Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023

Issues related the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, currently expiring Sept 2023 , including titles 1-4, 6-7, 10-11. H.R. 2728 Young Farmer Success Act; H. R. 2720 strengthening Organic Agricultural Research (SOAR) Act of 2023; H. R. 4873 Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act; HR 41 27 Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act; HR 41 73 Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act; HR 4739 and S . 2682 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act; HR 4838 Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023 ; HR 5061 The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act; HR 5062 The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act; HR 5 1 99 Specialty Crop Research Act; S.2591 Supporting Urban Farmers Act of 2023; H. R. 5973 Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act (CIAO)

Client expense: $430,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE

Issues related the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, currently expiring Sept 2023 , including titles 1-4, 6-7, 10-11. H.R. 2728 Young Farmer Success Act; H. R. 2720 strengthening Organic Agricultural Research (SOAR) Act of 2023; H. R. 4873 Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act; HR 41 27 Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act; HR 41 73 Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act; HR 4739 and S . 2682 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act; HR 4838 Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023 ; HR 5061 The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act; HR 5062 The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act; HR 5 1 99 Specialty Crop Research Act; S. 2326 SNAP Nutrition Security Act; S.2591 Supporting Urban Farmers Act of 2023 ; H. R. 5973 Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act (CIAO)

Client expense: $430,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Issues related the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, currently expiring Sept 2023 , including titles 1-4, 6-7, 10-11. H.R. 2728 Young Farmer Success Act; H. R. 2720 strengthening Organic Agricultural Research (SOAR) Act of 2023; H. R. 4856 GusNIP Flexibility Act; H. R. 4873 Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act; HR 41 27 Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act; HR 41 73 Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act; HR 4739 and S . 2682 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act; HR 4838 Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023 ; HR 5061 The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act; HR 5062 The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act; HR 5 1 99 Specialty Crop Research Act; S. 2326 SNAP Nutrition Security Act; S.2591 Supporting Urban Farmers Act of 2023 ; H. R. 5973 Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act (CIAO); H.R.5589 and S.2874 Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act

Client expense: $299,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Issues related the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, currently expiring Sept 2023, including titles 1-4, 6-7, 10-11. H.R.2728 Young Farmer Success Act; H.R.2720 Strengthening Organic Agricultural Research (SOAR) Act of 2023; H.R.4856 GusNIP Flexibility Act; H.R.4873 Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act; HR4127 Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act; HR4173 Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act; HR4739 and S.2682 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act; HR4838 Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023; HR5061 The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act; HR5062 The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act; HR 5199 Specialty Crop Research Act; S.2326 SNAP Nutrition Security Act; S.2591 Supporting Urban Farmers Act of 2023; H.R. 5973 Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act (CIAO); H.R. 5589 and S. 2874 Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act

Client expense: $299,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Michigan Farm Bureau continues to advocate for the 2024 Farm Bill to be completed on time. MFB supported the one-year farm Bill extension and economic and disaster assistance to farmers that was included in H.R. 10545, the American Relief Act of 2025, a continuing resolution to fund the government through March 14, 2025. The legislation included over $30 million in economic and disaster assistance to farmers. Absent a full reauthorization of the Farm Bill, the one-year extension was supported by Farm Bureau because it provided economic certainty to our states farmers. We supported House Agriculture Committee passage of H.R. 8467, the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024 (farm bill). Our priorities for the bill include: Increase baseline funding commitments to farm programs (reference price increase, commodity loan rates) as they have not kept up with inflation Maintain a unified, bipartisan farm bill which includes nutrition programs and farm programs together Prioritize funding for risk management tools which include both federal crop insurance and commodity programs (ARC, PLC, DMC) Ensure adequate USDA staffing capacity and technical assistance Maintain funding for voluntary, working lands conservation programs. Support trade promotion programs like Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Assistance Program (MAP) Ensuring adequate funding for the specialty crop industry with emphasis on fundamental research, marketing & promotion, and pest management programs Funding for ag research and education Support addressing interstate commerce issues impacting the livestock and poultry industry MFB supported the following bills: H.R. 4838, the Specialty Crop Security Act and H.R. 5199, the Specialty Crop Research Act, bills to increase funding of the specialty crop research in the Farm Bill. H.R. 4059 - a bill to include phosphate and potash on the final list of critical minerals of the Department of the Interior. We support this legislation as these minerals are critical for food production. H.R. 4739 and S.26 82 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act. The bill would make improvements to the USDA Tree Assistance Program. S. 322 Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act - the bill would direct USDA APHIS to establish a fund for research and activities related to mitigating the effects of spotted wing drosophila, an insect hurting the specialty crop industry. MFB has also been supportive of efforts to include funding for mechanization in the farm bill that would help with labor shortages. MFB supported a bill by Reps. LaMalfa and Carbajal and another by Reps. Valadao and Costa related to mechanization and a letter by the same authors.

