S P E C I A L
R E P O R T
‘Farm Bill’
Farm Bureau sends proposal to Capitol Hill | 4
May 6, 2013 Vol. 92
‘Waterways’
Farmers urge action to ensure efficient system | 3
‘Animal Drugs’ Lawmakers introduce user fee bills | 6
‘Illinois’
Farmers anxious for fields to dry out | 7
No. 5 fbnews.org
This marks the last print issue of FBNews. The newspaper will continue via a website, fbnews.fb.org, and monthly e-newsletter, which you can sign up for at www.fb.org. Thank you for your loyal readership.
Court refuses to dismiss farmer’s suit against EPA Poultry and livestock farmers scored a win in April when a federal court rejected efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency to dismiss a case brought by West Virginia poultry farmer Lois Alt, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Alt had challenged an EPA order demanding that she obtain a Clean Water Act discharge permit for ordinary stormwater runoff from her farmyard. Despite EPA’s recent withdrawal of the Alt order, the U.S. District Court for the North-
ern District of West Virginia ruled that the case should go forward to clarify for the benefit of Alt and other farmers whether, as EPA contends, discharge permits are required for “ordinary precipitation runoff from a typical farmyard.” “EPA seems to have believed if it withdrew the order against Ms. Alt, the court would dismiss her lawsuit,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “The tactic failed because the court recognized EPA wasn’t changing its underlying legal position, but just trying to avoid
having to defend that position.” Alt filed suit against EPA in June 2012 after the agency threatened her with $37,500 in fines each time stormwater came into contact with dust, feathers or small amounts of manure on the ground outside of her poultry houses as a result of normal farm operations. EPA also threatened separate fines of $37,500 per day if Alt failed to apply for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit Suit Continued on Page 3
Immigration bill reflects strong ag effort
photo courtesy of south carolina farm bureau
n e w s p a p e r
THE PROGRAM LAID OUT in the Senate immigration reform bill includes two provisions essential to farmers and ranchers—a blue card program for current experienced farm workers and a new agricultural visa program to meet future labor needs. Agriculture’s unprecedented unity in support of the Senate’s comprehensive immigration legislation brings farmers and ranchers closer than they’ve been in decades to having a stable, secure and legal workforce, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. The agriculture provisions of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744) reflect a landmark agreement reached in mid-April by the United Farm Workers union and the Agriculture Workforce Coalition, a coa-
lition of 60-plus organizations of which AFBF is a founding member. Representing the AWC at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on April 22, Chuck Conner, president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, emphasized that reform has been a long time coming. “The agriculture provisions in this legislation represent our best chance in over a decade, or more, to solve the labor shortage in agriculture,” Conner said. “The program outlined in the bill includes two key components that
AWC views as vital to meaningful reform—a blue card program for current experienced farm workers and a new agricultural visa program to meet future labor needs.” The bill’s agriculture provisions are intended to ensure farmers and ranchers can maintain their experienced workforce that are in undocumented status and to replace the current guestworker program, H-2A, which most farmers consider unworkable. Under the blue card program, experienced agricultural workers Immigration Continued on Page 6
Viewpoint
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May 6, 2013
The
Bob Stallman
President, American Farm Bureau Federation
Our food is safer than ever
S
ummertime is almost upon us. For most Americans, the warmer weather brings picnics in the park, BBQs and grilling out with family and friends. It also brings the increased chance for foodborne illness to occur if safe food preparation and handling are not given full attention. Because food safety is such an important issue to farmers, we’ve worked hard to ensure that the food that reaches your table is safe. Thanks to voluntary farmer-led initiatives, strict government monitoring and consumer food safety education, foodborne illness has dropped drastically in the last 100 years. Not just lip service According to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, our food is safer than ever. The number of foodborne disease outbreaks in 2009-2010 declined 32 percent compared with the preceding five years. Some of the credit for this can be attributed to the Food Safety Modernization Act, which was signed into law in 2011. This law aims to coop-
eratively improve food safety by building on existing systems already in place in the private sector. Before the FSMA was passed, approximately 72 million Americans fell sick due to a foodborne illness every year. Within a week after the FSMA was signed into law, those numbers were adjusted to 48 million. Significantly, foodborne illnesses now only touch 9.4 million people yearly. Farmers take seriously their responsibility of growing safe food and that’s not just lip service. Farmers have the same desire as other consumers to have a safe, abundant and affordable food supply. And they also have an important economic interest because the demand for their products is determined by consumer confidence. Shouting from the rooftop Many people don’t realize that there are five federal agencies that administer at least 30 laws related to food safety. Through this intense federal oversight, the level of food safety
testing has also dramatically increased. And, just as important, consumer education on food safety is on the uptick. Even though contamination of food can occur at any stage in food production, a high level of foodborne illness is caused by foods improperly prepared or mishandled at home or in restaurants. To counter this, Farm Bureaus across the country are educating consumers to enhance their food safety knowledge. And it’s working! According to Dr. Richard Raymond, former undersecretary for food safety at the Agriculture Department, the CDC report is cause for celebration. “You should be able to stand on top of the building and say ‘hey look, (the agriculture) industry is doing a great job, consumers are doing a great job of listening to the safe handling and proper cooking messages…and restaurants and other people that cook our food are doing a better job.’” So, go on and enjoy your burgers and chops, deviled eggs and fresh salad this summer knowing that your food is safer than ever. And, maybe even have a steak for me while you’re at it.
