The Senate will not hold additional votes on amendments to the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 until they return from the Memorial Day recess. That means the next vote is scheduled for Monday, June 3rd. On Thursday – Senators voted on three crop insurance amendments. An amendment to end crop insurance subsidies for tobacco was rejected 44 to 52. Ninety-four Senators voted to approve an amendment to authorize the use of the insurance fund to reduce fraud and maintain crop insurance program integrity. That amendment was sponsored by North Carolina’s Kay Hagan. Senators also agreed to an amendment from Dick Durbin of Illinois and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma to limit premium subsidies for those with an average adjusted gross income above 750-thousand dollars. The vote was 59 to 33.

Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow urged Senators to vote against the Durbin-Coburn amendment. She said it would raise premium costs by 40-percent for the affected farmers and would reduce the amount of acreage that must comply with federal conservation standards. According to an analysis of the amendment from former USDA Chief Economist Keith Collins – released by the American Crop Insurers Association Thursday – the affected farmers would be looking at a 37-percent increase in the cost of their premiums if they are buying 70-percent coverage because the amendment would reduce the government’s premium support by 15 points. A farmer purchasing 50-percent coverage – according to the analysis – will see a 45-percent increase.

The vote for the Durbin-Coburn amendment wasn’t just a defeat for the crop insurance industry – but also for the coalition of farm and conservation groups that reached the agreement to link crop insurance to conservation compliance with no income restrictions on subsidies. Other groups – like the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition – supported the amendment.
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“NCGA Disappointed with Approval of Durbin-Coburn Amendment”

The National Corn Growers Association was pleased to see the progress made on the farm bill Thursday and the priority placed on the vital legislation’s passage. But NCGA President Pam Johnson says the group was disappointed with the passage of the Durbin-Coburn amendment to reduce premium support for crop insurance participants through an Adjusted Gross Income means test. As the Senate moves forward – Johnson says NCGA is opposed to proposed amendments that would cut crop insurance programs and damage the farm safety net that supports the nation’s family farmers when facing adversity. Johnson also urges the Senate to continue moving the bill along in a swift and thoughtful manner upon return from the Memorial Day recess.
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“Amendment to Cut MAP Funding Strongly Opposed by NCGA”

As the Senate takes a break from farm bill action for the Memorial Day recess – the National Corn Growers Association is urging its members and allies of agriculture to voice opposition to an amendment that would cut Market Access Program funding. Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn and Arizona Senator John McCain filed an amendment to reduce MAP funding by 40-million dollars annually and place additional restrictions on the use of program funds. NCGA – along with a broad coalition of allies – strongly opposes the amendment.

NCGA was part of a group of more than 140 organizations that sent a letter to Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member Thad Cochran in support of MAP. The letter stressed the importance of long-term export market development partnerships in the face of growing foreign competition and urged that MAP and the Foreign Market Development Program receive the same level of funding authorized in the previous farm bill.

MAP has been funded at the level of 200-million dollars a year since 2006. Reducing this funding – according to NCGA – would seriously undermine U.S. agriculture’s ability to compete in this highly competitive international marketplace. NCGA believes MAP provides a cost-effective program to help maintain and expand U.S. ag exports; protect and create American jobs; and strengthen farm income. According to a recent study – for every dollar spent by government and industry above the 2002 baseline on market development between 2002 and 2009 – U.S. food and agricultural exports increased by 35-dollars – a 35 to 1 return on investment.
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“U.S. Grains Council Highlights Importance of Export Promotion Programs”

The U.S. Grains Council says the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program are the foundation of a longstanding public-private partnership that has made the U.S. the world’s leading agricultural exporter. Cooperator organizations like the Council leverage program funding with private sector funding to support export development programs around the world. If MAP and FMD aren’t reauthorized by September 30th – the Council says cooperators will soon be forced to curtail these market building initiatives, close international offices and lay off long-time international staff. While both programs are proposed for full funding in the President’s budget and have been reauthorized by the farm bills approved by the House and Senate Agriculture Committees – Senators Tom Coburn and John McCain have filed an amendment to cut MAP funding by 20-percent. Due to its broad bipartisan support – the U.S. Grains Council notes MAP has withstood such challenges in the past. The Council says it’s important for the future of U.S. agricultural exports in all sectors to again win this battle and for MAP to be reauthorized at full funding levels.
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“USDA Issues Final Rule Governing COOL”

USDA has released its final rule to modify the labeling provisions for muscle cut commodities covered under country-of-origin labeling. The rule was written to comply with a 2012 World Trade Organization panel decision that the COOL requirements for certain meat commodities were inconsistent with the WTO agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade because they discriminated against Canadian and Mexican livestock imports. The final rule modifies the labeling provisions in question to require the origin destinations to include the countries in which the animal was born, raised and slaughtered. It also removes the allowance for comingling of muscle cuts. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said USDA is confident these changes will improve the overall operation of the program and bring COOL into compliance with U.S. international trade obligations.
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“Mixed Reaction to Final COOL Rule”

National Farmers Union is pleased that USDA decided to stand strong and keep country-of-origin labeling. According to NFU President Roger Johnson – the decision to bring the law into compliance with the WTO’s ruling is a win-win situation for all interested parties. Further – Johnson says NFU applauds the administration for taking a proactive approach in bringing COOL into compliance by providing more information on the origins of our food instead of simply watering down the process. But National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Scott George calls the action by USDA short-sighted. He says the nation’s largest trading partners have already said these provisions will not bring the U.S. into compliance with its WTO obligations and will result in increased discrimination against imported products and – in turn – retaliatory tariffs or other authorized sanctions. George says any retaliation against U.S. beef would be devastating for producers. He says USDA has set U.S. cattle producers up for financial losses and placed a greater record-keeping burden on producers, feeders and processors.

George notes cattlemen and women don’t oppose voluntary labeling as a marketing tool to distinguish product and add value – but says they don’t want USDA marketing beef. He says a label that says ‘harvested’ is unappealing to consumers and cattle producers.
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“House Approves Measure to Move Keystone Pipeline Forward”

The U.S. House approved the Northern Route Approval Act Wednesday. The legislation would approve construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline by removing the requirement for a Presidential permit. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas praised the measure’s passage. He said the Keystone Pipeline project has the potential to create 20-thousand direct jobs and 118-thousand indirect jobs. In addition – Lucas said the project will obviously create economic growth.
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“Food Safety Reminders for Severe Weather Season”

With the recent tragic weather events in Kansas and Oklahoma – USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is taking an opportunity to remind residents about the steps they can take to minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses as a result of long-term power outages and compromised food storage. If the power goes out – folks are reminded to keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible and to buy dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible during extended outages. After a weather emergency – it’s important to check the temperature in the fridge and freezer. Food is safe if the thermometer reads 40-degrees Fahrenheit or below. All perishable foods that were kept in a refrigerator or freezer above 40-degrees Fahrenheit for two hours or more should be discarded. When in doubt – USDA advises – throw it out. Those with questions about the safety of their food as a result of weather damage and power outages can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline or 888-674-6854 from nine o’clock to three o’clock Central time on weekdays. The FSIS virtual food safety expert Ask Karen is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

USDA also offers tips for preparing for a possible weather emergency. Suggestions include keeping an appliance thermometer in the fridge and freezer, grouping food together in the freezer, freezing refrigerated items that may not be needed immediately, keeping coolers on hand to keep refrigerated food cold if the power will be out for longer than four hours, storing ice in the freezer for use in the refrigerator or in a cooler, freezing gel packs ahead of time for use in coolers and planning ahead to know where dry and block ice can be purchased.
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