August 17, 2021
Agricultural Law Weekly Review – Week Ending August 13, 2021
Pesticides/Herbicides: California State Appellate Court Affirms Verdict in Pilliod v. Monsanto 🌾
On August 9, 2021, the Court of Appeal for the State of California issued an opinion affirming the jury verdict in a glyphosate products liability claim against Monsanto/Bayer. Pilliod et al. v. Monsanto Company, No. A158228. In 2019, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs, Alva and Alberta Pilliod, who alleged that their thirty-year use of Monsanto/Bayer’s glyphosate-based Roundup weed killer caused them both to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, in the amount of $2 billion but the trial court reduced it to $87 million on post-trial motions. Monsanto/Bayer appealed the verdict on multiple grounds, most significantly that the plaintiff’s failure to warn/duty to disclose products liability claims were preempted by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and EPA’s jurisdiction over labeling. Contrary to the July 19, 2021 ruling of another California state court, Stephens v. Monsanto Company, et al, No. CIVSB2104801, but consistent with the May 14, 2021 ruling of the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Hardeman v. Monsanto Company et al., No. 19-16636, the court rejected the preemption defense. For background, see ALWR—May 16, 2019, “California Jury Awards Couple Over $2 Billion Due to Roundup Use” and see ALWR-August 6, 2021, “California State Court Contradicts Ninth Circuit, Rules FIFRA Preempts Certain State Glyphosate Products Liability Claims.”
Ag-Gag Statutes: Eight Circuit Upholds Iowa’s 2012 Ag-Gag Law in Part
On August 10, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued an opinion partially affirming and partially reversing the district court’s injunction against enforcement of Iowa’s 2012 “Agricultural Production Facility Fraud” law (§ 717A.3A). Animal Legal Defense Fund, et al v. Kimberly Reynolds, et al, No. 19-1364. The state of Iowa had appealed the case from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, which found the law unconstitutionally prohibited free speech. Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Reynolds, No. 4:17-cv-00362. The circuit court analyzed two provisions of the law: 1) the “Access Provision,” which imposes criminal liability on a person who “obtains access to an agricultural production facility by false pretenses,” and 2) the “Employment Provision,” which imposes criminal liability on a person who, in applying for employment at an agricultural production facility, “[m]akes a false statement or representation . . . [that he] knows . . . to be false . . . with an intent to commit an act not authorized by the owner of the agricultural production facility, knowing that the act is not authorized.” The court upheld the Access Provision, finding the section constitutional because it only restricted “lies associated with a legally cognizable harm . . . trespass to private property.” However, the court affirmed the lower court’s injunction against the Employment Provision, finding the clause “too broad” because it prohibited all false statements, not just those “material to a hiring decision.”
Ag-Gag Statutes: Eighth Circuit Finds Plaintiffs Have Standing to Challenge Arkansas Ag-Gag Law
On August 9, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit issued an opinion reversing the district court’s dismissal for lack of standing in a case challenging the constitutionality of Arkansas’s “ag-gag” statute (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-118-113). Animal Legal Defense Fund, et al v. Jonathan Vaught, et al, No. 20-01538. The plaintiffs, several animal advocacy groups, alleged that, but for the Arkansas law, they would send undercover personnel to investigate the defendants’ facilities by gaining employment in the facilities and recording activities there. Thus, the plaintiffs claimed that the law effectively “chilled” activity protected under the First Amendment. The lower court found that the plaintiffs’ alleged injury was “too speculative” because the defendant companies had not actually hired one of the plaintiffs’ investigators and dismissed the case for lack of standing. The circuit court reversed the dismissal, finding that the plaintiffs’ previously conducted investigations sufficed to show an injury from their currently forestalled investigation. The circuit court remanded the case for adjudication on the merits of the plaintiffs’ First Amendment claim.
International Trade: EU Postpones Dairy Export Health Certificate Deadline until January 2022
On August 10, 2021, the European Commission entered Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1329, which extends the deadline by which U.S. dairy product imports must be accompanied by health certificates from August 21, 2021, to January 15, 2022. According to an August 13, 2021 announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), AMS will issue the new health certificates through its EU Dairy Export Certification Programs. AMS will require producers and “entities throughout the supply chain” to maintain records showing that milk products produced for European Union (EU) export comply with either Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance or USDA AMS Milk for Manufacturing Purposes program requirements. AMS states that it will inspect existing records and certify milk sources during compliance audits for current EU Somatic Cell Count and Bacteria Standard Plate Count requirements.
