Just before the August recess, House Republican leaders gave up trying to pass the fiscal 2024 Agriculture funding bill after they were unable to satisfy demands from a band of hard-line conservatives who are seeking deeper cuts in spending.
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has proposed another round of modifications to its regulations that govern how federal agencies assess the environmental effects of their proposed projects, programs, and permitting prior to making decisions. On its face, the proposal implements AGC-backed permitting efficiencies directed by Congress in recent statutory amendments in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 – including setting hard deadlines and page limits for agencies’ reviews, adding a process for a federal agency to use another agency’s categorical exclusion.
Mike Seyfert, president and CEO of the National Grain and Feed Association, a broad-based, non-profit trade association that represents and provides services for grain, feed and related commercial business, recently spoke with AgriPulse about his views on Conservation Reserve Program (CPR) reform.
Equipment dealers have been actively meeting with their elected officials driving home messages about infrastructure investment, tax policy and workforce development. The message on investment is direct: fund the programs Congress authorized in the historic legislation passed two years ago.
Here are the dealers’ messages on tax reform and workforce development, two critical issues facing equipment dealers:
• Support Tax Policy that Drives Job Creation and Growth
The strength in the nation’s pre-pandemic economy was due in large part due to pro-growth tax policies, incentivized capital investment and job creation. Provisions from the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, including the reduced tax burden for job creating businesses, full expensing of new and used equipment purchases, and increased estate tax exemption levels, contributed to a robust economy. Congress must work to preserve these temporary capital investment incentives and make them a permanent part of the tax code to provide certainty for equipment dealers, manufacturers and their customers. Additionally, during a fragile economic recovery, lawmakers should refrain from raising taxes on family-owned businesses and such tax policies should be opposed.• Educate the Next Generation of Skilled, Technical Workers
The greatest challenge facing equipment dealers is the lack of skilled service technicians. Federal laws should be updated to reflect current workforce needs. Congress must also increase funding for the Carl D. Perkins Act and other programs that support providing skilled technical education opportunities while expanding access to loan and grant programs for individuals pursuing career and technical education programs. Additionally, lawmakers should create and expand tax benefits to incentivize individuals to pursue technical education and induce employers to reimburse such costs.Despite many legislative and political challenges, Jordan Dux, Director, Federal Policy, Nebraska Farm Bureau told the National LICA Committee he is remaining optimistic that an agreement can be reached on a new five-year farm bill. Dux expertly analyzed the positions of the House, Senate and Administration in putting together one of the most important bills facing Congress this year. Dux also explained the American Farm Bureau’s continued legal and legislative fight to protect farmers and ranchers from overzealous regulations like the Water of the U.S. ruling.
House Democrats are charting a new path to writing a farm bill this year with the formation of a special leadership-appointed task force that’s working on recommendations for the legislation. The Democrats’ task force is conducting roundtables and listening sessions with plans to create a list of Democratic recommendations for the upcoming farm bill, according to Rep. Bennie Thompson, a veteran Democrat from Mississippi, who is chairing the group. The group is aiming to compile its recommendations by the end of this month, he said.
Equipment manufacturers are rallying support of The Precise Act to expand the definition of conservation practices and allows producers to access conservational loans to finance new technologies.
Technology and conservation have always gone hand and hand. By expanding the definition of conservation practices in USDA programs, American farmers and ranchers will be able to leverage their technology investments in their conservation efforts.
Precision agriculture increases crop yields while lowering overall inputs and environmental impacts. The expansion of affordable precision agriculture technologies and applications have the potential to substantially increase crop yields, improve distribution, and reduce input costs, all while lowering emissions and preventing soil degradation.
I Make America and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers are watching intensely to see if these two pieces of important legislation will be incorporated into the Farm Bill.
House Republicans on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies introduced their transportation spending package. The bill provides over $100 billion in funding for transportation programs for fiscal year (FY 2024).
AgriPulse has put together a thorough analysis of the pending issues in the House and Senate development of a farm bill. Below is their overview and a look at Title II – Conservation.
Much has been shared concerning the Farm Bureau’s perspective on Waters of the US (WOTUS) but the construction industry has actively raised their concerns with various proposals and court actions.