FARM BILL: - Asked House and Senate Members to support S.5335, the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024 and H.R.8467, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act otherwise known as farm bill. - Asked PFB members to complete AFBF's advocacy email asking for their legislator to pass a farm bill ASAP and include a legislative fix to Prop 12. - Worked with AFBF on securing votes for farm bill by communicating how conversations went during meetings with legislators and/or staff. - Met with PA delegation's offices to discuss farm bill and a legislative fix to Prop 12. Discussed need to be passed on time and Farm Bureau priorities. Listened to legislators' concerns with farm bill as well as their individual priorities for the legislation. See Section 24 - Trade - of this report for information on lobbying efforts for Prop 12. ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.5321, the Farm Ownership Improvement Act, which would require USDA to implement a pre-qualification or pre-approval process for all farmers and ranchers seeking FSA Direct Farm Ownership loans. - S.4168/H.R.4838, the Specialty Crop Security Act, which would increase USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) program authorization from $85 to $100 million per year and expand opportunities for specialty crop stakeholders to provide input into how program funding is used by state departments of agriculture. - S.1014/H.R.1756, the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act, which would mandate cost and yield surveying of processors to participate in the NDPSR survey every two years. - S.980/H.R.3755, the Industrial Hemp Act, which would exempt farmers exclusively growing industrial hemp from the burdensome background checks and costly sampling and testing protocols required for farmers growing cannabinoid hemp like that used in the extraction of CBD. - S.1867/H.R.3922, the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act, which would direct USDA to authorize and prioritize projects that address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities. - S.1837/H.R.3867, the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act, which would designate spotted lanternflies as a high priority pest under the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to direct more federal research dollars to combat these devastating insects. - S.1816/H.R.3815, the Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act, which would require a USDA study on providing crop insurance for mushroom farmers. - S.2458/H.R.3904, the Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act, which would help our next generation of farmers by aligning the definition of Beginning Farmers to match that of other USDA programs - 10 crop years or less instead of the status quo of 5 crop years or less. - S.1400/H.R.3036, the Increased TSP Access Act, which would help streamline the technical service provider (TSP) certification at NRCS and leverage the programs and technical expertise of NRCS to make conservation programs available to more farmers and on more land. - S.2614/H.R.8488, the Farmer to Farmer Education Act, which would allow farmer-to-farmer groups to develop cooperative agreements with USDA to share conservation concepts and new practices. - H.R.4856, the GusNIP Expansion Act, which would enhance and expand the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), which awards competitive grant funding to nonprofit organizations and government agencies for projects that provide incentives to income-eligible consumers to increase their purchase of fruits and vegetables. ASKED TO OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING: - S.658/H.R.5252, the EQIP Improvement Act, which would create severe consequences to the EQIP program for animal agriculture operations by targeting livestock operations conservation project funding. NEUTRAL/MONITORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - S.2371/H.R.3139, the ACRE Act, which would exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate. - S.5101, the Farmer Driven Conservation Outcomes Act, which would authorize USDA to measure, assess, and report on the outcomes associated with its conservation programs. - S.4219/H.R.8210, the Future Farmers and Ranchers of Tomorrow Act, which would revise USDAs qualified beginning farmer or rancher definition to allow non-related beginning farmers and ranchers in joint entities to be eligible for FSA loans. - S.1842/H.R.6687, the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (FEED) Act, which would would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to establish a new category of animal food additives. - S.2631/H.R.3424, the Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) Act, which would prevent the conversion of forests into non-forest areas by authorizing funding to purchase development rights from willing private landowners. - H.R.1624, the Puppy Protection Act, which would require USDA to expand standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals to include new requirements for commercial dog dealers. OTHER: - Reviewed FWS' proposal to list the Monarch Butterfly as an endangered species (Docket #: FWS-R3-ES-2024-0137-0001). Expressed concerns to legislators over the impact this will have on agriculture. Worked with PFB members to comply information for comments. - Sent election congrats letters to PA House and Senate Members and started the conversation of 119th Congressional priorities. - Reviewed the following rulemakings from USDA and shared AFBF's comments with PA's delegation for: Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets (Docket #: AMS-FTPP-21-0046); Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems (Docket #: AMS-FTPP-22-0046); Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments (Docket #: AMS-FTPP-21-0044); and Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity under the Packers and Stockyards Act (Docket #: AMS-FTPP-21-0045). - Advocacy work on the Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs). Reviewed USDA's proposed final decision for the FMMOs (Docket #: AMS-DA-23-0031) and emailed PA House and Senate Members with PFB's position to not take a stand to allow for a fair referendum process. Specifically, supported a switchback either by USDA or Congress for the higher of in Class I milk. Additionally, asked Congress Members to support requiring mandatory audited surveying for make allowance changes in the FMMOs. - Advocacy work on increasing the availability and affordability of rural childcare. - Reviewed Chevron Deference case to determine the impact it will have on ag. Supported SCOTUS' decision. Signed onto coalition letter to President Biden to urge suspension of regulatory activity until they review the Loper decision.

Issues related the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, currently expiring Sept 2023, including titles 1-4, 6-7, 10-11. H.R.2728 Young Farmer Success Act; H.R.2720 Strengthening Organic Agricultural Research (SOAR) Act of 2023; H.R.4856 GusNIP Flexibility Act; H.R.4873 Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act; HR4127 Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act; HR4173 Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act; HR4739 and S.2682 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act; HR4838 Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023; HR5061 The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act; HR5062 The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act; HR 5199 Specialty Crop Research Act; S.2326 SNAP Nutrition Security Act; S.2591 Supporting Urban Farmers Act of 2023; H.R. 5973 Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act (CIAO); H.R. 5589 and S. 2874 Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act

Client expense: $283,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Issues related to food and agriculture; specialty crop issues; agricultural trade; agricultural research; disaster assistance; nutrition; farm bill; H.R. 8467, Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024, S.322 - SWAT Act of 2023, H.R. 4739 & S. 2682 - Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act, H.R. 4173 -Advancing Automation Research &Development in Agriculture, H.R. 5062 - The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act, H.R. 4838 -Specialty Crop Security Act, H.R. 5199 -Specialty Crop Research Act, H.R. 679 - Amending Specialty Crop Research Initiative, S. 176 & H.R. 648 -Expanding Agriculture Exports Act of2023, H.R. 5061 - The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act, S. 2301 & H.R. 4613 -American Foods for American Schools Act, H.R. 4856 - GusNIP Expansion Act of 2023, USDAs Tree Assistance Program.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Michigan Farm Bureau continues to advocate for the 2024 Farm Bill to be completed on time. We supported House Agriculture Committee passage of H.R. 8467, the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024 (farm bill). Our priorities for the bill include: Increase baseline funding commitments to farm programs (reference price increase, commodity loan rates) as they have not kept up with inflation Maintain a unified, bipartisan farm bill which includes nutrition programs and farm programs together Prioritize funding for risk management tools which include both federal crop insurance and commodity programs (ARC, PLC, DMC) Ensure adequate USDA staffing capacity and technical assistance Maintain funding for voluntary, working lands conservation programs. Support trade promotion programs like Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Assistance Program (MAP) Ensuring adequate funding for the specialty crop industry with emphasis on fundamental research, marketing & promotion, and pest management programs Funding for ag research and education Support addressing interstate commerce issues impacting the livestock and poultry industry MFB supported the following bills: H.R. 4838, the Specialty Crop Security Act and H.R. 5199, the Specialty Crop Research Act, bills to increase funding of the specialty crop research in the Farm Bill. H.R. 4059 - a bill to include phosphate and potash on the final list of critical minerals of the Department of the Interior. We support this legislation as these minerals are critical for food production. H.R. 4739 and S.26 82 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act. The bill would make improvements to the USDA Tree Assistance Program. S. 322 Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act - the bill would direct USDA APHIS to establish a fund for research and activities related to mitigating the effects of spotted wing drosophila, an insect hurting the specialty crop industry. MFB has also been supportive of efforts to include funding for mechanization in the farm bill that would help with labor shortages. MFB supported a bill by Reps. LaMalfa and Carbajal and another by Reps. Valadao and Costa related to mechanization and a letter by the same authors.

