Agricultural Law Weekly Review—Week Ending March 26, 2021

COVID-19: USDA Announces New ‘Pandemic Assistance for Producers’ Initiative 🌾
On March 24, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its new $6 billion financial assistance initiative, USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers.  Combining existing programs with new spending, the initiative aims to resolve disparities in previous assistance distribution through a four-part agenda: 1) $6 billion in Consolidated Appropriations Act and unspent coronavirus funds for new program spending, including assistance for the Dairy Donation Program, biofuels, specialty crops, and farmworker personal protective equipment; 2) $500 million in additional existing program spending, including the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the Local Agricultural Marketing Program; 3) continuation of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments, including rate increases and automatic payments for cattle producers, price trigger crop producers, and flat-rate crop producers with eligible CFAP 1 or CFAP 2 applications; and 4) advancing the CFAP 2 program through $2.5 million in outreach and promotional spending and reopening the CFAP 2 application window for at least 60 days, beginning April 5, 2021.  According to the announcement, for USDA initiative efforts that require rulemaking, the agency will begin the rulemaking process this spring 2021.

Animal Welfare: Utah Passes Cage-Free Egg Law
On March 17, 2021, Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed into law SB 147, titled “Confinement of Egg-Laying Hens.”  The new law mandates that, beginning January 1, 2025, all egg-laying hens must be kept in either a cage-free housing system or in an enclosure with 1.0–1.5 square feet of usable floor space, as required by the United Egg Producers’ Animal Husbandry Guidelines for U.S. Egg-Laying Flocks: Guidelines for Cage-Free Housing, 2017 Edition.  The law exempts farms with less than 3,000 egg-laying hens and provides exceptions during veterinary care, transportation, fair exhibition, slaughter, and temporary animal husbandry of egg-laying hens, and for hens used in medical research.  The legislation authorizes the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) to impose a $100 fine for each written notice of violation and to issue a temporary restraining order or permanent injunction against producers who fail to resolve violations.  Additionally, the law requires that UDAF compile a report for the November 2023 Business and Labor Interim Committee meeting on producer compliance and “the retail demand for and conditions related to the sale of cage-free eggs.”

Organic Agriculture: Federal Court Upholds USDA Organic Foods Production Act Interpretation to Include Hydroponic Production
On March 19, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order granting summary judgment in favor of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) respecting the agency’s interpretation of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA) to allow for organic certification of hydroponic production systems.  Center for Food Safety v. Perdue, No. 3:20-cv-01537.  The complaint, filed by the Center for Food Safety (the Center), asked the court to review USDA’s denial of the Center’s rulemaking petition requesting USDA to prohibit organic certification of hydroponic systems.  The Center claimed that OFPA language referencing or establishing soil fertility requirements created a prerequisite that all organically certified crop production must utilize soil-based cultivation.  The court found that because OFPA neither directly nor indirectly mentions or considers hydroponic systems nor methods, the statute does not speak directly to the issue and cannot compel any action related to hydroponics.  As such, the court held USDA’s OFPA interpretation—that OFPA soil provisions apply only to production systems using soil and do not create soil requirements for organic production—is a permissible reading of the statute.

Pesticides/Herbicides: Bayer Declines to File for Certiorari in Johnson v. Monsanto Case
On March 19, 2021, Bayer AG stated that it will not file a petition for certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court to appeal the California state court jury verdict finding the company liable for cancer caused by its glyphosate-based product, Round-Up.  Johnson v. Monsanto, No. CGC-16-550128 (San Francisco Super. Ct.).  Previously, Bayer had exhausted their state court remedies in the case through adverse decisions from the California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District’s (affirming the jury verdict in Johnson v. Monsanto, No. A155940) and the Supreme Court of California (denying a petition for review in Johnson v. Monsanto, No. S264158).  According to the Bayer statement, the Hardeman v. Monsanto federal court jury verdict currently on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, will serve as a better case for review by the Supreme Court.  For background, see ALWR—week ending July 24, 2020, “California Appeals Court Affirms Jury Verdict that Bayer Liable for Glyphosate-Caused Cancer but Reduces Damages” and ALWR—week ending October 30, 2020, “California Supreme Court Denies Glyphosate Verdict Appeal.”

