May 16, 2024

House Farm Bill Language Expected This Week

After at least two years of work, it appears the House is finally poised to unveil their version of the Farm Bill sometime this week. House Ag Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) is hoping to hold a markup of the bill next Thursday on May 23^rd, with text dropping sometime by the end of this Friday. That will only give legislators on the House Agriculture Committee a handful of days to go through the final version before preparing for votes. There will likely be an amendment period, meaning whatever text we initially receive is not necessarily set in stone.

The bill comes after competing “frameworks” were released several weeks ago by House Republicans and Senate Democrats. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) is not expected to release a full text version of their bill, but it will likely give Democrats in the House political cover if they opt not to support Rep. Thompson’s bill in committee. Should the legislation pass out of House Ag though, it will only represent the first legislative hurdle as lawmakers look to get the 5-year reauthorization done. CAFB will be conducting a thorough review whenever the House version is released and will continue working with industry partners to ensure our priorities are included. We will be sharing a more thorough analysis next week with members.

CAFB Submits Comments on USFWS Proposal on Wildlife Refuge

Earlier this month, CAFB’s federal team submitted comments on the US Fish and & Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) proposal for “biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health (BIDEH)” on the National Wildlife Refuge System. The rulemaking would impact refuges that currently have agricultural activities on them as a use, often at the detriment of our industry. CAFB had a number of concerns relating to the proposal, including weakening native predator control, the tightening of use of genetically engineered organisms, and several other misguided policy changes. You can find a full readout of those concerns in the comments below.

New USDA Programs and Partnerships to Expand Organic Agriculture Opportunities

USDA announced several initiatives in an attempt to bolster the organic ag sector this week. This includes new partnerships, grant awards, and an additional $10 million in funding aimed at expanding markets for organic products and assisting producers in transitioning to organic production. One of the key initiatives is the Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) program, under the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), which has awarded approximately $24.8 million for 23 projects to support the development of organic markets. Additionally, USDA is investing in infrastructure, equipment, and transportation capabilities to decrease barriers faced by producers, such as limited storage capacity and transportation constraints. AMS has now awarded a total of $75.2 million to 93 projects to date across the nation to OMDG.

USDA will also be increasing support for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), which will cover up to 75% of organic certification costs at a maximum of $750 per certification category. OCCSP provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of organic agricultural commodities for expenses incurred obtaining or maintaining organic certification under USDA’s National Organic Program. Eligible OCCSP applicants include any certified organic producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent. To apply, producers and handlers should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center and be prepared to provide documentation of organic certification and eligible expenses.

Deadline Extended for ACER, FSMIP, and MGFSP Grant Programs

Last week, USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service announced they would be extending the application deadlines for the Federal State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) and the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP). While not large programs, the former helps fund projects to explore new market opportunities for food and ag products, while the latter helps connect smaller-scale producers with local and regional food insecure communities.

Matthew Viohl

Federal Policy, Director

Erin Huston

Federal Policy, Consultant

Isabella Quinonez

Public Policy Coordinator