FARM BILL: - Asked House Members to support H.R.8467, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act otherwise known as farm bill. - Encouraged Senate Members to ask Chairwoman Stabenow to release text. - Listened to Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Boozman speak at an AFBF conference on the status of farm bill in the Senate and the strategy moving forward. - Addressed concerns over Title IV - Nutrition - of H.R. 8467 otherwise known as farm bill. - Asked PFB members to complete AFBF's advocacy email asking for their legislator to pass a farm bill ASAP and include a legislative fix to Prop 12. - Worked with AFBF on securing votes for farm bill by communicating how conversations went during meetings with legislators and/or staff. - Met with PA delegation's offices to discuss farm bill and a legislative fix to Prop 12. Discussed need to be passed on time and Farm Bureau priorities. Listened to legislators' concerns with farm bill as well as their individual priorities for the legislation. See Section 24 - Trade - of this report for information on lobbying efforts for Prop 12. - Signed onto coalition letter supporting farm bill in August. - Asked PA House Republican delegation to sign onto Dear Colleague letter to House Leadership asking them to bring farm bill to the floor. ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - No bill # yet, the Farm Ownership Improvement Act, which would require USDA to implement a pre-qualification or pre-approval process for all farmers and ranchers seeking FSA Direct Farm Ownership loans. - S.4168/H.R.4838, the Specialty Crop Security Act, which would increase USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) program authorization from $85 to $100 million per year and expand opportunities for specialty crop stakeholders to provide input into how program funding is used by state departments of agriculture. - S.1014/H.R.1756, the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act, which would mandate cost and yield surveying of processors to participate in the NDPSR survey every two years. - S.980/H.R.3755, the Industrial Hemp Act, which would exempt farmers exclusively growing industrial hemp from the burdensome background checks and costly sampling and testing protocols required for farmers growing cannabinoid hemp like that used in the extraction of CBD. - S.1867/H.R.3922, the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act, which would direct USDA to authorize and prioritize projects that address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities. - S.1837/H.R.3867, the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act, which would designate spotted lanternflies as a high priority pest under the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to direct more federal research dollars to combat these devastating insects. - S.1816/H.R.3815, the Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act, which would require a USDA study on providing crop insurance for mushroom farmers. - S.2458/H.R.3904, the Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act, which would help our next generation of farmers by aligning the definition of Beginning Farmers to match that of other USDA programs - 10 crop years or less instead of the status quo of 5 crop years or less. - S.1400/H.R.3036, the Increased TSP Access Act, which would help streamline the technical service provider (TSP) certification at NRCS and leverage the programs and technical expertise of NRCS to make conservation programs available to more farmers and on more land. - S.2614/H.R.8488, the Farmer to Farmer Education Act, which would allow farmer-to-farmer groups to develop cooperative agreements with USDA to share conservation concepts and new practices. - H.R.4856, the GusNIP Expansion Act, which would enhance and expand the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), which awards competitive grant funding to nonprofit organizations and government agencies for projects that provide incentives to income-eligible consumers to increase their purchase of fruits and vegetables. ASKED TO OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING: - S.658/H.R.5252, the EQIP Improvement Act, which would create severe consequences to the EQIP program for animal agriculture operations by targeting livestock operations conservation project funding. NEUTRAL/MONITORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - S.2371/H.R.3139, the ACRE Act, which would exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate. - S.5101, the Farmer Driven Conservation Outcomes Act, which would authorize USDA to measure, assess, and report on the outcomes associated with its conservation programs. - S.4219/H.R.8210, the Future Farmers and Ranchers of Tomorrow Act, which would revise USDAs qualified beginning farmer or rancher definition to allow non-related beginning farmers and ranchers in joint entities to be eligible for FSA loans. - S.1842/H.R.6687, the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (FEED) Act, which would would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to establish a new category of animal food additives. - S.2631/H.R.3424, the Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) Act, which would prevent the conversion of forests into non-forest areas by authorizing funding to purchase development rights from willing private landowners. - H.R.1624, the Puppy Protection Act, which would require USDA to expand standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals to include new requirements for commercial dog dealers. OTHER: - Reviewed the following rulemakings from USDA: Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets (Docket #: AMS-FTPP-21-0046); Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems (Docket #: AMS-FTPP-22-0046); Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments (Docket #: AMS-FTPP-21-0044); and Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity under the Packers and Stockyards Act (Docket #: AMS-FTPP-21-0045). - Advocacy work on the Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs). Reviewed USDA's Recommended Decision for the FMMOs (Docket #: AMS-DA-23-0031). Specifically, supported a switchback either by USDA or Congress for the higher of in Class I milk. Additionally, asked Congress Members to support requiring mandatory audited surveying for make allowance changes in the FMMOs. - Reviewed Chevron Deference case to determine the impact it will have on ag. Supported SCOTUS' decision. Signed onto coalition letter to President Biden to urge suspension of regulatory activity until they review the Loper decision. - Emailed Meuser's office that PFB supports Land O Lakes conservation project. - Reviewed Secretary Vilsack's response letter to Rep. Deluzio's meat processing consolidation letter as a result of a roundtable with Beaver/Lawrence County FB.

Issues related the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, currently expiring Sept 2023, including titles 1-4, 6-7, 10-11. H.R.2728 Young Farmer Success Act; H.R.2720 Strengthening Organic Agricultural Research (SOAR) Act of 2023; H.R.4856 GusNIP Flexibility Act; H.R.4873 Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act; HR4127 Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act; HR4173 Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act; HR4739 and S.2682 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act; HR4838 Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023; HR5061 The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act; HR5062 The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act; HR 5199 Specialty Crop Research Act; S.2326 SNAP Nutrition Security Act; S.2591 Supporting Urban Farmers Act of 2023; H.R. 5973 Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act (CIAO); H.R. 5589 and S. 2874 Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act

Client expense: $275,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Issues related to H.R. 8467, Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2021; Specialty Crop Issues, agricultural trade, S.322 - SWAT Act of 2023, Agricultural Research, Disaster Assistance, H.R. 4739 & S. 2682 - Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act, H.R. 4173 - Advancing Automation Research &Development in Agriculture, H.R. 5062 - The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act, H.R. 4838 - Specialty Crop Security Act, H.R. 5199 -Specialty Crop Research Act, H.R. 679 - Amending Specialty Crop Research Initiative, S. 176 & H.R. 648 - Expanding Agriculture Exports Act of2023, H.R. 5061 - The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act, S. 2301 & H.R. 4613 - American Foods for American Schools Act, H.R. 4856 - GusNIP Expansion Act of 2023, USDAs Tree Assistance Program - issues related to nutrition.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

FARM BILL: - Asked House Members to support H.R.8467, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act otherwise known as farm bill. - Monitored, tracked, and gave positions when asked on amendments during the markup of H.R.8467 on May 23. - Encouraged Senate Members to ask Chairwoman Stabenow to release text. - Listened to Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Boozman speak at an AFBF conference on the status of farm bill in the Senate and the strategy moving forward. - Signed onto coalition letter that supported the sugar program changes in H.R.8467 otherwise known as farm bill. - Addressed concerns over Title IV - Nutrition - of H.R. 8467 otherwise known as farm bill. - Encouraged PFB members to complete AFBF's advocacy email asking for Congress to pass a farm bill ASAP and include a legislative fix to Prop 12. - Worked with AFBF on securing votes for farm bill by communicating how conversations went during meetings with legislators and/or staff. - President Hoffman met with PA delegation on May 8 primarily talking about farm bill and to include a legislative fix to Prop 12. Discussed need to be passed on time and Farm Bureau priorities. Listened to legislators' concerns with farm bill as well as their individual priorities for the legislation. See Section 24 - Trade - of this report for information on lobbying efforts for Prop 12. - Bailey Fisher also met with legislator's staff throughout the quarter to discuss farm bill priorities and Prop 12. ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.4168/H.R.4838, the Specialty Crop Security Act, which would increase USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) program authorization from $85 to $100 million per year and expand opportunities for specialty crop stakeholders to provide input into how program funding is used by state departments of agriculture. - S.1014/H.R.1756, the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act, which would mandate cost and yield surveying of processors to participate in the NDPSR survey every two years. - S.980/H.R.3755, the Industrial Hemp Act, which would exempt farmers exclusively growing industrial hemp from the burdensome background checks and costly sampling and testing protocols required for farmers growing cannabinoid hemp like that used in the extraction of CBD. - S.1867/H.R.3922, the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act, which would direct USDA to authorize and prioritize projects that address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities. - S.1837/H.R.3867, the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act, which would designate spotted lanternflies as a high priority pest under the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to direct more federal research dollars to combat these devastating insects. - S.1816/H.R.3815, the Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act, which would require a USDA study on providing crop insurance for mushroom farmers. - S.2458/H.R.3904, the Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act, which would help our next generation of farmers by aligning the definition of Beginning Farmers to match that of other USDA programs - 10 crop years or less instead of the status quo of 5 crop years or less. - S.1400/H.R.3036, the Increased TSP Access Act, which would help streamline the technical service provider (TSP) certification at NRCS and leverage the programs and technical expertise of NRCS to make conservation programs available to more farmers and on more land. - S.2614/H.R.8488, the Farmer to Farmer Education Act, which would allow farmer-to-farmer groups to develop cooperative agreements with USDA to share conservation concepts and new practices. - H.R.4856, the GusNIP Expansion Act, which would enhance and expand the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), which awards competitive grant funding to nonprofit organizations and government agencies for projects that provide incentives to income-eligible consumers to increase their purchase of fruits and vegetables. ASKED TO OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING: - S.658/H.R.5252, the EQIP Improvement Act, which would create severe consequences to the EQIP program for animal agriculture operations by targeting livestock operations conservation project funding. NEUTRAL/MONITORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - S.4219/H.R.8210, the Future Farmers and Ranchers of Tomorrow Act, which would revise USDAs qualified beginning farmer or rancher definition to allow non-related beginning farmers and ranchers in joint entities to be eligible for FSA loans. - S.1842/H.R.6687, the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (FEED) Act, which would would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to establish a new category of animal food additives. - S.2631/H.R.3424, the Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) Act, which would prevent the conversion of forests into non-forest areas by authorizing funding to purchase development rights from willing private landowners. - H.R.1624, the Puppy Protection Act, which would require USDA to expand standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals to include new requirements for commercial dog dealers. OTHER: - Attended Representative Deluzio's agricultural roundtable to discuss PFB priorities (farm bill, Prop 12, ag labor reform, whole milk in schools, etc.) - Attended Representative Wild's agricultural roundtable to discuss PFB priorities (farm bill, Prop 12, ag labor reform, whole milk in schools, etc.) - Reviewed the following rulemakings from USDA: Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets (Docket #: AMS-FTPP-21-0046); Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems (Docket #: AMS-FTPP-22-0046); Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments (Docket #: AMS-FTPP-21-0044); and Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity under the Packers and Stockyards Act (Docket #: AMS-FTPP-21-0045). - Emailed Representative Meuser's office that PFB is supportive of a Congressional letter to urge USDA to weigh the interests of our mushroom industry very heavily in their consideration of new organics standards. - Had discussions with AFBF about taking a position on the Organic Imports Verification Act. The bill has yet to be introduced. - Emailed letter to RMA asking for PA to have the opportunity for double crop soybean insurance. - Emailed Representative Kelly's office that PFB is neutral on a bill that would help producers doing vertical farming due to the absence of policy. - Advocacy work on the Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs). Specifically, supported a switchback either by USDA or Congress for the higher of in Class I milk. Additionally, asked Congress Members to support requiring mandatory audited surveying for make allowance changes in the FMMOs.

Michigan Farm Bureau continues to advocate for the 2024 Farm Bill to be completed on time. We supported House Agriculture Committee passage of H.R. 8467, the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024 (farm bill). Our priorities for the bill include: Increase baseline funding commitments to farm programs (reference price increase, commodity loan rates) as they have not kept up with inflation Maintain a unified, bipartisan farm bill which includes nutrition programs and farm programs together Prioritize funding for risk management tools which include both federal crop insurance and commodity programs (ARC, PLC, DMC) Ensure adequate USDA staffing capacity and technical assistance Maintain funding for voluntary, working lands conservation programs. Support trade promotion programs like Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Assistance Program (MAP) Ensuring adequate funding for the specialty crop industry with emphasis on fundamental research, marketing & promotion, and pest management programs Funding for ag research and education Support addressing interstate commerce issues impacting the livestock and poultry industry MFB supported the following bills: H.R. 4838, the Specialty Crop Security Act and H.R. 5199, the Specialty Crop Research Act, bills to increase funding of the specialty crop research in the Farm Bill. H.R. 4059 - a bill to include phosphate and potash on the final list of critical minerals of the Department of the Interior. We support this legislation as these minerals are critical for food production. H.R. 4739 and S.26 82 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act. The bill would make improvements to the USDA Tree Assistance Program. S. 322 Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act - the bill would direct USDA APHIS to establish a fund for research and activities related to mitigating the effects of spotted wing drosophila, an insect hurting the specialty crop industry. MFB has also been supportive of efforts to include funding for mechanization in the farm bill that would help with labor shortages. MFB supported a bill by Reps. LaMalfa and Carbajal and another by Reps. Valadao and Costa related to mechanization and a letter by the same authors.

Issues related the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, currently expiring Sept 2023, including titles 1-4, 6-7, 10-11. H.R.2728 Young Farmer Success Act; H.R.2720 Strengthening Organic Agricultural Research (SOAR) Act of 2023; H.R.4856 GusNIP Flexibility Act; H.R.4873 Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act; HR4127 Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act; HR4173 Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act; HR4739 and S.2682 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act; HR4838 Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023; HR5061 The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act; HR5062 The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act; HR 5199 Specialty Crop Research Act; S.2326 SNAP Nutrition Security Act; S.2591 Supporting Urban Farmers Act of 2023; H.R. 5973 Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act (CIAO); H.R. 5589 and S. 2874 Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act

Client expense: $185,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Michigan Farm Bureau continues to advocate for the 2023 Farm Bill to be completed on time. Our priorities for the bill include: Increase baseline funding commitments to farm programs (reference price increase, commodity loan rates) as they have not kept up with inflation Maintain a unified, bipartisan farm bill which includes nutrition programs and farm programs together Prioritize funding for risk management tools which include both federal crop insurance and commodity programs (ARC, PLC, DMC) Ensure adequate USDA staffing capacity and technical assistance Maintain funding for voluntary, working lands conservation programs. Support trade promotion programs like Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Assistance Program (MAP) Ensuring adequate funding for the specialty crop industry with emphasis on fundamental research, marketing & promotion, and pest management programs Funding for ag research and education MFB supported the following bills: H.R. 4838, the Specialty Crop Security Act and H.R. 5199, the Specialty Crop Research Act, bills to increase funding of the specialty crop research in the Farm Bill. H.R. 4059 - a bill to include phosphate and potash on the final list of critical minerals of the Department of the Interior. We support this legislation as these minerals are critical for food production. H.R. 4739 and S.26 82 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act. The bill would make improvements to the USDA Tree Assistance Program. S. 322 Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act - the bill would direct USDA APHIS to establish a fund for research and activities related to mitigating the effects of spotted wing drosophila, an insect hurting the specialty crop industry. MFB has also been supportive of efforts to include funding for mechanization in the farm bill that would help with labor shortages. MFB supported a bill by Reps. LaMalfa and Carbajal and another by Reps. Valadao and Costa related to mechanization and a letter by the same authors.

Issues related to the 2024 Farm Bill, Specialty Crop Issues, agricultural trade, S.322 - SWAT Act of 2023, Agricultural Research, Disaster Assistance, H.R. 4739 & S. 2682 - Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act, H.R. 4173 - Advancing Automation Research & Development in Agriculture, H.R. 5062 - The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act, H.R. 4838 - Specialty Crop Security Act, H.R. 5199 - Specialty Crop Research Act, H.R. 679 - Amending Specialty Crop Research Initiative, S. 176 & H.R. 648 - Expanding Agriculture Exports Act of 2023, H.R. 5061 - The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act, S. 2301 & H.R. 4613 - American Foods for American Schools Act, H.R. 4856 - GusNIP Expansion Act of 2023, USDAs Tree Assistance Program.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Issues related the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, currently expiring Sept 2023, including titles 1-4, 6-7, 10-11. H.R.2728 Young Farmer Success Act; H.R.2720 Strengthening Organic Agricultural Research (SOAR) Act of 2023; H.R.4856 GusNIP Flexibility Act; H.R.4873 Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act; HR4127 Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act; HR4173 Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act; HR4739 and S.2682 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act; HR4838 Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023; HR5061 The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act; HR5062 The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act; HR 5199 Specialty Crop Research Act; S.2326 SNAP Nutrition Security Act; S.2591 Supporting Urban Farmers Act of 2023; H.R. 5973 Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act (CIAO); H.R. 5589 and S. 2874 Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act

