Before leaving town, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced the appointment of 67 members to serve on seven agricultural trade advisory committees. A complete list of committee members are available at fas.usda.gov/atacs and includes a who’s who of influential voices from commodity groups to agribusinesses.
The Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee is comprised of senior representatives from across the U.S. agricultural community who provide advice to USDA and USTR on trade policy matters including the operation of existing trade agreements and the negotiation of new agreements. Members of the six Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees provide technical advice and guidance from the perspective of their specific product sectors. This group of appointed advisors will serve until 2025.
Various agriculture groups and elected officials offered their reactions following the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Among the voices included the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and various congressmen and women. This will be updated as information becomes available. Agricultural Retailers Association “ARA congratulates President Biden and [.]
Sen. Pat Roberts on 40-year career: I want justice for farmers
Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, retired from his post as Senate Ag Committee chairman Jan. 3 to go into retirement. After a storied 40-year career protecting farmers with the 1996 and 2018 farm bills, he was a guest on the National Milk Producers Federation s podcast Dairy Defined.
Roberts said that these are not the worst of times, despite many farmers thinking it. He said dairy is always there no matter what; whether he s getting along with his fellow Democratic committee members or not, and said he s skilled at getting the 60 votes needed for his legislation to pass. He managed to pass the 2018 Farm Bill with 87 votes, just short of his goal of 90.
The National Milk Producers Federation are calling for changes to the so-called Class I fluid milk price mover to recover losses dairy producers have faced from the extreme price disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, part of a suite of policies essential to advancing the well-being of dairy farmers and the entire industry in response to challenges brought to light by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are seeking consensus across the dairy industry for changes to the Class I mover that remedy economic damage to dairy farmers who have disproportionately suffered as a result of this pandemic,” said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of NMPF, after a meeting of NMPF’s Executive Committee to discuss policy approaches. “The intent behind the current mover was a revenue-neutral solution to the concerns of fluid milk processors about hedging their price risk. With that balance severely upended due to the pandemic, a modified approach is necessary. We need a solution that provides m