A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions to: camarigg at uark.edu

ANNOUNCEMENT: Join us this Wednesday, July 20, at 12 noon (ET) for a free webinar: CWA, 404 & WOTUS: Navigating Wetlands Issues in Agriculture. Details and sign-in information here.  

LEGISLATIVE: Includes Farm Credit, EPA, CWA and ESA legislation. 

S.Res. 349: A resolution congratulating the Farm Credit System on the celebration of its 100th anniversary. Resolution agreed to July 14, 2016. End of the legislative process. Sponsor: Sen. Pat Roberts [R-KS].

S.Res. 546: A resolution honoring the centennial of the United States Grain Standards Act. Resolution is in the first stage of the legislative process and will be considered by committee next. Sponsor: Sen. Pat Roberts [R-KS].

S.Res. 547: A resolution recognizing the 75th anniversary of the American Tree Farm System. Resolution will be considered by committee next. Sponsor: Sen. John Boozman [R-AR}.

S. 764: A bill to reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes. Bill passed by Congress July 14, 2016 and now goes to the President.

S.3212: A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program to recognize farms that have been in continuous operation for 100 years. Bill referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry for consideration before it goes to the Senate. Sponsor: Sen. Christopher Murphy [D-CT].

S. 3229: A bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to adjust limitations on certain Farm Service Agency guaranteed and direct loans. Bill referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry for review before it goes to the Senate. Sponsor: Sen. John Hoeven [R-ND].

H.Amdt. 1333 (Lamborn) to H.R. 5538: At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following: Sec.___. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement or enforce the threatened species listing of the Preble’s meadow. Agreed to 228/199.

H.Amdt. 1338 (Newhouse) to H.R. 5538: To prohibit the use of funds by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Department of Interior to treat any Gray Wolf in the 48 contiguous states as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Agreed to 223/201.

H.Amdt. 1344 (Gosar) to H.R. 5538: To remove federal protections for the Mexican Wolf under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and would prevent the expansion of the species habitat outside of its historic range. Agreed to 219/203.

H.Amdt. 1345 (Perry) to H.R. 5538: To prohibit the use of funds to develop, administer, purchase, acquire, or operate an unmanned aircraft system owned by the Department of Interior or the Environmental Protection Agency to perform surveying, mapping, or. Failed 161/262.

H.Amdt. 1353 (Smith) to H.R. 5538: To restrict federal agencies from using funds to pay legal fees under any lawsuit settlement regarding a case that arises under the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. Agreed to 226/202.

H.Amdt. 1379 (Gallego) to H.R. 5538: To prohibit funds from being used to issue grazing permits or leases in contravention of BLM regulations. Failed 213/214.

H.R. 5821: To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, and for other purposes. Bill referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for consideration before it goes to the House. Sponsor: Rep. Madeleine Bordallo [D-GU0].

H.R. 5829: To provide for the prompt establishment by the Science Advisory Board of the Environmental Protection Agency of the agriculture committee. Bill referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for consideration before it goes to the House. Sponsor: Rep. Rodney Davis [R-IL13].

H.R. 5857: To improve the ability of beginning farmers in the United States to acquire farms and participate in agricultural production, and for other purposes. Bill referred to the House Committee on Agriculture, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and one other committee for review before sending it to the House. Sponsor: Rep. Sean Maloney [D-NY18].

H.R. 5860: To make a categorical exclusion available to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to develop and carry out a forest management activity on Federal lands to address insect or disease infestation declared as an emergency. Bill referred to House Committee on Agriculture and House Committee on Natural Resources for consideration before sending it to the House. Sponsor: Rep. Tom McClintock [R-CA4].

H.R. 5871: To provide for a land exchange involving certain National Forest System land in the State of South Dakota, and for other purposes. Bill referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources which will consider it before sending it goes to the House. Sponsor: Rep. Kristi Noem [R-SD0].

H.R. 5883: To amend the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, to clarify the duties relating to services furnished in connection with the buying or selling of livestock in commerce through online, video, or other electronic methods, and for other purposes. This bill was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture for review before it goes to the House. Sponsor: Rep. David Rouzer [R-NC7].

H.R. 5897: To utilize loans and loan guarantees under the rural broadband access program to provide broadband service for agricultural producers and to provide universal service support for installation charges for broadband service for agricultural production. Bill referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and House Committee on Energy and Commerce for review before it goes to the House. Sponsor: Rep. Elise Stefanik [R-NY21].

REGULATORY: Includes AMS, APHIS, FSIS, FS and RBS rules and notices.

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE:

Rule implementing a recommendation from the California Olive Committee to suspend incoming size-grade authority under the California olive marketing order regulating handling of olives in California. Info here.

Rule implementing a recommendation from the Almond Board of California to increase the assessment rate established for the 2016-17 through the 2018-19 crop years from $0.03 to $0.04 per pound of almonds handled under the marketing order. Info here.

ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE:

Rule proposing amendment of regulations governing importation of animals and animal products to revise the conditions for the importation of live sheep, goats, and non-bovine ruminants derived from sheep and goats regarding transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Details here.

Notice APHIS advises that a pilot plan assessing the International Trade Data System for the electronic submission of data required by APHIS Animal Care, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, Plant Protection and Quarantine, and Veterinary Services for processing in the Automated Commercial Environment has proven successful and will end August 15, 2016. Info here.

FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE: Rule FSIS amends regulations on ante-mortem inspection removing a provision permitting establishments to hold for treatment veal calves unable to rise from a recumbent position and walk because they are tired or cold. Info here.

FOREST SEVICE: Notice Carson National Forest proposes to charge a $100 fee for the overnight rental of the Amole Canyon Group Shelter. Info here.

RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE SERVICE: Notice RBS is holding a forum to introduce the updated Business and Industry Guaranteed Loanmaking and Servicing Regulations, as published in the Federal Register Friday, June 3, 2016. Details here.