Clarification of Treatment of Electronic Sales of Livestock Act of 2016

Texas Farm Bureau supports HR 5883 in the Agriculture Committee and the U.S. House of Representatives. P&S was enacted to prohibit unfair, deceptive, or discriminatory practices by market agencies dealers, stockyards, packers, swine contractors, and live poultry dealers in the livestock and poultry industries. In todays technology-driven farm and ranch businesses, livestock producers increasingly rely on new electronic marketing methods to access more buyers and improve efficiency of sales transactions. However, the applicability of the P&S law has been unclear for internet auctions and other digital sales. Additionally, payment methods by electronic funds transfer were not clearly covered by the law. H.R. 5883 makes two specific revisions: Clarifies that P&S Act requirements apply to online and video auctions that charge a commission or other fee and provide means to handle funds due to sellers. Explicitly allows modern electronic payment methods as an option for meeting prompt payment requirements.

Client expense: $120,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Agriculture/food-related provisions of: H.Con.Res.20 Expressing the sense of Congress that all direct and indirect subsidies that benefit the production or export of sugar by all major sugar producing and consuming countries should be eliminated H.Con.Res.30 Supporting the designation of the year of 2015 as the International Year of Soils and supporting locally led soil conservation H.R.1714 To reform the Federal sugar program and other purposes H.R.2088 United States Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act of 2015 H.R.3187 PRIME Act H.R.3255 Student Agriculture Protection Act H.R.3714 Small Agricultural Producer Size Standards Improvements Act of 2015 H.R.3893 AIPM Act of 2015 H.R.3973 AFFIRM Act H.R.892Harvest Price Reduction Act S.134 Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015 S.1417 United States Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act of 2015 S.1429 Charitable Agricultural Research Act S.345 A bill to limit the level of premium subsidy provided by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to agricultural producers S.463 A bill to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to prohibit the paying of premium subsidies on policies based on the actual market price of an agricultural commodity at the time of harvest S.475 Sugar Reform Act of 2015 S.908 Charitable Agricultural Research Act S.Con.Res.10 A concurrent resolution supporting the designation of the year of 2015 as the "International Year of Soils" and supporting locally led soil conservation S.Res.397 A resolution supporting the recognition of 2016 as the "Year of Pulses" and acknowledging the nutritional benefit and important contribution to soil health of pulse crops, all provisions related to Pulse H.R.4896 Dairy MILC Act of 2016 S.2810 A bill to amend theAgriculturalAdjustment Act to assist small cheese producers H.R.5003 To reauthorize child nutrition programs, and for other purposes. H.Res.774 Expressing support for designation of the week of June 6 through June 12, 2016, as "Hemp History Week". H.R.5883 Clarification of Treatment of Electronic Sales of Livestock Act of 2016 S.3201 Commodity Checkoff Program Improvement Act of 2016 S.3200 Voluntary Check-off Program Participation Act S.3420 Urban Agriculture Act of 2016 S.3350 Clarification of Treatment of Electronic Sales of Livestock Act of 2016 Issues other than legislation: Reform of the Federal Milk Marketing Order. Establishment of a farmer-owned grain reserve. Distribution of farm program benefits. Expansion and improvement of Federal Crop Insurance programs. Review of Packers and Stockyards Act effectiveness in enhancing competitive practices in the livestock industry. Mandatory livestock price reporting. Contract production of agricultural commodities. Long-term domestic agricultural policy. Commodity loan rate adjustments. Facility loan programs for commodity storage. Natural disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers. Regulations of the agriculture futures industry. Farm bill implementation. Indemnity payments to dairy producers. Agricultural conservation programs. Funding and implementation of rural development programs. Funding for farmer-owned cooperatives. Balancing supply and demand. Natural resources. Real estate, land use, public lands, conservation. Small business. Agroterrorism. Grain standards, reauthorization. Veterinary Science Postal service reform, including rural community service. Conservation, general. Reauthorizing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission

S. 764, National Sea Grant College Program Act - Bill to establish mandatory labeling of food derived from biotechnology, protect future biotechnology, narrow definition of biotech, meat exemptions, and protection of interstate commerce. H.R. 5883, Technical and Clarifying Amendments to the Packers and Stockyard Act of 2016 - To expand the Packers and Stockyards Act definitions to include the use of internet and video auctions and update payment methods to include the use of electronic fund transfers. EPA Atrazine Comment Period regarding updated risk assessment - In 2016, EPA issued a draft Ecological Assessment of the herbicide, which is a preliminary step in judging whether the chemical will continue to be available for agricultural producers.

Client expense: $50,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE