Policy Updates and Issue News April 2018

This year’s fly-in to Washington April 15-18 was the largest in recent years.  A total of 34 Grangers of all ages from 14 states had 30 appointments on Capitol Hill with their senators, representatives and congressional staff.  They discussed matters related to broadband and telecommunications, health care, farm bill, farm policy, dairy policy, rural concerns, the opioid crisis and a slew of back-home issues.  Attendees were treated to extensive in-depth briefings at the National Grange building and USDA before venturing to the Hill.  A highlight was a briefing from the White House by Ray Starling, Special Assistant to the President for Agriculture, Trade and Food Assistance.  Junior Grange members at the fly-in had the unique experience of being interviewed by RFD-TV.  The major objective of the fly-in is to carry local, state and national Grange policy positions into meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Sign Up for New Dairy Assistance

Grangers are encouraged to sign up by June 1 at their Farm Service Agency office for the new dairy Margin Protection Program. This issue was lobbied hard by the Grange and included in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (omnibus package).  The new MPP offers increased protection to dairymen when the difference between the all milk price and the average feed cost (i.e. the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.  USDA has a web tool to help dairymen use data unique to their individual operations to test a variety of financial scenarios before enrolling in the new MPP.

Farm Bill Ready for House Action

Farm bills are traditionally a bipartisan exercise on Capitol Hill.  Not so this time, at least not on the House side.  House Agriculture Committee Chairman Conaway and Ranking Member Peterson worked together for months on a draft farm bill.  Then politics eclipsed policy.  A version of the bill was leaked to some Democratic members who became outraged at a proposal to require stricter work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) recipients.  Republicans pushed the farm bill through Committee on a party line vote over the objections of Committee Democrats who vowed to block the farm bill over the proposed work requirements .  This will set up an acrimonious and bitter partisan debate when the farm bill reaches the House floor in May.  Meanwhile, Senate Agriculture members still believe they will be able to craft and pass a bipartisan farm bill by fall.

Here is a summary by title of the House farm bill (H.R.2) as passed by the Ag Committee as it heads to the full House:

• Title I. Commodity – An escalator provision to Price Loss Coverage (PLC) raises reference prices.  Dairy adds higher coverage levels of $8.50 and $9.00 for the first 5 million pounds of production.  Members of LLCs and S corporations can qualify individually for payments up to $125,000 annually.  The definition of family is expanded to include cousins, nieces and nephews.  Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) yields would be based on the county where the farm is located and would separate irrigated and dryland acreage.
• Title II. Conservation – The Conservation Security Program (CSP) is eliminated and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is expanded.  Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage is increased to 29 million acres up from the current 24 million acres.  Funding for the Agriculture Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) is slightly increased.
• Title III. Trade  – Reauthorizes and funds USDA’s foreign trade programs.
• Title IV. Nutrition  – The most controversial section of the House farm bill is nutrition. It requires work-capable adults under age 60, including parents of children older than 6, to work or be in an approved training program 20 hours per week. The SNAP earned income deduction is increased by 10 percent.
• Title V. Credit – The maximum allowable indebtedness is increased for both guaranteed farm ownership and guaranteed operating loans.  The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Individual Development Accounts Pilot Program is continued.
• Title VI. Rural Development – This section adds $150 million to the $600 million in the omnibus spending bill to fund grants and loans to rural internet providers.  It includes loans to develop Agricultural association health plans to benefit farmers and others on rural areas.  It does not include funding for Value-added Producer Grants, the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, the National Organic Cost Share Program, and several other smaller programs.
• Title VII, Research – Level funding is maintained for the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research.  Funding for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative is increased.
• Title VIII. Forestry – Expedites approvals for logging in national forests to combat insect and disease infestations, protect municipal water sources and improve critical habitat.
• Title X. Crop Insurance – There are no major changes to crop insurance.  Conservation compliance requirements added by the 2014 farm bill are continued. The beginning farmer definition is changed so that someone in business for up to 10 years can qualify for whole farm revenue insurance premium discounts, up from the current 5 year limit.
• Title X. Miscellaneous – One-time funding for a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine bank is approved as is authorization for Secretary Perdue’s reorganization of USDA.  A Food Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison at USDA is created for measuring and reducing food waste.

Fighting Opioid Addiction

The National Grange has joined a nationwide coalition to combat our national opioid and drug abuse crisis.  Coalitions will be organized by state to include community and advocacy leaders like the Grange who will work together as partners to ensure those struggling with addiction have access to high-quality care.  A major focus of the campaign is the safe disposal of opioids and other addictive drugs.

Partners will have the opportunity to work together at the local community level to mobile health care providers, EMT, fire fighters, law enforcement, community and civic groups, pharmacists, policy makers and more.  Plans are to provide print and digital advertisements, education kits and in-person events that directly engage the community.  A major initiative will be a partner-driven effort to disseminate prescription drug disposal kits to residents free of charge.  Maryland State Grange was part of the Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative roll-out in Annapolis April 26.

Medicare Plan Finder Problems

The federal government’s online tool to help seniors make decisions about Medicare Parts C and D apparently has major flaws.  The independent assessment was conducted by the Clear Choices Campaign, a health care cost transparency initiative of the Council for Affordable Health Coverage and the nonprofit National Council on Aging. The report called for a retooling of the MPF plan and offers numerous recommendations to improve MPF.   The National Grange is a member of the Council for Affordable Health Coverage and will monitor the retooling process.

Broadband

Rural broadband deployment continues to be a major priority for the National Grange.  Effective use of the additional $600 million awarded to USDA for rural broadband in the Omnibus spending package will be the focus of upcoming listening sessions around the country for the next six months.  Agriculture Secretary Perdue and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Pai kicked of the first session in Washington April 18.  Participants highlighted the challenge to build strong broadband systems that are sustainable and long-lasting for rural America.  The next listening session will be in Minnesota in June.

Lifeline

The federal government’s Lifeline program provides inexpensive phone connectivity to seniors, veterans, the disabled, and those in isolated rural areas.  The Federal Communications Commission wants to counter allegations of waste, fraud and abuse by greatly restricting the program.  The Grange strongly supports the elimination of all waste, fraud and abuse from Lifeline but urges the FCC to do no harm to this vital program.

The Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences gives its diverse student body an education that prepares them for college as well as a career in agriculture.  It is a public school set on a working farm.  It is also one of eight schools from around the country, and the only agriculture school, selected in the 2017 “Schools of Opportunity” project.  The project recognizes public high schools that work to close opportunity gaps by creating environments that reach every student.