Organic Agriculture: USDA Renews Organic Program National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
On August 3, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published a rule titled, “National Organic Program: 2021 and 2022 Sunset Review and Substance Renewals” (86 FR 41699). The rule renews synthetic, nonsynthetic, nonagricultural, and nonorganic agricultural substances on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) under USDA’s organic regulations. The rule renews substances reviewed by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) in calendar years 2019, which will be reviewed again after September 12, 2026, and 2020, which will be reviewed after March 15, 2027. The rule leaves intact the prohibition of four nonsynthetic substances: ash from manure burning, sodium fluoaluminate, arsenic, and strychnine. According to the rule, the NOSB also recommended several substances for removal from the National List, which AMS states are forthcoming in a “separate notice and comment rulemaking and are not included in this document.”
Biotechnology: AquaBounty Announces Genetically Engineered Salmon Facility in Ohio
On July 29, 2021, AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. announced that it will build a large-scale facility to commercially produce genetically engineered salmon in Pioneer, Ohio. The company expects construction to begin in late 2021 on the 479,000 square foot facility, which will have the capacity to produce 10,000 metric tons of salmon beginning in 2023. The facility is AquaBounty’s second commercial production endeavor and is anticipated to produce eight times as much salmon as the company’s Albany, Indiana farm.
Center for Agricultural and Shale Law Programs & Resources:
Penn State Agricultural Law Podcasts:
- Weekly Episode #189. U.S. Senators Introduce Bill to Stop California’s Prop 12 & California State Court Rules FIFRA Preempts Glyphosate State Claims (Aug. 16, 2021).
- Special Episode #9. Geographic Indications in International Dairy Trade—Part 2: Economics & Trade (Aug. 13, 2021).
- Special Episode #8. Geographic Indications in International Dairy Trade – Part 1 (Aug. 5, 2021).
- Rapid Review: Window Closing on Legal Challenges to California’s Proposition 12 (Aug. 3, 2021).
- Agricultural Law Issue Trackers: Biden’s First 100 Days for Food and Agricultural Policy (Aug. 2, 2021).
Upcoming Webinars:
- Utility Scale Solar: Understanding Key Lease Terms with Penn State Extension, Aug. 18, 2021, 7:00 p.m.
- Overview of Federal and State Purchase of Agricultural and Conservation Easement (PACE) Programs with the NALC, Sept. 15, 2021, 12:00 p.m.
- WeConservePA Solar Webinar Series:
- Utility Scale Solar and Local Land Planning, Aug. 17, 2021, 10:00 a.m.
- Government Policy and Solar, Aug. 24, 2021, 10:00 a.m.
Penn State News, Research, & Resources:
Nitrous Oxide Emissions, Coming From Legume Cover Crops, Manure, Can be Reduced (Aug. 2, 2021).
Historic Fire Regimes Lay Groundwork for Future Forest Management in Western US (Aug. 2, 2021).
Algorithm Helps Probe Connections Between Stream Chemistry and Environment (Aug. 2, 2021).
Other Agricultural Law/Policy Resources of Interest:
Food Law and Policy Clinic, Harvard Law School & National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, An Evaluation of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program (& Executive Summary) (Feb. 2021).
Brigit Rollins, Building Blocks: Basics of CRP (Aug. 5, 2021).
Peggy Kirk Hall, The Legal Roundup: Ag Law Questions From Across Ohio (Aug. 10, 2021).
Jeffrey K. Lewis, Employee v. Independent Contractor: When is an Ag Employer Responsible? (Aug. 13, 2021).
Roger A. McEowen, Farm Valuation Issues (Aug. 14, 2021).
Kitt Tovar Jensen, Ninth Circuit Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality of California’s Sow Confinement Law (Aug. 10, 2021).
Roger A. McEowen, California’s Regulation of U.S. Agriculture (Aug. 9, 2021).
Sarah Everhart, Recent Legal Decisions Uphold Proposition 12’s Livestock Production Standards (Aug. 10, 2021).
Brigit Rollins, California Court Finds State Law Claims Not Preempted by FIFRA in Glyphosate Ruling (Aug. 12, 2021).
Weekly Featured Graphic:
USDA, Land Values 2021 Summary (Aug. 2021)
Progressive Dairy, Exports Overtaking Fluid Products in Moving U.S. Milk Solids (Aug. 5, 2021).
AGENCY PRESS RELEASES—STATE/FEDERAL
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Press Releases:
Ag Secretary Invites Proposals For $460,000 In Commonwealth Specialty Crop Block Grants — Strategic Investment To Seed Growth In PA Economy (Aug. 9, 2021).
