POLICY WATCH
Smith and Craig Introduce Year-Round E-15 Companion Bill in House
Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Congresswoman Angie Craig (D-MN) introduced the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2022, a bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would enable the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10%, helping to lower fuel prices and improve stability and certainty in the U.S. fuel market. This bill is supported by the largest unified group of farming, biofuels and oil companies to date including Farm Bureau. Representative Smith’s bill is the House companion to the Senate bill introduced by Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in late November.
“Allowing for the nationwide sale of E-15 year-round is long overdue. The state of Nebraska is fortunate to have both Congressman Smith and Senator Fischer leading the bipartisan charge to make that happen. With the introduction of the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2022 in both the House and the Senate, we are hopeful this issue will finally have the momentum it needs to become law,” Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue said.
USDA Publishes Final Cattle Contract Library Rule
USDA released the final rule for the Cattle Contract Library following input from industry stakeholders over the course of the past several months. The final rule goes into effect on January 6, 2023. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 established the Cattle Contract Library within the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). USDA used feedback from industry stakeholders and developed a pilot program for the library. Under this pilot, AMS will collect, maintain, and report aggregated information on contracts between cattle producers and packers for purchases of fed cattle. The library will include different types of contracts and contract terms. This includes premium schedules, discount schedules, delivery and transportation, terms and payments, financing, risk sharing, and other financial arrangements. Additionally, AMS will also report on the number of head of cattle purchased under the terms of the contract.
Thank You for Helping Us Celebrate Election Night Wins
Nebraska Farm Bureau thanks everyone who attended the very successful Nebraska Farm Bureau Political Action Committee (NEFB-PAC) welcome reception during the NEFB Annual Meeting and Convention on Dec. 4. Nebraska Farm Bureau is the state’s leading advocacy organization for its largest industry and increasing the prominence of the NEFB-PAC will allow the continued success, growth, and prominence of Nebraska agriculture in local, state, and federal policy. We hope you enjoyed the opportunity to meet with endorsed candidates and help us begin the important process of expanding our political success in future election cycles. Thank you for your continued support.