Moving forward in the Digital Age of communication By Stewart Truelsen A milestone in the history of the American Farm Bureau Federation was reached on May 3, 2013, when the official newspaper, FBNews, was printed and shipped by mail for the last time. In-depth coverage of agriculture-related legislative and regulatory activity continues via a free FBNews e-newsletter and website, fbnews.fb.org. The newspaper is not a victim of the Digital Age as much as it is a beneficiary of it. “We’re no longer beholden to an arbitrary deadline,” said Erin Anthony, FBNews editor. “When there is news to share with farmers and ranchers, we can quickly roll with it. The online version is also much easier for readers to share with friends, colleagues, local officials and Congress.” Thankfully, the newspaper continues, because it has been with the organization almost every step of the way and contributed so much. Shortly after the American Farm Bureau Federation was formed in Chicago in late 1919 it hired a legislative director to work in Washington, D.C. One of
FBNews
Mace Thornton, Executive Director, Communications Erin Anthony, Editor Phyllis Brown, Assistant Editor Tracy Grondine, Contributing Writer Cyndie Sirekis, Contributing Writer Sarah Bittner, Contributing Writer Miranda McDaniel, Contributing Writer
Thankfully, the newspaper continues, because it has been with the organization almost every step of the way and contributed so much. the next steps was to issue news releases, op-ed pieces for newspapers and the first Farm Bureau newsletter, which was nothing more than a mimeographed sheet. By 1921, an information department was formed and the American Farm Bureau Federation Official News Letter was printed. Representation on Capitol Hill and communications with Farm Bureau members were the cornerstones of the organization in those first few years. They were soon followed by cooperative marketing and other member services offered primarily through state Farm Bureaus. In all cases, Farm Bureau was an innovator and leader. For all intents and purposes it invented grassroots lobbying, and the newsletter played a key role in that. It rallied Farm Bureau members to contact Congress on legis-
May 6, 2013 Vol. 92
lation important to farmers and ranchers. This kind of consistent grassroots response to dealings in Washington had never happened before, and it forever stamped the American Farm Bureau Federation as the Voice of Agriculture. Congress wasn’t especially happy with the newsletter, and there was one thing in particular they detested: their voting records were recorded in the newsletter for all to see, something that has continued to this day. By now, they’ve gotten used to it. The history of AFBF spans the entire era of modern agriculture. When the first newsletter was published, farming was done largely with horses or mules; adventuresome farmers drove Model-T Fords on rutted roads; rural electrification was still years away and advances like hybrid corn were just being commercialized. All that seems light years away, and to think the AFBF newsletter reported all the changes that brought us to where we are today in agriculture; that’s a remarkable accomplishment in itself. In particular, the paper provided
No. 5
Published monthly by the American Farm B ureau Federation, 600 Maryland Ave., SW, Suite 1000W, Washington, DC 20024. Phone: 202-406-3600. E-mail: fbnews@fb.org. Web site: http://www.fb.org. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and additional mailing offices. Subscription rate for officers and board members of county and state Farm Bureaus—$6, which is deducted from dues. For other subscribers—$10. Postmaster: Send address changes to FBNews, 600 Maryland Ave., SW, Suite 1000W, Washington, DC 20024.
(ISSN 0197-5617)
thoughtful viewpoints and analyses of farm problems and the actions required to correct them. Over the years the newspaper has changed masthead, frequency of publication, type and size of paper. It went from black and white to partial color to full-on color. It was first called a newsletter and later a newspaper. Going digital in the 21st century is one more change for the better.
Stewart Truelsen is the author of Forward Farm Bureau, a book marking the 90th anniversary of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
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Capitol View
Farmers urge action to ensure efficient, reliable waterway system When a dozen mayors from cities along the Mississippi River traveled to the nation’s capital in March to discuss the nation’s largest waterway, their biggest concern was drought. A little more than a month into spring the greatest worry, for officials and farmers alike, is flooding, as it was in 2011. While the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers does its best to respond to the ebbs and flows of the Mississippi River and other waterways, there is no plan in place to manage these vital arteries, on which more than 60 percent of U.S. corn and soybeans are shipped to foreign markets. New legislation introduced in the House, the Mississippi River Navigation Sustainment Act (H.R. 1152), would maintain the critical movement of goods during periods of extreme weather, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. “The Mississippi River is a critical national transportation artery on which hundreds of millions of tons of essential commodities are shipped, such as corn, grain, oilseeds and agricultural inputs,” AFBF President Bob Stallman wrote in a letter to sponsors of the bill, Reps. Bill Enyart (D-Ill.) and Rodney Davis (R-Ill.). Farm Bureau is encouraging other members of Congress to support the legislation as part of a comprehensive effort to ensure an efficient and reliable inland waterway system linked to competitive ports, all of which are vital to America’s ability to provide affordable agricul-
tural products domestically and to compete internationally. “Whether it is low water conditions or devastating floods, we need to be proactive in planning and preparing to keep the Mississippi River open for commerce,” Stallman said. He praised the recently introduced legislation because it will improve understanding of the Mississippi River system while providing additional flexibility for the Corps to respond to extreme weather events through better water management, improved river forecasting and more effective environmental management. Among the bill’s provisions is one that would authorize the Corps to conduct a study of how to better coordinate management of the entire Mississippi River Basin during periods of extreme weather. The study would include recommendations on how to improve the management of the basin for navigation and flood risk management, taking into account the effect the management of the entire basin has on the Mississippi River. In addition, the bill would provide more automated gauges and increase the use of other forecasting tools. With the recent low water levels, some manual river gauges (often painted lines on bridges) were rendered useless making surveying and dredging more difficult. The added gauges and forecasting tools would help river users make more informed business decisions. The measure would also grant greater authority to the Corps to provide sufficient
