Farm Bill Expires, Focus Shifts to December Deadline

Congress averted a shutdown late on Saturday by passing a 45-day extension of current funding authorizations on a vote of 335-91 in the House and 88-9 in the Senate, but farmers and ranchers also watched as a key deadline for U.S. agriculture policy came and went. The 2018 Farm Bill expired September 30.  

What exactly does this mean? Some agriculture programs are now essentially suspended until a new farm bill is passed, but major ones like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, crop insurance, and conservation programs (like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program/EQIP) remain intact. As explained last week by U.S. House Agriculture Committee staff in a forum: 

• “The 2018 Farm Bill program and authorities generally expire at the end of Fiscal Year 2023, which is September 30, 2023. The authority for the Title I Crop commodity and dairy support programs runs out with the 2023 Crop Year, which ends December 31, 2023.  
• Title II conservation programs were extended through Fiscal Year 2031 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. 
• The Federal Crop Insurance Act, which has been amended in the last several farm bills, has a permanent authorization and permanent funding, and does not expire. 
• The Food and Nutrition Act, which authorizes the SNAP Program is authorized through Fiscal Year 2023, but the funding for SNAP is considered a mandatory appropriation, so if there is an appropriations bill, either full year or continuing resolution, in place the program will continue to operate.  
• 19 programs with mandatory funding that do not have baseline”
• These programs (also known as "orphans") may or may not continue operations depending on their size or other budgetary factors (more info here)   

Apart from the farm bill, had the federal government shutdown occurred this weekend, many agriculture programs would have stopped. Congress has until the end of 2023 to either extend the current 2018 Farm Bill or pass a new one. Failing to meet the December 31, 2023 deadline comes with more serious consequences; federal farm policy would revert back to the original farm bill, the Agricultural Act of 1949, which could lead to dramatic price increases for commodities like milk.  

This Week In SLO County Agriculture

Calendar- Upcoming Events & Deadlines:

• October 3 - In-Person Hazardous Ag Materials Training - English 9-11am, Spanish 1-2:30pm (Free for Farm Bureau Members! Register here.
• October 10 - SLO County Great AGventure at Paso Robles Event Center (Email SLO County Ag Education Committee Exec. Dir. Kim Bradley for more info at kimberlybrad5@gmail.com)
• October 13 - Deadline to apply for the USDA FSA's Emergency Conservation Program for January, February and March 2023 storm damages in SLO County
• October 14 - Young Farmers and Ranchers to participate in Paso Robles Pioneer Day Parade; Meet at 8:30am to decorate float
• October 15 - Volunteer Event for Floracycle - 9am-11:30am at Farm Bureau office
• October 24 - SLO County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting (Get tickets before Oct. 17 here)
• November 3 – First Application Cutoff Period for USDA NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) 

Community: Farm Service Agency Looking to Hire Full-Time Program Technician in Templeton Office

Local Government: Public Tells NOAA They Want a Larger Marine Sanctuary Off Central Coast

State Government: State Announces Deal to Address Insurance Crisis

California Farm Bureau's Farm Bureau at Work - State Government Affairs Weekly Update- September 29, 2023

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE INCREASES FAIR PLAN COMMERCIAL COVERAGE LIMITS

As many know all too well, residential and commercial coverage is available through the FAIR Plan to homeowners’ associations, condo associations, farms, and businesses of all kinds when they are unable to find insurance through the normal market. While created by the Governor and Legislature, the FAIR Plan is a private association whose day-to-day operations are controlled by insurance companies, not taxpayers.

The FAIR Plan is available to California residents and businesses in urban and rural areas who cannot obtain insurance through a regular insurance company. Now, the Department of Insurance has approved the FAIR Plan to increase commercial coverage limits to $20M per location for its Commercial Property Program and Business Owner’s Program (BOP). The effective date for the higher commercial property limits will be no later than November 1, 2023 and the effective date for the higher BOP limits will be no later than December 14, 2023.

Commissioner Lara also announced that he has reached an agreement with insurance companies to increase writing in wildfire distressed areas. As part of that he will direct the FAIR Plan to increase its commercial limits again to $20 million per building, responding to consumers who need temporary coverage. The FAIR Plan has confirmed that maximum limits may be increased for policies that renew before the implementation dates above once the new limits have been implemented. When these policyholders request a new policy with higher limits, the FAIR Plan has agreed that:

1. There will be no additional administrative cost or fee to process;
2. Photo and inspection requirements will be waived; and,
3. FAIR Plan will not cancel the existing policy until it is certain the new policy with higher limits can be issued to avoid any coverage gap.