Nutrition Programs: USDA Withdraws SNAP Ruling Appeal
On March 23, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an order granting the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) motion to dismiss its appeal of the district court’s October 2020 vacatur of the agency’s 2019 final rule, “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents” (84 FR 66782).  DC, et al. v. AGRI, et al., No. 20-05371.  The appeal, filed on December 15, 2020 by the previous administration, sought to uphold the rule, which would have restricted states’ abilities to waive work requirements for program beneficiaries aged 18–49 without dependents.  For background, see ALWR—week ending October 23, 2020, “Federal Court Vacates USDA SNAP Rule.”

Animal Disease Traceability: USDA Abandons Previous RFID Rulemaking
On March 23, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that, after review of public comments submitted in response to its July 2020 notice and comment request, “Use of Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] Tags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison” (85 FR 40184), the agency intends to proceed with the a rulemaking process but will not finalize the original July 2020 notice.  While the agency encourages the use of RFID tags and believes they provide the best protection against the rapid spread of animal diseases, until further notice all current APHIS-approved methods of identification may be used as official identification. For background, see ALWR—week ending July 3, 2020, “Public Comment Solicited on RFID-Only Tags.”

Biofuels: EPA Finalizes Rule on Deadlines for RFS Compliance and Reports
On March 23, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the forthcoming publication of a final rule titled “Extension of 2019 and 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard [RFS] Compliance and Attest Engagement.”  The rule, published as proposed on January 15, 2021 (86 FR 3928) by the prior administration, extends the deadline for submission of 2020 RFS compliance materials until January 31, 2022 and extends the associated attest engagement report submission deadline until June 1, 2022.  While the deadline for 2021 compliance materials remains March 31, 2022, the rule extends the 2021 attest engagement report deadline until September 1, 2022.  Additionally, the rule extends the 2019 submission deadlines for small refineries until November 30, 2021 for compliance documents and until June 1, 2022 for attest engagement reports.

International Trade: U.S. Industry Groups Outline U.S.-Mexico Trade Challenges in Letter to Agriculture Secretary
On March 22, 2021, twenty-seven U.S. agricultural industry groups sent a letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai expressing concern over several issues affecting the agricultural trade relationship between Mexico and the United States.  The letter outlines several food and agriculture trade developments, including many unilateral actions taken by Mexico: a recent ban on glyphosate and genetically modified corn; its 2020 move to mandate Standards of Identity (SOI) Conformity Assessment Procedures (CAP) for cheese; its discontinuation of USDA organic certification recognition and requirement that U.S. organic exports must meet Mexico’s organic standards by June 26, 2021; a “native corn” campaign aimed at eliminating imported U.S. corn along with dissemination of government-sponsored materials bearing a skull and cross bones to represent U.S. corn sweeteners as poison; a moratorium on agricultural biotechnology review and approval; concerns about geographical indications (GIs) terms of Mexico’s 2018 free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) impacting U.S. meat and poultry exports under the USMCA’s terms; a current case pending in the Mexican Supreme Court filed by the Mexican potato cartel calling into question the Mexican government’s authority to allow market access for agricultural commodities; and new front-of-pack labeling regulations that require black stop signs on products deemed to contain high amounts of calories, sugar, sodium, and saturated fat.  While the letter does not request any specific actions from the officials, it states that the industry groups desire to collaborate to address U.S.-Mexico trade challenges.

Participate in PASA Sustainable Agriculture’s 15-minute Survey on the Impact of COVID-19 on Pennsylvania Farmers

Participate in Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development’s 2020 Farm Employee Compensation Benchmark Survey:  According to Cornell, producers who participate can compare their compensation to other farm businesses and make better compensation plans.  The process takes about 10 minutes per employee, is entirely confidential and each participant will receive a report of the results and an invitation to attend a webinar discussion of the findings. Only aggregate data, with no way to identify farms or individuals, will be published or shared.

Penn State Agricultural Law Podcast: Listen to the latest episode of our weekly podcast here. 