depths in fleeting areas and maintain access to docks, loading facilities and other critical infrastructure, and create a pilot program to enable the Corps to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat in the middle Mississippi River as they conduct navigation projects. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced the Mississippi River Navigation Sustainment Act (S. 565) in the Senate, where lawmakers are poised to begin work on the Water Resources Development Act (S.601). The five-year WRDA authorizes new projects for flood protection, port improvement and upgrades to the nation’s aging locks and dams infrastructure. Farmers and ranchers, who consider passage of WRDA to be critical, are encouraging lawmakers to include provisions from the Mississippi River Navigation Sustainment Act, as well as the Reinvesting in Vital Economic Rivers and Waterways (RIVER) Act of 2013 (S. 407), in the comprehensive waterways package. The RIVER Act includes recommendations from the Inland Waterway’s Users Board and addresses two of the biggest obstacles to waterway improvement efforts—not having enough money to start a project and going way over budget and over time when a project does get under way. “Wrapping key provisions from these proposals into WRDA will help ensure that U.S. waterways are able to handle the flow of commerce in the years to come in ideal weather conditions or in times of drought or flooding,” said Andrew Walmsley, AFBF transportation specialist.
Utah Farm Bureau: States should determine best use of resources With nearly 70 percent of Utah owned and controlled by the federal government, sovereignty and state control of local water resources is critical to food production and security, growth and the state’s economic future, Randy Parker, Utah Farm Bureau chief executive officer, recently told the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Parker explained how residents of Utah, the second most arid state, have always taken water stewardship very seriously. “For our predecessors, protecting and maximizing the use of the water resources was not only important, it was a matter of life and death,” he said. While the rights of states to govern water has been recognized by generations of federal land management agencies, as well as the United States Congress, with passage of the Federal Land Policy Management Act in 1976, the relationship between the federal government and state and local governments and grazing permittees took a drastic turn for the worse. Among the most frustrating changes that followed was a requirement that holders of livestock water rights who needed
to develop or maintain a water impoundment or structure on U.S. forest land apply for a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service. These permits last a prescribed term and may or may not be re-issued. Plus, the Forest Service could impose different conditions in re-issuing the permit. “This exercise of greater authority by agency personnel ushered in an era of conflict and distrust of the USFS and [Bureau of Land Management],” Parker said. Defending state water rights, Parker called on Congress to allow Utah and other Western public lands to determine the best uses of their natural resources. He recommended that: • Congress act to recognize the historic and statutory obligation of honoring the sanctity of sovereign state water rights. • Federal agencies honor state courts in water matters, including the state-defined methods of beneficial use and the doctrine of prior appropriation or first in time, first in right. • Federal agencies not use adverse management of the federal lands, specifically related to grazing, access, and development and maintenance of water, to gain
States’ rights to govern water had long been recognized by the federal government, but as federal agencies grasp for greater authority, the relationship between the federal government and state and local governments and grazing permittees has turned sour, Randy Parker, Utah Farm Bureau chief executive officer, told lawmakers in April. control of water on federal lands through abuse of the state’s water forfeiture laws. • The U.S. not disrupt the business of livestock grazing critical to the history, culture and local economies using the judicial system and protracted, costly litigation to emotionally or financially
break the holder of livestock water rights on federal lands. • The federal government develop a working relationship with the states, especially state engineers and policymakers, to forge an understanding whereby state water law and the needs of federal land managers are complementary.
Court refuses to dismiss poultry farmer’s suit against EPA Continued from page 1 for such stormwater discharges. Alt responded with a lawsuit challenging the EPA order. AFBF and the West Virginia Farm Bureau intervened as co-plaintiffs with Alt to help resolve the issue for the benefit of other poultry and livestock farmers. EPA withdrew its order in December 2012, about six weeks before briefing on the legal issues was set to begin. The same month, five environmental
groups, including Waterkeeper Alliance, Center for Food Safety and Food & Water Watch, moved to join the lawsuit on the side of EPA. In opposing EPA’s motion to dismiss, Alt and Farm Bureau argued that farmers remain vulnerable to similar EPA orders, because EPA stands by its contention that the Clean Water Act statutory exemption for “agricultural stormwater” does not apply to stormwater from the farmyard at a concentrated ani-
mal feeding operation. The court agreed, noting that “[t]his court’s ultimate decision on the merits will benefit all parties, including EPA and many thousands of farmers, by clarifying the extent of federal CWA ‘discharge’ liability and permit requirements for ordinary precipitation runoff from a typical farmyard.” “Ms. Alt has courageously taken on EPA not just for her own benefit, but for the benefit of other
farmers,” said Stallman. “She refused to back down from her principles despite the best efforts of EPA and environmental groups. We are pleased that the court agreed that the stakes are high for all poultry and livestock farmers and this issue should be resolved.” The court also allowed the environmental groups to intervene and ordered briefing on the Alt and Farm Bureau claims to begin by June 1.
Farm Bill
Farm Bureau sends farm bill proposal to Congress The American Farm Bureau Federation recently sent a farm bill proposal to Capitol Hill. Approved in April by the AFBF board of directors, the proposal offers a diverse mix of risk management and safety net tools to benefit a wide range of farms and it saves $23 billion compared to the cost of continuing the current program. The farm bill proposal helps reduce the nation’s budget deficit, provides an adequate economic safety net for the nation’s farmers and is based on several core policy principles, according to AFBF President Bob Stallman. The Farm Bureau proposal: • Offers farmers a choice of program options. • Protects and strengthens the federal crop insurance program and does not reduce its funding. • Provides a commodity title that works to encourage farmers to follow market signals rather than making planting decisions in anticipation of government payments. • Refrains from basing any program on cost of production. • And, ensures equity across program commodities. “There is far less money this year than last with which to secure an adequate safety net for the many family-owned farms that make up the bulk of America’s agricultural system,” Stallman said. “Last year,
Congress merely extended the old 2008 farm bill until Sept. 30 of this year. Now, while unfortunately we have less money to work with, it is vital that Congress complete a new five-year farm bill this year. Doing so is in the economic interest of our entire nation.” Stallman said the goal of the AFBF proposal is to provide a measure of fairness among regions and crops, while providing each commodity sector a workable safety net provision for farmers who grow that crop. “Farm policy should provide a strong and effective safety net and viable risk management programs for farmers that do not guarantee a profit but, instead, protect them from catastrophic occurrences,” Stallman said. “We also want to ensure that terms of our farm programs do not affect a farmer’s decision of which crop to plant. The program must comply with our World Trade Organization agreements.” Farm Bureau supports a program that reduces complexity while allowing producers increased flexibility to plant in response to market demand. Farm Bureau supports a safety net that allows farmers to purchase insurance products to further protect individual risk. The program should be delivered by private crop insurance companies. Farm Bureau supports producers being allowed a choice of program options.
Specifically, the AFBF proposal calls for a three-legged safety net for program crop farmers that includes: a stacked income protection plan commonly called STAX; an improved crop insurance program; and target prices and marketing loans. Under the proposal, all program crop farmers would have access to the marketing loan and crop insurance provisions; and they would then select between a target price program and STAX to round out their safety net option. The AFBF proposal also supports extending provisions of the STAX program for apples, potatoes, tomatoes, grapes and sweet corn. Covering these five specialty crops will benefit fruit and vegetable producers in 44 states. Eventually, Farm Bureau would like to cover all crops under a STAX program in the future. “While we would have liked to have provided a STAX program for all commodity programs under the same terms as those provided to cotton last year in the Senate bill, funding is insufficient to do so,” Stallman explained. Because of funding limits, AFBF is proposing modifications be made to STAX for all eligible commodities. Those modifications would: reduce the crop insurance premium subsidization to 70 percent from 80 percent; not offer the multiplier option; not offer a harvest price option; allow STAX to be based on yield or revenue at the discretion of the
producer; and allow purchase only as a buy-up policy with a 10-25 percent deductible rather than also providing for a stand-alone policy. In addition, under the STAX program suggested by Farm Bureau, no payments would be made until the county average revenue or yield fell by 10 percent from the historic amount. A target price program for all program commodities would be available except for cotton. Due to terms of Brazil’s WTO cotton case against the United States, cotton farmers would likely not be eligible for a marketing loan at the current level or any target price. For other crops, target price levels would be based on the marketing-year average price from the past five years (2007 through 2011) and those projected by the Congressional Budget Office for the next five years (2012 through 2016). To establish the actual target prices and provide general equity across crop sectors, these 2007-2016 average prices are reduced by 25 percent for corn and soybeans, 15 percent for wheat, and 10 percent for rice and peanuts. Wheat has an adjustment of only 15 percent because it is produced mostly in the larger counties, making area yields less representative of individual producer experience and therefore less effective as a risk management tool. The smaller 10 percent adjustment is applied to peanuts and rice as both crops lack insurance products that function as well as those available to the major grain and oilseed commodities. AFBF suggests the same 10 percent loss threshold be used to determine appropriate target price levels for rice and peanuts. The target price will be based on 85 percent of planted acres, but not to exceed a producer’s historical base acreage. This provides a safety net more accurately addressing the risks associated with current production decisions and eliminates the present mismatch between payments and actual production or market conditions. Capping the payment acres at the historical base minimizes any potential distortion of a target price system. The Senate Agriculture Committee will likely begin markup of a comprehensive, long-term farm bill this month, while the House Ag Committee is scheduled to begin working on its bill on May 15.
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R E P O R T
Farm Bureau urges support for fruit, veggie farmers Providing new farm bill programs for fruit and vegetable farmers would help ensure a strong agricultural economy and benefit the health of the entire nation, American Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Barry Bushue told Congress in late April. “The farm bill helps farmers and ranchers deal with the risks that threaten their ability to produce the food, fiber and fuel we all need,” Bushue testified to the House’s Subcommittee on Horticulture, Research, Biotechnology and Foreign Agriculture. Farm Bureau urged lawmakers to extend some programs normally available only to growers of crops such as corn, soybeans and wheat, to farmers who grow specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture/ nursery crops and floriculture. The value of specialty crop production in the U.S. is significant, accounting for approximately 17 percent of the $391 billion in agriculture cash receipts collected in 2012, Bushue noted. Starting with the next farm bill, Farm Bureau has proposed the extension of a new program— Stacked Income Protection Plan or STAX for short—for growers of the so-called program crops including field corn for livestock, soybeans and wheat, as well as apples, potatoes, tomatoes, grapes and sweet corn. “The program would be admin-
Programs normally available only to growers of crops such as corn, soybeans and wheat should be extended to farmers who grow specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture/nursery crops and floriculture, American Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Barry Bushue recently told congressional lawmakers. istered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency in a manner consistent with the current crop insurance delivery system,” said Bushue. “It is designed to complement existing crop insurance programs. It does not change any features of existing insurance policies,” he explained. The five specialty crops Farm Bureau proposed for STAX coverage each rank in the top 13 in value of production for the country; represent at least 2 percent of the nation’s value of production; and are grown in at least 13 states. In
addition, insurance is currently available for each of the crops. If STAX is used to cover these five specialty crops, fruit and vegetable farmers in 44 states would benefit. Farm Bureau also urged Congress to continue some programs for fruit and vegetable growers that were first included in the farm bill in 2008. Those programs include the Farmers’ Market Promotion Program, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program in elementary schools and initiatives that help bring fruits and
vegetables produced within a state to local schools. Other programs for specialty crop farmers Farm Bureau would like to see continued in the next farm bill include outreach and training on Good Agriculture Practices aimed at improving food safety, traceability and productivity; initiatives for pest and plant disease control; and improving directto-consumer retail opportunities. Additional farm bill priorities related to fruit and vegetable production include the reauthorization and mandatory funding of the following disaster programs: the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Livestock Forage Program, and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and FarmRaised Fished Program (ELAP). The Tree Assistance Program (TAP), which provides assistance for tree death losses, is equally important, Bushue told lawmakers. “TAP and ELAP often provide assistance to producers who may not have access to federal crop insurance, and are critical in this era of widely varying weather events,” he explained. The four disaster programs expired on Sept. 30, 2011, and permanent mandatory funding is much needed, as is funding for 2011 and 2012. “We encourage the House Agriculture Committee to continue to invest in our specialty crop producers,” concluded Bushue.
Congressional lawmakers plan farm bill work Not long after House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) announced his panel would mark up a farm bill on May 15, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said his chamber would also take up farm policy legislation this month. In January, Reid introduced a farm bill very similar to the one that was passed by the Senate last session. The measure is serving as a placeholder for the legislation that will be drafted by the Senate Agriculture Committee. The five-year farm bill the Senate passed last June—the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act (S. 3240)—would overhaul the way the government supports commodity production. A new Agriculture Risk Coverage revenue protection program would cover so-called shallow losses due to declines in crop yields and prices. The new program would replace direct payments, which are made on the basis of historical acres and yields rather than market prices, and it would replace countercyclical payments made when market prices fall below statutory target levels.
In addition, the bill would allow farmers to buy supplemental crop insurance coverage based on county-level yield or revenue data. This would be in addition to whatever crop insurance policy a person already purchases. The House Agriculture Committee also approved a farm bill last year, although it was not taken up by the full House. That bill—the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2012 (H.R. 6083)—would eliminate the farm program’s direct payments, Average Crop Revenue Election payments and Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments or disaster payments for crops, as did the Senate-passed bill.
In addition, both the House Agriculture Committee bill and the Senate legislation would consolidate the current 23 separate conservation programs into 13 and make other reforms, cutting the cost of the programs by more than $6 billion. Both bills presented savings, a key point during this fiscal crisis, although the cuts attributed to both measures have been ratcheted down. Initially, the Senate bill was thought to present a savings of $23 billion over 10 years. However, a score done this year by the Congressional Budget Office shows the bill takes only $13 billion from the deficit. The bill passed by the House
Agriculture Committee originally provided for a savings of $35 billion over 10 years, but the CBO rescore dropped that savings level to $26 billion. The gap in savings between the House and Senate measures was primarily due to cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. Both chambers passed their respective fiscal 2014 budgets last month, and both include hefty reductions in farm program spending. The House budget calls for $31 billion in cuts to the commodity and conservation titles of the farm bill over 10 years, with an additional $130 billion in cuts to the nutrition title. The Senate budget requires $23 billion in farm bill cuts, including the nutrition title. Without a new farm bill in place when many of the 2008 farm bill programs expired on Sept. 30, 2012, congressional lawmakers in early January approved a 9-month extension of the 2008 measure. The extension carries most provisions of the 2008 bill through Sept. 30 of this year.