Secretary Of Agriculture: Free COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic At Ag Progress Days (Aug. 10, 2021).
Agriculture Secretary Applauds Champions Of Soil, Water Resources (Aug. 12, 2021).
Agriculture Secretary Celebrates Newest PA Centennial Farm — Bradford County’s Happy Mountain Bouse Farm (Aug. 12, 2021).
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Press Releases:
USDA Hosts Roundtable on Food Waste Solutions in the U.S. and Abroad (Aug. 10, 2021).
Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Aug. 10, 2021).
U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces Key Staff (Aug. 10, 2021).
USDA Invests $167 Million in High-Speed Broadband in 12 States (Aug. 11, 2021).
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Availability of Up To $500 Million in Emergency Rural Health Care Funds Under the American Rescue Plan (Aug. 12, 2021).
USDA Agency Press Releases:
Agricultural Marketing Service
USDA AMS EU Dairy Export Verification Program (Aug. 13, 2021).
Agricultural Research Service
Postharvest Physiologist Penelope Perkins-Veazie Presents 2021 ARS B.Y. Morrison Memorial Lecture (Aug. 8, 2021).
Targeted Cattle Grazing Quickly Contains Wildfires in the Great Basin (Aug. 10, 2021).
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan Meeting (Aug. 11, 2021).
Economic Research Service
Food and Nutrition Service
You Spoke, We Listened: The Challenges of Purchasing Healthy Food with SNAP Benefits (Aug. 9, 2021).
The Thrifty Food Plan: What It Is and Why It Matters (Aug. 12, 2021).
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Constituent Update—Upcoming FSIS Webinars on Labeling (Aug. 13, 2021).
Foreign Agricultural Service
Private Exporters Report Sales Activity for Unknown Destinations (Aug. 9, 2021).
Private Exporters Report Sales Activity for China, Mexico, and Unknown Destinations (Aug. 10, 2021).
Private Exporters Report Sales Activity for China (Aug. 11, 2021).
Bronaugh Leads U.S. Delegation to UN Food Systems Pre-Summit in Rome (Aug. 11, 2021).
Private Exporters Report Sales Activity for China and Unknown Destinations (Aug. 12, 2021).
Private Exporters Report Sales Activity for China and Unknown Destinations (Aug. 13, 2021).
National Agricultural Statistics Service
USDA Forecasts US Corn and Soybean Production up From 2020 (Aug. 12, 2021).
Agricultural Statistics Board Briefing—August Crop Production (Aug. 12, 2021).
STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE/LEGISLATIVE
Pennsylvania Executive Agencies (Pa. Bulletin Vol. 51, No. 33—Aug. 14, 2021):
Department of Agriculture
51 Pa.B. 4872 Notice: “Farm-to-School Grant Program; 2021-2022 Program Guidelines.”
Department of Environmental Protection
51 Pa.B. 4874 Notice: “Applications For NPDES Permits And WQM Permits Under The Clean Streams Law And Federal Clean Water Act.”
51 Pa.B. 4928 Notice: “Nutrient Credit Trading Program; Mass Certification.”
Pennsylvania Legislature:
SB 832 “An Act amending Titles 3 (Agriculture) and 27 (Environmental Resources) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Conservation Excellence Grant Program, further providing for criteria for evaluation of applications; providing for nonpoint source pollution reduction and establishing the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program, the Pennsylvania Clean Water Procurement Program and the Municipal Storm Water Assistance Program [Establishing a Clean Streams Fund for Pennsylvania].” Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY [Senate] (Aug. 12, 2021).
HB 1780 “An Act amending . . . the Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in financial provisions, further providing for powers and duties of Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board, for Underground Storage Tank Environmental Cleanup Program and for Underground Storage Tank Pollution Prevention Program.” Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY [House] (Aug. 12, 2021).
FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE/LEGISLATIVE
Federal Executive Agencies (Federal Register Aug. 9–13, 2021):
Agriculture Department
86 FR 43518 Notice: “Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request [Food Safety and Inspection Service: Public Health Inspection System” (Aug. 9, 2021).
86 FR 43624 Notice: “Submission for OMB Review; Notice of Request for Emergency Approval [Forest Service: Grant or Agreement Award Face Sheet” (Aug. 10, 2021).
86 FR 43624 Notice, comments accepted: “Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request [Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: Communicable Diseases in Horses]” (Aug. 10, 2021).
86 FR 43626 Notice, comments accepted: “Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request [National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS): National Agroforestry Survey]” (Aug. 10, 2021).