Upcoming Webinars

Land Access Series: Find, Lease, and Purchase Land in Pennsylvania, Penn State Extension, March 29, 2021–April 1, 2021, four consecutive nights at 6:00 pm ET; April 8, 2021 at 6:00 pm ET

Conversations with the Professionals: Ag Succession and Transition Planning with an Ag Accountant, Penn State Extension, April 27, 2021 at 9:00 am ET.  

Penn State Research & News:

Uniform Drying Time for Goldenseal to Enhance Medicinal Qualities of Forest Herb (Mar. 22, 2021).

Weird Earthquake Reveals Hidden Mechanism (Mar. 24, 2021).

Agricultural Law/Policy Resources of Interest: 

Tiffany Lashmet, Case Addresses Mineral Reservation Language Dispute (Mar. 22, 2021).

Guido van der Hoeven and Kitt Tovar Jensen, Is There a Succession Plan? Avoiding Ten Common Mistakes (Mar. 24, 2021).

Micah Brown, Lending for Livestock, Credit for Crops: Statutory Agricultural Liens (Mar. 23, 2021).

Paul Goeringer, Maryland Circuit Court Judge Reverses Final Maryland AFO Permit (Mar. 24, 2021).

Roger A. McEowen, Court and IRS Happenings in Ag Law and Tax (Mar. 24, 2021).

Shelby Myers, Sustainability Markets, Part 4: Is Carbon a Commodity?  (Mar. 24, 2021)

Weekly Featured Graphic:

From Sustainability Markets, Part 4: Is Carbon a Commodity?:

AGENCY PRESS RELEASES—STATE/FEDERAL

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Press Releases:

Department of Agriculture Announces Workshop Opportunity for Urban Ag Program Applicants (Mar. 23, 2021).

Department of Agriculture Releases COVID-19 Restaurant Enforcement Actions, March 15 – 21, 2021 (Mar. 24, 2021).

Secretary of Agriculture Warns: Farmers Lose Without A Dog License Fee Increase (Mar. 25, 2021).

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Press Releases:

USDA Increases SNAP Benefits Up To $100 Per Household with Funding from American Rescue Plan (Mar. 22, 2021).

USDA Invests $266 Million to Improve Rural Community Facilities and Essential Services in 16 States and Puerto Rico (Mar. 23, 2021).

USDA Awards Over $11.5 Million to Help Small and Mid-Sized Farms on National Ag Day (Mar. 23, 2021).

Statement by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on D.C. Circuit Court’s Decision Regarding ABAWDs Rule (Mar. 24, 2021).

After Identifying Gaps in Previous Aid, USDA Announces ‘Pandemic Assistance for Producers’ to Distribute Resources More Equitably (Mar. 24, 2021).

FACT SHEET: Update on USDA Activities to Contain the COVID-19 Pandemic (Mar. 24, 2021).

Opening Statement of Thomas J. Vilsack Before the House Committee on Agriculture – Remarks as Prepared (Mar. 25, 2021).

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Press Releases:

USDA Announces $6 Million in Competitive Grant Funding for the Acer Access and Development Program (Mar. 23, 2021).

USDA Announces $5.3 Million Available for the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (Mar. 23, 2021).

USDA Announces $1 Million in Grants Available to Support the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (Mar. 23, 2021).

USDA Modifies Handling Regulation for Oregon and Washington Pears (Mar. 24, 2021).

USDA Announces Removal of Frozen Mango from Mango Research and Promotion Program (Mar. 25, 2021).

USDA Posts Webinar Outlining the Domestic Hemp Production Final Rule (Mar. 26, 2021).

AMS Issues a Complaint Against Tommy Baxley d.b.a. Tri State Cattle Marketing for Alleged Violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act (Mar. 26, 2021).

USDA Settles a Packers and Stockyards Case against Dustin Conley (Mar. 26, 2021).

USDA Settles a Packers and Stockyards Case Against Ida Beef LLC (Mar. 26, 2021).

USDA Cites Imperial Frozen Foods Op Co LLC in North Carolina for PACA Violations (Mar. 26, 2021).