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Shimkus, Gardner introduce animal drug user fee bills Reps. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) recently unveiled legislation to reauthorize the Animal Drug User Fee Act and the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act. Unless reauthorized by Congress, the programs will expire on Oct. 1, 2013. These two Farm Bureausupported measures will give livestock and poultry producers, pet owners and veterinarians the tools necessary to keep animals healthy, assist drug producers with a stable and predictable Food and Drug Administration review process, and keep consumers safe, according to the lawmakers. In introducing the Animal Drug User Fee Act, bill author Shimkus highlighted how important the legislation is to farmers, ranchers and consumers alike. “With this legislation, veterinarians will be able to better treat, control and prevent diseases,” he said. “And livestock and poultry producers will be
able to keep food animals healthy. Farmers, consumers and pet owners will all benefit.” Gardner, author of the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act, said his bill would “allow for a more predictable approval process for generic animal drugs.” At a House Energy and Com-
merce Subcommittee on Health hearing on April 9, Dr. Mike Apley, a veterinarian and epidemiologist at Kansas State University, explained the stringent protocol in place for using antibiotics. “Use of antibiotics in the feed for major food animal species in any manner other than specified
on the label is illegal,” Apley said. “This would include any changes in dose, duration or disease indication.” Apley also explained that ultimately producers would like to use antibiotics less often to prevent or control diseases among cattle, pigs and other food animals. “The overarching goal of veterinarians and producers is to replace the need for prevention or control use of antibiotics through practices such as biosecurity and vaccination,” Apley said. In the Senate, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) has introduced a measure (S. 622) that would reauthorize both the Animal Drug User Fee Act and the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act. Farmers and ranchers are urging Congress to act on these must-pass bills, and to steer clear of any harmful amendments that would restrict access to antibiotics and other critical animal health tools.
Trans-Pacific Partnership offers opportunities for agriculture Strong leadership by U.S. government officials in the TransPacific Partnership negotiations will yield positive results for American agriculture, the American Farm Bureau Federation told Congress in late April. Bob Hanson, president of Montana Farm Bureau and an AFBF board member, testified before the Senate Finance Committee regarding the Asia-Pacific region,
which holds great promise for U.S. agriculture and its role as the food supplier for Americans and the world. “The major issue in trade now for the Asia-Pacific region is progress on the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and the addition of Japan to these talks,” Hanson said. “The aim of the negotiations is to reach a comprehensive, high-standard agreement that
Senate immigration bill Continued from page 1 can obtain legal immigration status by satisfying criteria such as passing a background check, paying a fine and proving that applicable taxes have been paid. Blue Card workers would be required to continue to work in agriculture before having the opportunity to qualify for a green card. In addition, the bill would establish a new visa program that allows agricultural employers to hire guestworkers, either under contract or at will. Visa holders would be able to work in the U.S. under a three-year visa and work for any designated agricultural employer. The program would be administered by USDA. The number of three-year visas would be capped at 112,333 per year; in year three, the total number of visas issued could not exceed 337,000. After five years, the cap for the number of visas would be determined annually by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The bill would establish 2016 wage rates for program participants in different categories: farm workers and laborers for crop, nursery and greenhouse, $9.64 per hour; graders and sorters, $9.84 per hour; dairy and livestock, $11.37 per hour; equipment operators, $11.87 per hour; wages
for other occupational categories may be determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. Working alongside the agricultural groups in developing the farm and ranch worker provisions were a handful of senators who AFBF President Bob Stallman recognized in a statement. “We appreciate the tireless efforts of Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Michael Bennett (D-Colo.) to garner consensus and agreement by all parties on such a significant issue. The framework and objectives are a positive step toward achieving meaningful immigration reform,” he said. In the House, Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) has introduced the Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 1772), which would, among other things, expand the use of E-verify, an Internet-based system to determine worker eligibility. While emphasizing its commitment to the principles in the Senate bill, the AWC in a statement said the legislation represents an important first step in the House. The coalition will continue to serve as a resource to Chairman Goodlatte and other House members as the process moves forward.
will improve the conditions of trade between the participating countries, which currently include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States,” he explained. Japan is the United States’ fourthlargest agricultural export destination, with $13.5 billion in sales in 2012. “While Japan is a top market for U.S. agricultural exports of wheat, corn, soybeans, beef and pork, it also has many restrictive policies in place that inhibit U.S. agricultural imports, such as substantial tariffs on dairy, horticulture, rice and other products, along with various sanitary and phytosanitary barriers,” Hanson said.
Hanson urged Congress to take a strong leadership role in the TPP negotiations, especially regarding the addition of Japan to the talks. Earlier in April, when the U.S. officially approved Japan’s inclusion in the TPP talks, AFBF President Bob Stallman emphasized the potential for U.S. farmers and ranchers by furthering opening the Japanese market. “The recent decision by Japan to increase access for U.S. beef shows that Japan can act to improve market access for U.S. agricultural products based on sound science,” Stallman pointed out. “A comprehensive TPP agreement that includes Japan will strengthen trade relationships, address remaining barriers and improve the competitiveness of the Asia/Pacific market.”
AFBF employee orientation April 23-24
Forty-six American Farm Bureau Federation, state Farm Bureau and Farm Bureauaffiliated company staff members attended an orientation session in Washington, D.C., in April to meet colleagues and learn about Farm Bureau structure, history and policy development.
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Illinois farmers anxious for fields to dry out In 2012, Illinois corn farmers had more than half their crop planted by the beginning of May. With this spring’s heavy rainfall, they’re crawling along with planting, with just 1 percent of the corn crop in the ground, according to the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s April 29 crop progress report. Even for farmers whose fields never flooded, water has soaked inches deep into the soil, and that will push planting back even further. Throughout the state, topsoil moisture was rated 45 percent adequate, 55 percent surplus. Versailles, Ill., farmer Len Wiese, director of the Brown County Farm Bureau, said seep water from the Illinois River is keeping his fields soggy. “Dealing with seep water, it doesn’t seem like it takes very long to get wet, but it takes an awful long time for it to dry out,” Wiese said. Temperatures are not cooperating either, with the state averaging 49.8 degrees, 6.2 degrees below normal, the Illinois Agriculture Department is reporting. Farmers typically need temps to remain at 50 degrees or higher for several days in a row for planting conditions to be good. The chilly spring temperatures are also a worry for wheat farmers. Winter wheat typically matures in late spring and early summer, and freezing temperatures at this time of the year are a threat to the plants.
