Chandler Goule, NFU, presents federal policy issues at NEFU's 2013 Convention, December 2013. COOL, Farm Bill and more.

2. NFU Membership

3. Membership Benefits
Your membership pays for itself!
• Here is what NFU members
say about the new Office
Depot discount:
“We saved so much
on school supplies…
I couldn’t believe it!”
“I saved $50
on a $75
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(selected states)

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and shirts to Cabela’s gift certificates
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7. Get involved, learn & share!
• Join us in Santa Fe for
National Convention:
March 8 – 11, 2014
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Conference in
Florida!

8. Government Relations
Update

9. Lingering Effects of the Shutdown
• Sixteen day
shutdown
• Short-term CR
through Jan. 15
• Debt ceiling
extended to Feb.

10. Lingering Effects of the Shutdown
• Natural disasters
need a response
• USDA, FEMA
unable to respond
• Farm bill lapse
causes further
problems

11. Latest Farm Bill Developments

12. Farm Bill Conferees – Senate

13. Farm Bill Conferees – Senate

14. Farm Bill Conferees – House Ag Committee

15. Additional Farm Bill Conferees
House Ways & Means
Committee
House Foreign Affairs
Committee
House Leadership

16. Farm Bill Conferees – House

17. Major Farm Bill Conference Asks
• Keep “permanent law”
• Set fixed reference prices
• Include dairy stabilization program
• Mandatory funding for energy title
• Oppose changes to COOL
• Support farmers market and local
foods programs

18. NFU Priorities – Senate vs. House
• Smaller cuts to
nutrition (5 years)
• Dairy stabilization
• Energy title funding
• COOL & GIPSA – no
changes
• Compliance
• Title I payment limits
• Title I price
protection (PLC)
• Beginning Farmer
programs

19. Other Issues in Play
• Nutrition cuts
– $39.5 billion (HOUSE) vs. $4.5 billion (SENATE)
• Crop insurance
– Conservation compliance – SENATE
– Premium subsidy reductions based on income
•
•
•
•
Oppose efforts to undo COOL
Title I Payment & Eligibility Limits – SENATE
Beginning Farmer & Rancher Program – HOUSE
Organic Ag. Research & Extension – HOUSE

20. Other Issues in Play
• Oppose weakening GIPSA
• Specialty Crop Research
Initiative – HOUSE
• Rural Energy for America
Program
– Blender pumps – SENATE
– Feasibility studies – HOUSE
• Reauthorize Specialty Crop
Block Grants – HOUSE
• FIFRA vs. CWA

21. What Should a Farm Safety Net Do?
Help in times of disaster
- Crop insurance
- Disaster programs (especially livestock)
Protect against long-term
price declines
- Target (or reference) prices

22. Country-of-Origin Labeling
• New rules took effect November 23
– Response to WTO’s decision that the COOL law
was okay, but implementation needed to change
– Packers, processors, Canadians & Mexicans filed
suit against USDA
– NFU has intervened on
USDA’s side
– Don’t change the law!
Make a contribution online at:
www.uscooldefensefund.org

23. Country-of-Origin Labeling
• Backlash from Canada
– Threatens trade retaliation, claims $1 billion loss
– WTO prevents unilateral action
– Canadians now lobbying in Washington
• Packers are the real culprit
– Tyson stopped buying Canadian cattle
– Real costs of COOL: 1/3rd of a penny per pound

24. Other Policy Issues

25. Food Safety Modernization Act
•
FSMA is a well-intentioned reform effort
•
No major changes to food safety laws since 1940s
•
Prevention rather than reaction
•
NFU commented on two
rules: Produce Rule &
Preventive Controls Rule
•
A second comment period
is needed

26. 2014
International Year
of Family Farming
• United Nations - worldwide
• NFU will be the U.S. leader
• Monthly themed events
United to Grow
Family Agriculture

27. 2014
International Year
of Family Farming
January: International Year of Family Farming
February: Consumers
March: The Marketplace
April: Renewable Energy
May: Rural Life
June: Developing Leaders

28. 2014
International Year
of Family Farming
July: The Future of Agriculture
August: Local Economies
September: Farm Safety
October: Communities & Cooperatives
November: Ending World Hunger
December: Global Marketplace

29. www.nfu.org
@NFUDC
National Farmers Union