Other USDA Agency Press Releases:

APHIS Administrator Shares Agency’s 2020 Impact Report, APHIS (Mar. 24, 2021).

USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program, FSA (Mar. 25, 2021).

Private Exporters Report Sales Activity for Japan [Grain and Feed, Corn], FAS (Mar. 25, 2021).

United States Hog Inventory Down 2%, NASS (Mar. 25, 2021).

Worker Safety and Dairy Operations, NIFA (Mar. 22, 2021).

STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE/LEGISLATIVE

Pennsylvania Executive Agencies (Pa. Bulletin Vol. 51, No. 13—Mar. 27, 2021): 

Department of Environmental Protection

51 Pa.B. 1679  Notice: “The Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law and the Federal Clean Water Act: Applications for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits and Water Quality Management (WQM) Permits Under the Clean Streams Law and Federal Clean Water Act.”

Department of Health

51 Pa.B. 1749 Notice: “Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC Program); Competitive Prices and Peer Group Criteria.”

Department of Labor and Industry

51 Pa.B. 1757 Notice: “Availability of Funding for Schools-to-Work Program Grant Awards.”

Milk Marketing Board

51 Pa.B. 1760 Notice: “Sunshine Meeting Venue Change [Wednesday, April 7, 2021].”

Pennsylvania Legislature

House Legislation in the Senate

HB 183 “An Act amending the act . . . entitled ‘An act providing for the administration of certain Commonwealth farmland within the Department of Agriculture,’ further providing for agricultural land conservation assistance grant program [‘Farm Succession Planning Grants’].” Referred to Agriculture and Rural Affairs [Senate] (Mar. 23, 2021).

HB 101 “An Act providing for limited civil liability for agritourism activity providers, for notice of limited civil liability and for acknowledgment of limited civil liability.” Second consideration [Senate] (Mar. 24, 2021).

HB 110 “An Act amending . . . the Hardwoods Development Council Act, further providing for Hardwoods Development Council.” Re-referred to Appropriations [Senate] (Mar. 24, 2021).

House Legislation

HB 989 “An Act establishing the CO2 Budget Trading Program; providing for powers and duties of department; establishing the Energy Transition Fund; providing for revenue from sale of carbon allowances; establishing the Energy Transition Board; and providing for energy transition plan [Energy Transition and Recovery Cap and Invest].” Referred to Environmental Resources and Energy [House] (Mar. 22, 2021).

HB 766 “An Act amending . . . Tax Reform Code of 1971, in corporate net income tax, further providing for reports and payment of tax and for extension of time to file reports [‘PA Corporate Tax Return Due Date’].” Laid on the table [House] (Mar. 24, 2021).

HB 1006 “An Act amending . . . the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in personal income tax, further providing for classes of income [‘ Crop Insurance—Taxable Income’].” Referred to Finance [House] (Mar. 24, 2021).

Senate Legislation

SB 469 “An Act amending . . . the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act, further providing for definitions and for scope of act.” Referred to Environmental Resources and Energy [Senate] (Mar. 22, 2021).

SB 465 “An Act providing for the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program and imposing powers and duties on the State Conservation Commission.” Referred to Agriculture and Rural Affairs [Senate] (Mar. 22, 2021).

SB 434 “An Act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in food protection, providing for milk sell by date and best by date labeling [‘Milk Labeling Update’].”  First Consideration [Senate] (Mar. 23, 2021).

SB 251 “An Act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, repealing provisions relating to fertilizer; providing for fertilizer; in soil and plant amendment, further providing for disposition of funds; in seed, further providing for disposition of funds; establishing the Agronomic Regulatory Account within the General Fund; imposing duties on the Department of Agriculture; and making conforming amendments.” First consideration [Senate] (Mar. 23, 2021).

SB 472 “An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for community solar facilities.” Referred to Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure [Senate] (Mar. 23, 2021).

SB 325 “An Act amending . . . the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in sales and use tax, further providing for exclusions from tax.” First consideration [Senate] (Mar. 24, 2021).

