In This Issue:

  • Barley Eligibility Expanded for CFAP First Round
  • USDA Announces CFAP2 Assistance, Barley Eligible for Payments
  • Congress Plans CR to December 11, Extending CCC Funding Cap
  • NBGA Seeks Sound Science for Dietary Guidelines on Beer Consumption; Participates in Beer Institute Virtual Hill Climb
  • NGAA Urges Passage of Grain Standards Reauthorization
  • NBGA Joins Ag Groups Efforts to Educate Congress on Pesticide Issues
  • NBGA Urges Continued U.S. Commitment to Reformed WTO
Barley Eligibility Expanded for CFAP First Round

CFAP1 eligibility was expanded to include all barley (not just malting barley). This still excludes barley produced under a contract. The 2019 barley crop must have been subject to price risk on January 15, 2020. However, if you had non-malting barley it may now be eligible. Or if you had malting barley production that was not contracted but you were not able to meet the FSA requirements to verify it was malting barley, it may now be accepted. The sign-up for CFAP1 closed on September 11th and the expanded eligibility was issued by USDA after that date. It is our understanding that late filed CFAP1 applications can be accepted through October 9th. The producer will need to supply a written explanation regarding why the application was late filed, but since barley eligibility was expanded after the sign-up any applications filed late due to the barley eligibility issue should be accepted.

USDA Announces CFAP2 Assistance, Barley Eligible for Payments

On September 18th USDA released details on the expansion of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP2). Barley was included under the “price-trigger” payment category. Price trigger commodities are major commodities that meet a minimum five-percent price decline over a specified period of time. Payments for “price trigger” crops will be calculated using the greater of the 2020 planted acres multiplied by $15 per acre; or the eligible acres multiplied by a nationwide crop marketing percentage, multiplied by a crop-specific payment rate, and then by the producer’s weighted 2020 Actual Production History (APH) approved yield. Marketing percentages and payment rates for barley are 63% and $0.54 per bushel

CFAP2 will provide producers with up to $14 billion in financial assistance to absorb some of the increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit www.farmers.gov/cfap for more information on CFAP2 eligibility and payment details. The application period for CFAP2 opens Monday, September 21st and ends December 11, 2020. 

Congress Plans CR to December 11, Extending CCC Funding Cap

An agreement was reached last week on a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government running through December 11th. That agreement includes the provision to extend the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) spending cap as well as providing significant funding for pandemic food assistance and other nutrition provisions. The House passed the measure by a vote of 359-57 and the Senate is expected to follow suit.

On the nutrition side, the package would provide an additional $8 billion for nutrition benefits and extends a group of nutrition-related regulatory waivers, including measures to help families with school-aged children buy groceries and flexibility for school districts to make meals more accessible to students.
NBGA Seeks Sound Science for Dietary Guidelines on Beer Consumption; Participates in Beer Institute Virtual Hill Climb

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue is currently reviewing recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines Committee, which included an abrupt an unvetted proposal to change the recommendations on alcohol consumption for men. NBGA joined with hop, rice, and wine grape grower organizations and manufacturers in the beverage alcohol supply chain to request a meeting to discuss the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Committee’s (DGAC) Scientific Report and the confusion surrounding suggested changes to the moderate consumption guidelines for alcohol.

NBGA Washington representatives Tom Hance, Dale Thorenson and Blair Elias also participated in the Beer Institute virtual Hill Climb. The series of video meetings with Members of Congress and their staff touched on a number of priority issues for the beer industry including the dietary guidelines, extension of the Craft Beveridge Modernization & Tax Reform Act, and ongoing market disruptions and impacts of the COVID pandemic. 
NGAA Urges Passage of Grain Standards Reauthorization

NBGA joined a letter to the Senate urging action on the Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020 before the current authorization expires at the end of September. The Grain Standards Act authorizes the functioning of the Federal Grain Inspection Service. The bill passed out of Committee and is awaiting action by the full Senate.  
NBGA Joins Ag Groups Efforts to Educate Congress on Pesticide Issues

As part of the Pesticide Policy Coalition, NBGA signed onto a letter to Congress reiterating support of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and opposition to the Protect America’s Children from Toxic Pesticides Act of 2020 (PACTPA) which calls for comprehensive reform of FIFRA.  Among the bills changes, it would ban all organophosphates and neonicotinoids, rollback federal preemption of state and local pesticide regulations, ban any pesticide banned by the EU or Canada, and impose additional steps that could block or slow the EPA registration review process. expressing support for FIFRA and opposing legislation that would drastically amend FIFRA, the nation’s pesticide regulatory statute.

NBGA Urges Continued U.S. Commitment to Reformed WTO

NBGA joined other ag groups in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer urging that the U.S. remain as active participants in the WTO and supporting some reforms. Earlier this year, the Senate was expected to vote on a resolution to withdraw the U.S. from the WTO. While the Senate did not vote on that resolution, the ag community recognized a need to reiterate support for continued U.S. participation in the WTO. 
National Barley Growers Association
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