Weekly Food & Agriculture Update 6.11
WEEKLY FOOD & AGRICULTURE UPDATE
June 11, 2018
A quick look at what’s happening in Washington, D.C. that’s impacting food and agriculture. If you would like to subscribe to the receive the updates right to your inbox, please contact Marissa Dake.
Big Picture Outlook
- Schedule- The House and Senate remain in session this week. On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that he would cancel most of the August recess so the chamber could catch-up on considering nominees and the appropriations process.
- Roberts, Stabenow Debut Bipartisan Farm Bill- On Friday, the Senate Ag Committee released legislative text for the 2018 Farm Bill along with a section-by-section summary of the bill. Organizations, companies, and other stakeholders are analyzing the text, which will be considered in committee on Wednesday at 9:30.
- What to Watch in the Farm Bill– Politico reported on some of the Senate farm bill’s provisions. Notably, the measure also adds $100 million the Margin Protection Program for milk producers, changing its name to the Dairy Risk Coverage Program. The bill doesn’t make any major changes to SNAP like its counterpart in the House, an issue that will likely dominate the conversation in a potential conference. Read more about the bill here.
- Agriculture, Dairy Get Shoutout at G7– In a press conference after the G7 Summit President Trump said that unfair trade barriers are hurting American farmers and dairy farmers. According to the President, the U.S. pays a 270 percent tariff to Canada on dairy products. Trump refused to sign the G-7 joint agreement that covered a range of economic and foreign policy goals.
- Accurate Labels Act Features “Smart Labels”– On Thursday, Senator Moran (R-KS) and Reps. Kinzinger (R-IL) and Schrader (D-OR) introduced the Accurate Labels Act. The measure would amend the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act to establish science-based criteria for all additional state and local labeling requirements, allow product information to be provided through “smart labels” and on websites, and ensure that covered product information is risk-based.
Nominations & Confirmations
- Annemarie Axon, Robert Wier, and Fernando Rodriguez, Jr. have been confirmed as United States District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama, Eastern District of Kentucky, and Southern District of Texas, respectively.
- Kenneth Marcus to be the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education.
The Week Ahead
Tuesday, June 12
- The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior and Environment will markup their appropriations bill.
Wednesday, June 13
MTA In Action
Highlights in the week ahead for Michael Torrey Associates
- AFBIS Crop Insurance Conference- Tara Smith is in Boise, Idaho this week as a presenter for American Farm Bureau Insurance Service’s 70th Annual Crop Insurance Conference.
A Quick Look Back
- Kudlow: Trump may look to strike separate trade deals with Canada, Mexico
- Tyson Foods Inc. Recalls Breaded Chicken Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
- If it doesn’t come from a hoofed animal, you can’t call it ‘milk,’ NC bill says
- USDAs Farmers.gov Receives $10 Million in Funding for Development
- China’s slow approvals of biotech crops cost U.S. $7 billion, says industry group
- CNN anchors reflect on the life of Anthony Bourdain
Pertinent Timing Ticker
111 total days until the farm bill expires (Sep. 30, 2018).