SB 343 “An Act amending . . . the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in sales and use tax, further providing for definitions [‘Clarification of Sales Tax Exemption for Cervidae Livestock’].” First consideration [Senate] (Mar. 24, 2021).b

SB 191 “An Act amending . . . the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions and for application [Agritainment: Exempting Agriculture Buildings from the Uniform Construction Code].” Final Passage [Senate] (Mar. 24, 2021).

SB 475 “An Act amending Title 27 (Environmental Resources) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in special programs, providing for Pennsylvania Clean Water Procurement Pilot Program; and establishing the Watershed Innovation and Improvement Fund [Creating a Nutrient / Sediment Reduction Procurement Program in PA].” Referred to Environmental Resources and Energy [Senate] (Mar. 25, 2021).

FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE/LEGISLATIVE

Federal Executive Agencies (Federal Register Mar. 22–26, 2021): 

Agriculture Department

86 FR 15452 Notice: “Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request [Food and Nutrition Service: Survey of SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) Case Management]” (Mar. 23, 2021).

Agricultural Marketing Service

86 FR 15561 Final Rule: “Pears Grown in Oregon and Washington; Modification of the Handling Regulation” (Mar. 24, 2021).

86 FR 15800 Proposed Rule—Comment Period: “National Organic Program; National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances-Crops and Handling From October 2019 NOSB” (Mar. 25, 2021).

86 FR 16085 Proposed Rule—Comment Period: “Grapes Grown in a Designated Area of Southeastern California; Increased Assessment Rate” (Mar. 26, 2021).

86 FR 16182 Notice—Comment Period: “Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection” (Mar. 26, 2021).

86 FR 16180 Notice—Comment Period: “Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection for the Dairy Product Mandatory Reporting Program” (Mar. 26, 2021).

86 FR 16181 Notice—Comment Period: “United States Standards for Sorghum” (Mar. 26, 2021).

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

86 FR 15877 Notice: “Decision to Authorize the Importation of Fresh Pepper Fruit from Colombia Into the Continental United States” (Mar. 25, 2021).

86 FR 15878 Notice: “Addition of India to the List of Regions Affected with African Swine Fever” (Mar. 25, 2021).

Environmental Protection Agency

86 FR 15362 Proposed Rule—Comment Period: “Pesticide Product Performance Data Requirements for Products Claiming Efficacy Against Certain Invertebrate Pests” (Mar. 22, 2021).

86 FR 15162 Proposed Rule—Comment Period: “Receipt of Pesticide Petitions Filed for Residues of Pesticide Chemicals in or on Various Commodities March 2021” (Mar. 22, 2021).

86 FR 15666 Notice—Comment Period: “Pesticide Product Registration; Receipt of Applications for New Active Ingredients (March 2021)” (Mar. 24, 2021).

86 FR 15664 Notice—Comment Period: “Pesticide Product Registration; Receipt of Applications for New Uses (March 2021)” (Mar. 24, 2021).

Federal Emergency Management Agency

86 FR 15232 Notice: “Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations [Ark., Colo., Conn., De., Fla., Ga., Okla., Pa., Tex., Utah, Va.]” (Mar. 22, 2021).

86 FR 15236 Notice: “Maryland; Major Disaster and Related Determinations [Tropical Storm Isaias]” (Mar. 22, 2021).

86 FR 15232 Notice: “Alabama; Amendment No. 2 to Notice of a Major Disaster Declaration” (Mar. 22, 2021).

86 FR 15229 Notice: “Alaska; Major Disaster and Related Determinations [severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides]” (Mar. 22, 2021).

86 FR 15237 Notice: “Louisiana; Amendment No. 1 to Notice of a Major Disaster Declaration” (Mar. 22, 2021).

86 FR 15229 Notice: “Texas; Amendment No. 1 to Notice of a Major Disaster Declaration” (Mar. 22, 2021).

86 FR 15231 Notice: “Washington; Major Disaster and Related Determinations [wildfires and straight-line winds]” (Mar. 22, 2021).

86 FR 15228 Notice—Comment Period: “Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations [Arkansas]” (Mar. 22, 2021).

