Washington Outlook

by Robert L. Redding Jr.

GPC Raises Concerns with Quality Loss Adjustment Program

The Georgia Peanut Commission has contacted the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and members of Congress regarding the Farm Service Agency’s Quality Loss Adjustment Program. Growers attempting to participate in the program have received inconsistent information regarding how to qualify. The current deadline for the program is March 5, 2021 yet some county offi ces have indicated that they were waiting on additional information.

The U.S. Congress established the Quality Loss Adjustment Program after Hurricane Michael in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020.

According to USDA, assistance through the Quality Loss Adjustment Program is available for eligible crops that suff ered quality loss due to one or more of the following disaster events including tornado, typhoon, volcanic activity, snowstorm, wildfi re, hurricane, fl ood, excessive moisture or qualifying drought. The disaster event must have occurred in calendar year 2018 or 2019.

U.S. House Agriculture Committee Passes Next Ag COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Legislation

The U.S House committees of jurisdiction are putting together the next round of COVID19 Economic Stimulus assistance. Please note that USDA has not fi nalized the latest economic stimulus law but the GPC expects this to be completed soon.

The House Agriculture Committee passed legislation includes:  Food supply chain and agricultural pandemic response funding  Emergency grants for rural health care  Farm loan assistance and support for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers  Funding for U.S. led humanitarian food

aid

 Continuation of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program increases  Additional funding for Nutrition Assistance Programs  Additional Commodity Supplemental Food Program funding

Georgia Delegation Members Receive Key Ag Appointments

U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia, has been appointed to the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee. U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff , D-Georgia, is a new member of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee which has jurisdiction over Agricultural labor issues.

As previously reported, U.S. Congressman David Scott, D-Georgia, is the new chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. Congressman Austin Scott, R-Georgia, is the ranking member of the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee on the House Agriculture Committee. This Subcommittee is the major subcommittee for row crops during the farm bill process. U.S. Congressman Rick Allen, R-Georgia, is also a member of the committee.

U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop, D-Georgia, continues as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies.

USPF Signs on Crop Insurance Support Letters

The U.S. Peanut Federation (USPF) signed on letters of support for crop insurance to Congress and the Administration. Agricultural organizations have been concerned that there may be attempts to cut programs in the upcoming budget process as well as during the Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations legislative process.

Biden Adminstration Nominees Move Forward

The USPF has signed on with other agricultural organizations in support of former USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack’s nomination for Secretary of Agriculture in the Biden Administration. Secretary Vilsack’s nomination has been approved by the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee and is expected to move on the Senate fl oor in February.

The USPF also expressed support for Katherine Tai to be U.S. Trade Representative note in a letter submitted to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee by agricultural organizations stating, “Ms. Tai is eminently qualifi ed and deeply familiar with the mission of the Offi ce of the U.S. Trade Representative in opening foreign markets and reducing barriers for U.S. food and agriculture workers and exporters for the benefi t of consumers in the U.S. and across the globe. We especially value Ms. Tai’s demonstrated ability to build bipartisan support for trade policies. We submit that these capabilities are essential to the success of the next Trade Representative in addressing the most pressing trade policy issues, including trade relationship challenges with China and the European Union, as well as enforcement of existing trade agreements and tackling non-tariff barriers to trade. We believe that Ms. Tai has the experience and expertise to secure greater market access for U.S. products and ensure enforcement of clear and fair rules with our trade partners so U.S. food and agriculture workers and our industry sectors may fairly compete in the global economy.”

Ms. Tai’s Senate hearing is scheduled for February.