In This Issue:

  • NBGA Submits Comments on Dietary Guidelines, Requests Action from Sec. Perdue
  • Deadline to Update Yields is September 30th
  • USDA Service Centers Open, with Restrictions
  • Pesticide Issues- Neonicotinoids, Precautionary Principle
  • Food & Ag Sector Voice Highway Bill Issues with Congress
  • USDA Publishes Payment Limitation Changes
  • USDA FSA Offers Farm Storage Facility Loan Deferral
  • USGC Reports on China Demand for U.S. Barley
NBGA Submits Comments on Dietary Guidelines, Requests Action from Sec. Perdue

NBGA submitted comments, which can be viewed here, on the report of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The committee chose to ignore the conclusions of the scientific review of evidence that supported continuation of the current consumption guidelines for alcohol: up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. Instead, they chose to include an "aspirational" recommendation to reduce consumption guidelines for men to one (1) drink per day based on ungraded, out-of-scope references. NBGA is urging the USDA and HHS to question the propriety of adopting the recommendations to lower the consumption guidelines for men, especially as the recommendation leaps over decades of clear science and sound public policy. NBGA also joined with other beer and alcohol value chain stakeholders on a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting a meeting to discuss the issue and its potential impact on our industry.
Deadline to Update Yields is September 30th

Farmers have a one-time opportunity to update PLC yields. The updated yield will be calculated based on the producers' average yield in crop years 2013-2017. Contact your county office in the coming weeks if you want to update.

USDA Service Centers Open, with Restrictions
USDA service centers are open for business, including some that are open to visitors to conduct business in person by appointment only.
Pesticide Issues- Neonicotinoids, Precautionary Principle

On July 30, the EPA opened a public comment period to respond to a petition from the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) to revoke all food tolerances for neonicotinoid insecticides on the basis that EPA failed to properly assess the human health effects during their registration review process. NBGA submitted comments expressing our concerns with the NRDC petition and reiterating the important role and need for appropriate and responsible use of neonicotinoids. These follow comments NBGA submitted to EPA in May during the registration review process for specific neonicotinoid products. The NBGA comments on the NRDC petition can be viewed here.

Separately, legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives that would codify the precautionary principle and make significant changes to pesticide laws. The Protect America’s Children from Toxic Pesticides Act of 2020 (PACTPA) calls for a comprehensive reform of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (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 additional steps that could block or slow the EPA registration review process. NBGA participates in the agricultural Pesticide Policy Coalition that will be working to educate congressional offices on pesticide issues and opposing the PACTPA. 
Food & Ag Sector Voice Highway Bill Issues with Congress

NBGA joined over 100 agricultural organizations in expressing views and priorities to congressional transportation committee leaders on the surface transportation (aka highway bill) that is due for reauthorization by October 1st. The letter focused on trucking policies that are of greatest importance in ensuring the resiliency of the food and agricultural supply chain. The groups signing the letter represent farmers, ranchers, food and beverage manufacturers, processors, package suppliers, farm supply dealers and agricultural product marketers. The letter can be viewed here. 
USDA Publishes Payment Limitation Changes

On August 24th USDA issued a Final Rule on implementation of changes to payment limitations and the definition of “actively engaged” in farming. In accordance with the 2018 farm bill, the rule includes first cousins, nieces, and nephews while also requiring that family members provide at least 25 percent of the total management hours of the operation on an annual basis or perform at least 500 hours of management annually. 
USDA FSA Offers Farm Storage Facility Loan Deferral

In August, the USDA Farm Service Agency announced that Farm Storage Facility Loan borrowers experiencing financial hardship from the pandemic and other challenges in production agriculture a one-time annual installment payment deferral option.
USGC Reports on China Demand for U.S. Barley
National Barley Growers Association
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