The rain and cold has created a stark difference between this year and 2012. “Last year, we were done—corn, beans, everything. And we have not planted one acre,” Wiese said, noting that his brother does have six acres in the ground. Still, Wiese predicted that few, if any, local farmers will scrap their plans for corn. “Right here, I know the other farmers in our area, they’re already committed to the corn,” he said. “The anhydrous is already put on.” The heavy April rains fell less than a year after the onset of record-high temperatures and drought that resulted in $2.9 billion in crop losses for Illinois farmers, the highest in the nation. Like the drought wreaked havoc on waterway operations, with the Corps scrambling in January to keep the Mississippi River near Thebes, Ill., deep enough for barges, flooding has been a problem, too. At one point in late April, barge shipping on the Illinois River and parts of the Mississippi River came to a halt when flooding forced numerous locks to close and crews had to recover dozens of barges that broke free in floodswollen currents. It’s not only Illinois corn farmers who are behind schedule. According to USDA, as of April 28, only 5 percent of the national
photo courtesy of sean Arians, Illinois Farm Bureau member
The Illinois River surrounds a Tazewell County, Ill., farm about four miles south of the Powerton Generating Station in Pekin, located in north-central Illinois. Tazewell County and more than 43 other counties have been declared state disaster areas. corn crop had been planted. Average for this date is around 31 percent. In 2012, about half of the national corn crop was planted. The lag in planting is due, in part, to chilly temperatures in parts of the country that are typically well into spring weather by now. “We’ve actually got some frost warnings that could affect Arkansas,” said Bob Young, American Farm Bureau Federation chief economist. “And to talk about frost warnings on May 1 in Arkan-
State Focus
sas, Oklahoma and Texas, that just never happens.” In the Dakotas and Minnesota and elsewhere in that region, additional precipitation in the form of rain and even snow are slowing things down. Young said the planting window is still open, and when the time is right, farmers can do it and do it fast. “With the technology and machinery we have today, we can plant this crop in a real hurry,” he explained.
Newsmakers
California Farm Bureau reaches agreement on Willits bypass
Florida Legislature passes agritourism bill
OKFB pleased Gov. Fallin signed horse legislation
The California Farm Bureau Federation and the California Department of Transportation reached an agreement to settle CFBF’s involvement in a legal case regarding the Willits Bypass Project on U.S. Highway 101. Concerned about how the project would impact farmland in the Little Lake Valley, in July 2012, CFBF intervened in a lawsuit filed in federal court. Specifically, CFBF was concerned about the amount of farmland the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mitigation strategy required to be removed from production in order to mitigate for wetlands affected by the bypass, and with assuring the effects on farmland received the appropriate level of review required by the National Environmental Policy Act. “The discussions between Caltrans and farmers in the Willits area should solidify the foundation for agriculture to remain in the area for decades to come,” said Paul Wenger, CFBF president. As part of the agreement, CFBF will dismiss its claims against Caltrans and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Florida lawmakers at the end of April approved Florida Farm Bureau-supported legislation that would break down barriers to allow more farmers to grow and maintain agritourism operations on their farms. The bill would amend current law to provide for limitations on normal premises liability and other tort liabilities related to agritourism activities. Specifically, the legislation would prohibit local governments from adopting any ordinance, regulation, rule or policy that prohibits, restricts, regulates or otherwise limits an agritourism activity. To acquire the limited-liability protection, a farm’s owner would have to post visible signs and have customers or visitors sign contracts that warn of potential dangers on the grounds from the risks associated with the surface and subsurface conditions of the land, the behavior of wild or domestic animals or the use of farming and ranching equipment or facilities, among other things. The bill also redefines agritourism.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau is pleased that Gov. Mary Fallin signed HB 1999 into law. The new law ends the prohibition on horse meat processing for export in Oklahoma. OKFB, along with other agricultural organizations, supported the legislation, which is said to help resolve the issue of horse maltreatment and abandonment. “Oklahoma livestock and wildlife producers respect and care for animals,” said Mike Spradling, OKFB president. “This legislation provides a humane solution to the challenge of abandoned, abused and otherwise neglected horses.” In signing the bill, Gov. Fallin said, “These animals traveled long distances, in potentially inhumane circumstances, only to meet their end in foreign processing plants that do not face the same level of regulation or scrutiny that American plants would. Those of us who care about the well-being of horses—and we all should—cannot be satisfied with a status quo that encourages abuse and neglect, or that rewards the potentially inhumane slaughter of animals in foreign countries.”
Tony Seegers and Branson Kern have been named directors of state policy for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. In addition, Tim Hicks has joined the OFBF field team as organization director for Crawford, Marion, Morrow and Richland counties. Kristina Watson has been named Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s national governmental relations director. Watson has been serving as PFB’s regulatory reform director for seven years. Prior to that, she served as PFB’s community outreach director. Samuel Kieffer has been promoted to director of governmental affairs and communications. He joined PFB in 2005, serving as regional director before being promoted to national governmental relations director. Kieffer is replacing Gary Swan who retired recently after 10 years. Ewell Welch, Arkansas Farm Bureau executive vice president, has announced plans to retire at the end of 2013, after 36 years with the organization. Also retiring (July 1) is Nolan Babineaux, Louisiana Farm Bureau’s director of field services. Babineaux also coordinates the membership development program.