Federal Government: Government Shutdown Averted with Little Time to Spare as Biden Signs Funding Before Midnight

This Week in California Farm Bureau's Federal Policy News

September 28, 2023

• Odds of Avoiding Government Shutdown Wane
• USDA Announces 2022 ELRP, ERP Phase II Update
• Rice Producers Eligible for Additional Rice Production Program Payments
• Senate Ag Committee Examines Foreign Ag Ownership
• USDA Publishes 2020 Dairy Checkoff Report to Congress
• USDA Announces Application Deadline for Discrimination Financial Assistance Program to January 13th
• House Workforce Subcommittee Discusses OSHA’s Direction Under the Biden Administration
• USDA FLSP Pilot Program launch
• USDA Provides $5 Million for Second Round of Payments for Organic Dairy Producers

Business Member Spotlight:

Central Coast Community Energy

Your local, community-owned electricity provider 

Local communities established Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) to source clean and renewable electricity at competitive prices for customers throughout Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, and Santa Barbara counties. 3CE is locally controlled and governed by board members who represent each community served by the agency. 

With no investors or shareholders, revenue generated by 3CE stays local. It helps keep electricity rates affordable and fair for all customers while also funding innovative energy programs designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions and stimulate community reinvestment. 

3cenergy.org

PHONE: 877-455-2223

Environmental: Historic On-Farm Conservation Funding Assistance Available for Producers

Produce: Organic Strawberries Bring Growers Higher Prices than Conventional Berries

Thank You Farm Bureau Members

Renewing Agricultural Business Support Member

Coastal Vineyard Services

Renewing Agricultural Members

William Coy, Pete Clark (Clark Company Ranch Real Estate), Janet Andrews, Ellis Bassetti, Michael Frankiewich, Bob Campbell, Herbert Filipponi, Clayton Grant (Bitterwater Outfitters), James Saunders, William Ernst, Gerald Diefenderfer, Mainini Family Ltd, Piearcy Ranch, John Taylor, Chris Darway, John Noble, Thomas Shelley, Pat Phelan Construction Inc, and Nola Twisselman

Renewing Associate Members

Kathrine Coull, Delta Liquid Energy, Larry Von Dollen, and Filipponi & Thompson

Featured Member Benefit:

Grainger: Restock on PPE!

PPE is crucial to help keep you and everyone on your farm or ranch protected while producing safe food, fiber and renewable fuel. Grainger not only has all the PPE gear you need, but also provides deep discounts and free shipping for CA Farm Bureau members 

Labor: Agenda Released for Upcoming Ag Labor Forum in San Luis Obispo on November 2-3

Wildfire: Commentary: Our Farmers Sounded the Alarm on the Urgency of Insurance Crisis

Livestock: Cal Poly's Caslyn Weidenbener Wins Third Annual Break-A-Wave Roping Event at Pismo Beach

Vineyard and Wine: Inside Scientists' Mission to Save America's Wine Industry from Climate Change

Water: SLO County is Witnessing an Uptick of Private Wells Drying as Groundwater Lowers

Farm Bureau Membership Matters

We cannot support your freedom to farm and ranch without your membership.

Join SLO County Farm Bureau now or renew your membership online. Go to slofarmbureau.org to join, or download the membership form PDF.

Have your renewal notice available to speed up the process; you will need to enter your membership number, name and ZIP code. Renewal dues may be paid online or over the phone by credit card.

We're here to help! Call us if you need us to lookup your member number or we can process your membership for you, at 805-543-3654.

All California county Farm Bureau memberships are processed through the California Farm Bureau Federation, but please reach out to our SLO County office if you need your membership number or have questions.

SLO County Agriculture News is distributed by SLO County Farm Bureau for information purposes only. Stories written by SLO County Farm Bureau may be reprinted with attribution. Some outside story links may require site registration. Opinions expressed in stories, commentaries or editorials included in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the views of SLO County Farm Bureau. For information on advertising opportunities, please email info@slofarmbureau.org or call our office at 805-543-3654.

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