86 FR 15230 Notice—Comment Period: “Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations [Arizona]” (Mar. 22, 2021).

Fish and Wildlife Service

86 FR 16232 Notice—Comment Period: “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Four Draft Recovery Plans” (Mar. 26, 2021).

Food and Nutrition Service

86 FR 15879 Notice—Comment Period: “Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Information Collection for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)” (Mar. 25, 2021).

Partnerships and Public Engagement Office

86 FR 15454 Notice: “Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers; Conference Call Meeting” (Mar. 23. 2021).

Executive Office of the President

86 FR 15777 Proclamation: “National Agriculture Day, 2021 [March 23, 2021]” (Mar. 25, 2021).

Small Business Administration

86 FR 15083 Interim Final Rule, comments accepted: “Business Loan Program Temporary Changes; Paycheck Protection Program as Amended by American Rescue Plan Act” (Mar. 22, 2021).

86 FR 15285 Notice: “Administrative Declaration Amendment of a Disaster for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania [Tropical Storm Isaias]” (Mar. 22, 2021).

Susquehanna River Basin Commission

86 FR 16140 Proposed Rule—Comment Period: “Review and Approval of Projects” (Mar. 26, 2021).

U.S. House Agriculture Committee

H.R.2176 “To provide for the continued and uninterrupted production of domestic minerals in the United States.” Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and ithe Committee on Agriculture (Mar. 22, 2021).

H.R.1047 Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2021 Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Mar. 25, 2021).

H.R.1049 “Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Mar. 25, 2021).

H.R.1156 “Facilitating the Deployment of Infrastructure with Greater Internet Transactions And Legacy Applications Act or the Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act.” Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Mar. 25, 2021).

H.R.1174 “Forest Information Reform Act or the FIR Act Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry (Mar. 25, 2021).

H.Res.271 “Recognizing the importance of the blueberry industry to the United States and supporting the designation of July 2021 as National Blueberry Month.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (Mar. 26, 2021).

H.R.2186 “To amend the Agricultural Act of 1961 to modify the limitations applicable to qualified conservation loan guarantees, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (Mar. 26, 2021).

H.R.2241 “To direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Civilian Climate Corps, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committees on Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Education and Labor (Mar. 26, 2021).

H.R.2244 “To provide for the adjustment or modification by the Secretary of Agriculture of loans for critical rural utility service providers, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committees on Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and the Budget (Mar. 26, 2021).

U.S. Senate Committee Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry:

S.949 “A bill to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to foster efficient markets and increase competition and transparency among packers that purchase livestock from producers.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Mar. 24, 2021).

S.978 “A bill to provide for the adjustment or modification by the Secretary of Agriculture of loans for critical rural utility service providers, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Mar. 25, 2021).

S.1000 “A bill to designate additions to the Rough Mountain Wilderness and the Rich Hole Wilderness of the George Washington National Forest, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Mar. 25, 2021).

S.1005 “A bill to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to modify the definition of hemp, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Mar. 25, 2021).

S.1043 “A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a forest incentives program to keep forests intact and sequester carbon on private forest land of the United States, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Mar. 25, 2021).

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Top #AgLaw HotLinks Mar. 22–26, 2021  

Japan to Raise Tariffs on U.S. Beef, Drovers

USDA Increases SNAP Benefits Up To $100 Per Household with Funding from American Rescue Plan, USDA

‘A Game-Changer in Revitalising the European food and Farm Industry’: €8m EU Project Aims to Push Robotic Farming into Mainstream, Food Navigator

Senators Push for Flexibility in Livestock Hauling, Meat+Poultry

Scientists Claim Feeding Cows Seaweed Could Slash Their Methane Emissions by a Staggering 82 Percent, The Hill

Ag Organizations React to House Passage of Farm Workforce Modernization Act, Morning Ag Clips

Subscribe to the Pennsylvania Farm Employers’ Listserv (PFEL), an email networking and resource-sharing group about human resources topics exclusively for agricultural operations and producers, by sending an email with “subscribe” in the subject line to pfel-subscribe-request@lists.psu.edu.

Written by:
Audry Thompson—Research Assistant
Brook Duer—Staff Attorney