Grassroots
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American Farm Bureau picks 7th leader class The American Farm Bureau Federation has chosen a group of 10 young agricultural leaders to participate in the seventh class of the Partners in Agricultural Leadership honors program. Participants selected for the 2013-14 program are: Jillian Beaty, Wisconsin; Jason Bunting, Illinois; Joy Davis, Texas; Shannon Douglass, California; Stacey Forshee, Kansas; Joshua Geigle, South Dakota; Katie Heger, North Dakota; Adam Hinton, Kentucky; Elizabeth Kohtz, Idaho; and Brandon Whitt, Tennessee. The focus of the Farm Bureau PAL program is to enhance participants’ leadership skills and aid them in discovering how they can best use their abilities for the benefit of agriculture. The program offers young farmers and ranchers the opportunity to contin-
ue building their skills after they have served as AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee members/officers or competed in national YF&R events. “Farm Bureau welcomes the 10 participants of the seventh PAL class and looks forward to the role they will play moving forward to strengthen American agriculture,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “The PAL program allows participants to continue on a leadership path within the Farm Bureau using their experiences from YF&R and other agricultural leadership roles.” Through PAL, young leaders will be given the opportunity to develop their skills in problem solving, persuasion and consensus building while learning about critical agricultural and public policy issues. Upon graduation from the PAL program,
young agricultural leaders are prepared to represent agriculture in the media, on speaking circuits or in legislative activities. “The young farmers and ranchers that complete the PAL program are equipped to serve as ‘advocates for agriculture’ from their communities to Capitol Hill, telling the farmer’s story while raising awareness of agriculture-related issues,” said Stallman. State Farm Bureaus submit one applicant per state for consideration for the PAL program. Applicants must be “Sweet 16” finalists in the national YF&R Discussion Meet; top 10 finalists in the YF&R Achievement Award or Excellence in Agriculture Award competitions; former members of the AFBF YF&R Committee or former state YF&R Committee chairs. The PAL program is made possible through sponsorships from the Monsanto Company, the Farm Credit System, AgriPulse Communications and AFBF.
Case IH, AFB announce tractor and equipment incentive program Through a new membership value program partnership between Case IH, the American Farm Bureau Federation and American Farm Bureau, Inc., Farm Bureau members can now take advantage of farm equipment discounts. Eligible Farm Bureau members will receive an incentive discount— from $300 to $500—when purchasing qualifying Case IH products and equipment from participating dealerships. “We selected Case IH as a member benefit program partner because they offer product expertise and field support, as well as the resources of a leading tractor manufacturer,” says Ron Gaskill, executive director of AFBI. “The program’s goal is to provide Farm Bureau members with greater value when they purchase or lease eligible equipment.” “Case IH is proud to support the American Farm Bureau and its mis-
sion of building strong, prosperous agricultural communities,” says Zach Hetterick, Case IH livestock marketing manager. “The organization unifies farmers to make farming more sustainable and the community a better place to live in a way that could not be accomplished on an individual level.” How it works Farm Bureau members from participating states can receive the manufacturer’s incentive discount when an eligible tractor or implement is acquired. “There is no limit to the number of incentive discounts that a Farm Bureau member may use as long as it is no more than one per unit and the equipment included provides opportunities for small landowners to larger, professional producers,” says Hetterick. “This discount is also stackable, mean-
ing it can be used with other discounts, promotions, rebates or offers that may be provided by Case IH or a Case IH dealership.” A current Farm Bureau membership verification certificate must be presented to the Case IH dealer in advance of product delivery to receive the incentive discount. Certificates may be obtained by visiting fbadvantage.com and selecting the Case IH offer. Eligible individuals, family or business members will receive the following discounts on purchases of these qualifying products: • Case IH Farmall® Compact Tractors (A & B) —$300 per unit • Case IH Farmall® Utility Tractors (C, U, J Series) —$500 per unit • Case IH Maxxum® Series Tractors—$500 per unit • Case IH Farmall® 100A Series Tractors—$500 per unit • Case IH self-propelled windrowers—$500 per unit
• Case IH large square balers— $500 per unit • Case IH round balers—$300 per unit • Case IH disc mower conditioners—$300 per unit • Case IH sickle mower conditioners—$300 per unit • Case IH Scout™ utility vehicles—$300 per unit Case IH is a global leader in agricultural equipment, committed to collaborating with its customers to develop the most powerful, productive, reliable equipment—designed to meet today’s agricultural challenges. Challenges like feeding an expanding global population on less land, meeting ever-changing government regulations and managing input costs. With headquarters in the United States, Case IH has a network of dealers and distributors that operates in over 160 countries.
Corner Post Number of Civilian Jobs Generated by U.S. Agricultural Trade
Driven by the surge in U.S. agricultural exports, total employment supporting U.S. farm and ranch exports climbed from 907,000 in 2010 to 923,000 in 2011. According to USDA, every $1 billion of U.S. agricultural exports in 2011 required 923,000 full-time civilian jobs, the vast majority (637,000) of which were nonfarm jobs. Source: USDA, ERS using data from ERS estimates of agricultural trade-related employment and Agricultural Trade Multipliers