July 18, 2022

Contents

• Big Picture Outlook
• Thoughts from Team Torrey
• The Week Ahead
• A Quick Look Back

Big Picture Outlook

Appropriations

Today, the House Rules Committee is considering a “minibus’ package of six annual appropriations funding bills for Fiscal Year 2023. Included in this package are the appropriations bills that provide funding for USDA and EPA, among others. After consideration from the Rules Committee, the bill will be considered on the House floor with votes expected this week. On the other side of the Capitol, the Senate is expected to release its FY 2023 spending bills by the end of the month.

Farm Bill

The House Agriculture Committee held a farm bill hearing Thursday titled “The State of Credit for Young, Beginning, and Underserved Producers”. Multiple witnesses highlighted the need for higher credit limits for loans to compensate for high land prices and inflation. Later this week, the House Agriculture Committee will hold a farm bill hearing to review stakeholder perspectives on crop insurance. Following the hearing, House Ag will hold a third farm bill listening session in the state of Washington, hosted by Representative Schrier, to gather input from producers and consumers across the state.

Carbon Sequestration Collaboration Act

Last week, three House Republicans – Agriculture Committee Ranking Member G.T. Thompson (R-PA), Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK), and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-AR) introduced the Carbon Sequestration Collaboration Act. The proposed legislation aims to improve the land’s natural ability to capture and store greenhouse gases. Three separate agencies — the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of the Interior would be directed to conduct and coordinate research on improved carbon sequestration techniques through land use in agriculture and forestry.

Double Cropping Coverage Expansion

On July 12, the Biden Administration announced expansion of double cropping insurance, making insurance available in nearly 1,500 counties where double cropping is viable. This announcement comes on the heels of a commitment made by President Biden to increase domestic wheat production and ease the burden on the supply chain caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. – Kenya Trade Initiative

On July 14, the U.S. Trade Representative announced plans for the U.S. and Kenya to improve trade relations through a deal focused on addressing non-tariff trade barriers, shifting away from the FTA negotiations launched under the Trump Administration. While USTR stated that the new United States-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) will primarily focus on labor, environment, digital trade, trade facilitation, and good regulatory practices—agriculture trade and transparency issues along with and science- and risk-based sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures will be considered. In addition, sustainable practices and promoting innovative agricultural technologies to bolster farm productivity and climate change will be included.

The Week Ahead

Tuesday, July 19

• 2:00 PM EDT: House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Environment holds a hearing to discuss “Regenerative Agriculture: How Farmers and Ranchers are Essential to Solving Climate Change and Increasing Food Production”

Wednesday, July 20

• 10:00 AM EDT: House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management holds a hearing to discuss “A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Stakeholder Perspectives on Title XI Crop Insurance”
• 10:00 AM EDT: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies holds a hearing to examine food safety and the Food and Drug Administration
• 10:15 AM EDT: House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Workforce Protections holds a hearing to discuss Second Class Workers: Assessing H2 Visa Programs Impact on Workers

Friday, July 22

• 1:00 PM EST: House Agriculture Committee holds a listening session to discuss “A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Perspectives from the Field” at Remlinger Farms in Carnation, Washington, hosted by Congresswoman Kim Schrier

To see a full list of House and Senate Committee business, visit here.

A Quick Look Back

“Executive Order on Establishing an Emergency Board to Investigate Disputes Between Certain Railroads Represented by the National Carriers’ Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference and Their Employees Represented by Certain Labor Organizations” The White House

“USDA Invests More Than $14M to Support Agricultural Workforce Training for Historically Underserved Communities to Bolster U.S. Meat and Poultry Sector Resilience” USDA

“Fertilizer Crisis Delivers Profits and Pain as Ukraine Fallout Broadens” The Washington Post

“Settlement with PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer to Require Treatment of More Than a Billion Pounds of Hazardous Waste and Closure of Huge Phosphogypsum Waste Stacks and Impoundments” EPA

“Fighting Food Waste and Food Insecurity Through Legislation” foodtank

“Wasted Food is a Climate Threat That Hurts Agriculture, Democratic Lawmakers Say” Iowa Capital Dispatch

“The Senate is Nearing a Deal on Immigration That Could Also Lower Food Prices” NPR

“BSBios to Build Brazil’s First Big Wheat Ethanol Plant as Crop Expands” Reuters

“Public Action Groups Call for Separate Food Arm at FDA to Streamline Food Safety” Food Safety News

“US Says No Restrictions On Farm Equipment To Russia” Barron’s