Washington Outlook By Robert L. Redding Jr.
USPF Testifies at U.S. House Ag Committee Hearing The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing on “A 2022 Review on the Farm Bill: Commodity Group Perspectives on Title I.” Chairman David Scott, D-Georgia, opened the hearing stating, “As we look ahead to the 2023 Farm Bill, I am committed to making sure that the full breadth of voices from our farmers, ranchers, foresters, and consumers is represented in our efforts. Today’s panel is an integral piece in that process, and I look forward to the months ahead as we discuss the other farm bill titles and issue areas.” Nine commodity groups testified at the hearing including Meredith McNair Rogers, a Camilla, Georgia peanut grower representing the Georgia Peanut Commission and the U.S. Peanut Federation. Rogers discussed the rising costs of inputs in peanut production and related analyses from representative farming operations. “When I met with the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee early last fall, I spoke of increased input costs such as fertilizer and equipment. In addition, I shared with you the delays in equipment parts and repair. Since the Subcommittee’s Roundtable last year, the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia, has completed its review of U.S. Representative Peanut Farm data covering all the peanut production regions. These 22 peanut farms, from Virginia to New Mexico, have been reviewed for 21 years (2001-2022). What we have learned from this most recent, comprehensive data is that peanut growers have struggled to cover their cost of production.” Rogers provided the committee specific data from representative peanut farms that demonstrated the
increases in cost of production: “… The 2021 representative farm update revealed the average expected peanut yield to be 4760 lbs. per acre. In a cash flow analysis, the 2021 total cash flow was $545.97 per ton. The projected 2022 peanut total cash flow cost to produce a ton of peanuts is estimated to be $666.94. This is approximately a 22 percent increase over the 2021 cost of production.” The House Agriculture Committee is expected to continue its hearing process in preparation for the 2023 Farm Bill. Fifteen members of the committee are from peanut producing states. Hearings to date include a review of the Conservation Title for the 2023 Farm Bill. The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee will begin field hearings in the spring for the farm bill.
Ag Trade Nominations Update USDA has yet to nominate an Under Secretary for Trade. This is a key position for agricultural organizations to communicate on important trade issues. This is the highest ranking political position at USDA for trade matters and serves as an advocate for American agricultural trade issues. In addition, Elaine Trevino, the Administration’s nominee for the deputy position for agriculture at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has withdrawn her nomination. Trevino, a former almond industry executive, had been nominated by the President some time ago but had not been scheduled for floor consideration.
Peanut Appropriations Projects Included in FY 2022 Law After months of negotiations, the U.S. Senate has sent the White House the Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations legislation. Included in the bill were two top peanut projects,
28 Southeastern Peanut Farmer | April 2022
aflatoxin and peanut nutrition. The U.S. Peanut Federation and the Georgia Peanut Commission worked with U.S Congressman Sanford Bishop, D-Georgia, chairman of the Subcommittee on Agriculture Appropriations, on these projects. In its second year of funding, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Fort Valley State University were approved for $3 million to pursue aflatoxin research. The new law includes an additional $1 million for peanut nutrition research through ARS. The Peanut Institute worked with USPF on this initiative.
USPF Holds Capitol Hill Fly-In Participants in the recent U.S. Peanut Federation Washington, D.C. fly-in discussed the rising cost of production for peanuts, the Price Loss Coverage program (PLC) and trade with members of Congress and the Administration. USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie briefed peanut leaders on the Administration’s new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative, conservation and Farm Service Agency issues.
USPF Joins Organizations Seeking Increase in RUTF Funding The U.S. Peanut Federation and other agricultural organizations have joined together in a request of the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees to increase funding for ready-to-use therapeutic food. In a letter to appropriations’ leaders, the coalition stated: "The U.S. is already one of the world’s largest and most cost-efficient producers of RUTF and the agricultural inputs needed to produce it." View the full letter on page 29.
