and animal health programs, invests in rural communities, expands access to broadband, provides nutrition assistance to those in need, and ensures that American consumers have a safe food and drug supply.” The full report language may be viewed here. The agriculture appropriations bill reported favorably out of the Committee on Thursday morning. Although the two appropriations bills were favorably reported by the Committee, they were approved on party line votes, making House floor consideration a challenge. Read more here.
Deadline Extended for EPA to Issue Final Set Renewable Volume Obligations Under Renewable Fuel Standard, Groups Urge Agency to Increase Targets
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have held a number of stakeholder meetings over the past few weeks to hear feedback on the Agency’s proposed biofuel blending targets for 2023, 2024, and 2025. Initially, EPA was required to announce the final rule by June 14, but an agreement with Growth Energy this week allows for a one-week extension on the deadline. EPA must now deliver its final Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) by June 21. Growth Energy CEO, Emily Skor, stated, “After discussion with EPA leadership, Growth Energy consented to this new deadline to finalize the RVOs. We fully expect EPA to comply with the new deadline and look forward to a robust final rule that strengthens the RFS and enhances the biofuels industry’s ability to decarbonize the transportation sector.” Meanwhile, other stakeholders have urged EPA to increase the blending targets, stating that the current proposed numbers “would almost flatline demand”. Read more here.
USDA-FSA Announces Over 1 Million Acres Accepted in Conservation Reserve Program General Signup
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) on Wednesday announced the acceptance of over 1 million acres in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup. According to a release, “This is one of several signups that USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is holding for the program. The results for CRP General signup reflect the continued importance of CRP as a tool to help producers invest in the long-term health, sustainability, and profitability of their land and resources.” FSA Administrator, Mr. Zach Ducheneaux, stated, “Today’s announcement is one of many enrollment and partnership opportunities within CRP, including opportunities through our working lands Grassland CRP, Continuous CRP, and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). USDA will continue working to ensure producers and landowners have the information they need to take advantage of the options that work best for their operations.” Read more here.
