Lessening Regulatory Burdens on our Farmers Act of 2018

Support H.R.2 - The Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 Support new floating marketing assistance loan program (HR 4988, the Conservation Assistance Loan Act of 2018, defend crop insurance against any cuts, caps or means testing; support ARC-CO payments based on physical location rather than administrative county, support permitting farmers to sign up once for life of the farm program if there are no changes in the farming operation (HR 4904, the Lessening Regulatory Burdens on Our Farmers Act; Support proposals to improve efficiencies Conservation Reserve Program, Conservation Stewardship Program and Environmental Quality Improvement Program funding and programs that help Illinois farmers address the state's Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Called attention to IL examples of negative farmer experiences with wetlands determinations in prior converted croplands and the National Appeals Division. Support farmer-friendly interpretation of PCC and reform of Swampbuster provisions and the NAD appeals process. Requested that commodity loan repayment provisons could be loosened in light of tighter credit markets, depressed commodity prices, and tariff retaliation. Communicated to Congress, USDA and the White House that IL farmers prefer expanded access to markets over any compensations for lost markets resulting from retaliatory tariffs. Commented on the USDA's proposed rule establishing a national bioengineered (BE) food disclosure standard. Explained the evolution of on farm nutrient management in crop and livestock production on northern Illinois farms to USEPA Region V leadership. Discussion of dicamba stewardship in 2017-18 on Illinois farms and expressed a desire for continued use of dicamba. Exploring options that will provide a plan and a framework for conservation of habitat for Monarch butterfly and other polinator species that will also provide certainty for agricultural producers in Illinois and several other states

Client expense: $30,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, President of the U.S., SENATE, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)

Reauthorization of P.L.113-79, Agricultural Act of 2014; Reorganization of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); H.R.4904, Lessening Regulatory Burdens on our Farmers Act of 2018; H.R.2/S.3042, Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $30,000

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Support H.R.2 - The Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 Support new floating marketing assistance loan program (HR 4988, the Conservation Assistance Loan Act of 2018, defend crop insurance against any cuts, caps or means testing; support ARC-CO payments based on physical location rather than administrative county, support permitting farmers to sign up once for life of the farm program if there are no changes in the farming operation (HR 4904, the Lessening Regulatory Burdens on Our Farmers Act; Support annual update of county farmland rental rates for establishing Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) rental rates for continuous and general sign up programs. Support proposals to improve efficiencies Conservation Reserve Program, Conservation Stewardship Program and Environmental Quality Improvement Program funding and programs that help Illinois farmers address the state's Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Oppose amendments to H.R. 2 that would cut, cap, or means test crop insurance risk premium support. Oppose amendments to H.R. 2 that would cap ARC-PLC coverage, reduce eligibilty for the program, or eliminate the sugar program. Also opposed amendments to H.R. 2 that would repeal bioenergy programs established in Title IX, block USDA from funding retail blender pumps, or prevent SNAP recipients from using benefits to purchase soda. Support amendments for "one and done" ARC-PLC sign up and to repeal the June 29, 2015 Clean Water Rule. Called attention to IL examples of negative farmer experiences with wetlands determinations in prior converted croplands and the National Appeals Division. Requested that commodity loan repayment provisons could be loosened in light of tighter credit markets, depressed commodity prices, and tariff retaliation. Communicated to Congress, USDA and the White House that IL farmers prefer expanded access to markets over any compensations for lost markets resulting from retaliatory tariffs. Expanded rural Illinois access to broadband internet. Commented on the USDA's proposed rule establishing a national bioengineered (BE) food disclosure standard. Explained the evolution of on farm nutrient management in crop and livestock production on northern Illinois farms to USEPA Region V leadership. Discussion of dicamba stewardship in 2017-18 on Illinois farms.

Client expense: $30,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, President of the U.S., SENATE, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)