86 FR 44332 Notice: “Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request [Food and Nutrition Service: Evaluation of Child Support Enforcement Cooperation Requirements]” (Aug. 12, 2021).
Agricultural Marketing Service
86 FR 44259 Final Rule: “Dried Prunes Produced in California; Increased Assessment Rate” (Aug. 12, 2021).
86 FR 44257 Final Rule: “Olives Grown in California; Increased Assessment Rate” (Aug. 12, 2021).
86 FR 44286 Proposed Rule—Comment Period: “Avocados Grown in South Florida and Imported Avocados; Change in Maturity Requirements” (Aug. 12, 2021).
86 FR 44644 Proposed Rule—Comment Period: “Amendments to the Marketing Order of Grapes Grown in a Southeastern California” (Aug. 13, 2021).
86 FR 44647 Proposed Rule—Comment Period: “Tart Cherries Grown in the States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin; Changes to Reporting Requirements” (Aug. 13, 2021).
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
86 FR 43518 Notice: “Addition of the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Senegal, and the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to the List of Regions Affected With Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza” (Aug. 9, 2021).
86 FR 43988 Notice—Comment Period: “Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Importation of Swine Hides, Bird Trophies, and Deer Hides” (Aug. 11, 2021).
86 FR 43988 Notice: “General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan; Virtual Public Meeting” (Aug. 11, 2021).
Environmental Protection Agency
86 FR 43726 Proposed Rule—Comment Period: “Revised 2023 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards” (Aug. 10, 2021).
86 FR 43964 Final Rule, comments accepted: “Florasulam; Pesticide Tolerances” (Aug. 11, 2021).
86 FR 44358 Notice—Comment Period: “Pesticide Product Registration; Receipt of Applications for New Uses (July 2021)” (Aug. 12, 2021).
86 FR 44623 Final Rule, comments accepted: “Boscalid; Pesticide Tolerances” (Aug. 13, 2021).
86 FR 44618 Final Rule, comments accepted: “Emamectin benzoate; Pesticide Tolerances” (Aug. 13, 2021).
86 FR 44620 Final Rule, comments accepted: “Pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione, 3,6-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,5-dihydro-; Exemption From the Requirement of a Tolerance” (Aug. 13, 2021).
86 FR 44712 Notice: “Ambient Water Quality Criteria To Address Nutrient Pollution in Lakes and Reservoirs” (Aug. 13, 2021).
86 FR 44706 Notice—Comment Period: “Pesticide Product Registration; Receipt of Applications for New Active Ingredients (July 2021)” (Aug. 13, 2021).
Executive Office of the President
86 FR 43583 Executive Order: “Strengthening American Leadership in Clean Cars and Trucks [E.O. 14037 of Aug 5, 2021]” (Aug. 10, 2021).
Farm Service Agency
86 FR 43381 Final Rule, comments accepted: “Heirs’ Property Relending Program (HPRP), Improving Farm Loan Program Delivery, and Streamlining Oversight Activities” (Aug. 9, 2021).
Fish and Wildlife Service
86 FR 43470 Proposed Rule, review: “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Foreign Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions” (Aug. 9, 2021).
86 FR 43562 Notice—Comment Period: “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for the Poweshiek Skipperling” (Aug. 9, 2021).
Food and Nutrition Service
86 FR 44575 Interim Final Rule, comments accepted: “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Non-Discretionary Quality Control Provisions of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018” (Aug. 13, 2021).
Forest Service
86 FR 44685 Notice—Comment Period: “Information Collection: Forest Industries and Logging Operations Data Collection Systems” (Aug. 13, 2021).
86 FR 44686 Notice: “Request for Applications: The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program” (Aug. 13, 2021).
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
86 FR 44689 Notice—Comment Period: “Notice of Request for Revisions of a Currently Approved Information Collection [Value-Added Producer Grants]” (Aug. 13, 2021).
86 FR 44689 Notice—Comment Period: “Agency Information Collection Activities: Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection; Comments Request; Rural Development Loan Servicing” (Aug. 13, 2021).
Rural Housing Service
86 FR 44332 Notice, comments accepted: “The American Rescue Plan Act Emergency Rural Health Care Grant Program” (Aug. 12, 2021).
Surface Transportation Board
86 FR 43718 Notice: “Notice of National Grain Car Council Meeting” (Aug. 10, 2021).
U.S. House Agriculture Committee:
H.R.4995 “To require the Secretary of the Interior to establish Tribal Wildlife Corridors, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture (Aug. 10, 2021).
H.R.4999 “To prevent States and local jurisdictions from interfering with the production and distribution of agricultural products in interstate commerce, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and the Committee on the Judiciary (Aug. 10, 2021).
H.R.4302 “Active Forest Management, Wildfire Prevention and Community Protection Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4337 “Commodity Futures Trading Commission Research and Development Modernization Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4375 “Twenty-First Century Dams Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4379 “School Food Modernization Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4415 “Chester County Reversionary Interest Release Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4421 “Farm System Reform Act of 2021” Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4443 “Cultivating Organic Matter through the Promotion Of Sustainable Techniques Act” or the “COMPOST Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4456 “Helping America’s Farmers Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4489 “National Forest Restoration and Remediation Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4492 “Biosecurity Information Optimization for Defense Act of 2021” Referred to the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4516 “Protecting and Restoring Our Trees by Enhancing Conservation and Treatments Act” or the “PROTECT Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4552 “Veterans’ Agricultural Apprenticeship Act of 2021” Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4569 “Action Versus No Action Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4573 “Stop Causing Alarming Tree, Air, and Soil Trauma Resulting from Obstructive Progressives’ and Hypocritical Environmentalists’ Schemes Act” or the “Stop CATASTROPHES Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4574 “Salvaging American Lumber Via Action with Greater Efficiency Act” or the “SALVAGE Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4579 “Forest Litigation Reform Act of 2021” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4580 “American Seasonal and Perishable Crop Support Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4584 “Healthy Forests for Hunters Act of 2021” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.R.4614 “Resilient Federal Forests Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Aug. 11, 2021).
H.Res.542 “Expressing support for the designation of July 2021 as ‘American Grown Flower and Foliage Month’” Referred to the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research (Aug. 13, 2021).
H.Con.Res.43 “Expressing the sense of Congress that all direct and indirect subsidies that benefit the production or export of sugar by all major sugar-producing and -consuming countries should be eliminated.” Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management (Aug. 13, 2021).
H.R.4623 “Commonsense Coordination Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Aug. 13, 2021).
H.R.4664 “Forest Improvements through Research and Emergency Stewardship for Healthy Ecosystem Development and Sustainability Act” or the “FIRESHEDS Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Aug. 13, 2021).
H.R.4680 “Fair Sugar Policy Act of 2021” Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management (Aug. 13, 2021).
H.R.4690 “Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2021” Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture (Aug. 13, 2021).
H.R.4705 “Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Aug. 13, 2021).
H.R.4710 “CRP Flexibility Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry
H.R.4828 “Border Security for America Act of 2021” Referred to the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research (Aug. 13, 2021).
U.S. Senate Committee Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry:
S.2707 “A bill to amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to improve a program that provides livestock disaster assistance, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Aug. 10, 2021).
U.S. Congressional Legislative Hearings:
Senate Finance Committee:
Implementation and Enforcement of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement: One Year After Entry into Force (Recording, July 27, 2021).
- Testimony: Allan Huttema, Chair, Northwest Dairy Association/Darigold
House Agriculture Committee:
21st Century Food Systems: Controlled Environment Agriculture’s Role in Protecting Domestic Food Supply Chains and Infrastructure (Recording, July 29, 2021).
State of the Beef Supply Chain: Shocks, Recovery, and Rebuilding, Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture (Recording, July 28, 2021).
- Testimony: Dr. Jayson Lusk, Purdue; Dr. Jennifer van de Ligt, U. of MN; Dr. Keri Jacobs, U. of MO; Dr. Austin Aherin, V.P. Rabo AgriFinance.
Connect with the Center on Facebook or on Twitter @AgShaleLaw
Top #AgLaw HotLinks Aug. 9–13, 2021.
Dairy Exports Could See Another Record Year, Brownfield
Border Security Gets Boost as African Swine Fever Spreads Across Dominican Republic, Brownfield
USDA Preparations In Case Of U.S. ASF Outbreak, Brownfield
Can California Reduce Dairy Methane Emissions Equitably?, Inside Climate News
GOP Senators Introduce Bill to Stop California’s Prop 12, DTN Progressive Farmer
Farmworkers Are Dying in Extreme Heat. Few Standards Exist to Protect Them, PBS News Hour
Carbon Credits: ‘Farms Are Where the Land Is’, Delta Farm Press
JBS Entering Aquaculture Sector With Acquisition, Feedstuffs
As House Focuses On China, Farm Groups See Other Land Buyers, Roll Call
Expanded Cattle Market Reporting to Increase Transparency, Feedstuffs
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Written by:
Audry Thompson—Research Assistant
Brook Duer—Staff Attorney