Client expense: $185,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Issues related to the 2023 Farm Bill, Specialty Crop Issues, agricultural trade, S.322 - SWAT Act of 2023, Agricultural Research, Disaster Assistance, H.R. 4739 & S. 2682 - Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act, H.R. 4173 - Advancing Automation Research & Development in Agriculture, H.R. 5062 - The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act, H.R. 4838 - Specialty Crop Security Act, H.R. 5199 - Specialty Crop Research Act, H.R. 679 - Amending Specialty Crop Research Initiative, S. 176 & H.R. 648 - Expanding Agriculture Exports Act of 2023, H.R. 5061 - The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act, S. 2301 & H.R. 4613 - American Foods for American Schools Act, H.R. 4856 - GusNIP Expansion Act of 2023, USDAs Tree Assistance Program.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Michigan Farm Bureau continues to advocate for the 2023 Farm Bill to be completed on time. Our priorities for the bill include: Increase baseline funding commitments to farm programs (reference price increase, commodity loan rates) as they have not kept up with inflation Maintain a unified, bipartisan farm bill which includes nutrition programs and farm programs together Prioritize funding for risk management tools which include both federal crop insurance and commodity programs (ARC, PLC, DMC) Ensure adequate USDA staffing capacity and technical assistance Maintain funding for voluntary, working lands conservation programs. Support trade promotion programs like Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Assistance Program (MAP) Ensuring adequate funding for the specialty crop industry with emphasis on fundamental research, marketing & promotion, and pest management programs Funding for ag research and education MFB supported the following bills: H.R. 4838, the Specialty Crop Security Act and H.R. 5199, the Specialty Crop Research Act, bills to increase funding of the specialty crop research in the Farm Bill. H.R. 4059 - a bill to include phosphate and potash on the final list of critical minerals of the Department of the Interior. We support this legislation as these minerals are critical for food production. H.R. 4739 and S.26 82 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act. The bill would make improvements to the USDA Tree Assistance Program. S. 322 Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act - the bill would direct USDA APHIS to establish a fund for research and activities related to mitigating the effects of spotted wing drosophila, an insect hurting the specialty crop industry.

Client expense: $40,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Issues related the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, currently expiring Sept 2023, including titles 1-4, 6-7, 10-11. H.R.2728 Young Farmer Success Act; H.R.2720 Strengthening Organic Agricultural Research (SOAR) Act of 2023; H.R.4856 GusNIP Flexibility Act; H.R.4873 Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act; HR4127 Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act; HR4173 Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act; HR4739 and S.2682 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act; HR4838 Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023; HR5061 The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act; HR5062 The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act; HR 5199 Specialty Crop Research Act; S.2326 SNAP Nutrition Security Act; S.2591 Supporting Urban Farmers Act of 2023; H.R. 5973 Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act (CIAO); H.R. 5589 and S. 2874 Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act

Client expense: $250,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Michigan Farm Bureau continues to advocate for the 2023 Farm Bill to be completed on time. Our priorities for the bill include: Increase baseline funding commitments to farm programs (reference price increase, commodity loan rates) as they have not kept up with inflation Maintain a unified, bipartisan farm bill which includes nutrition programs and farm programs together Prioritize funding for risk management tools which include both federal crop insurance and commodity programs (ARC, PLC, DMC) Ensure adequate USDA staffing capacity and technical assistance Maintain funding for voluntary, working lands conservation programs. Support trade promotion programs like Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Assistance Program (MAP) Ensuring adequate funding for the specialty crop industry with emphasis on fundamental research, marketing & promotion, and pest management programs Funding for ag research and education MFB Supported H.R. 1480 and S. 759, the Beagle Brigade Act would provide permanent authorization for the National Detector Dog Training Center, which trains detector dogs, mostly beagles, and their U.S. Customs and Border Protection handlers to sniff out prohibited agricultural items that could carry foreign plant pests or animal diseases into America. MFB also supported the Dairy Farm Resiliency Act, a bill to strengthen the Dairy Margin Coverage program in the next Farm Bill. MFB supported the following bills: H.R. 4838, the Specialty Crop Security Act and H.R. 5199, the Specialty Crop Research Act, bills to increase funding of the specialty crop research in the Farm Bill. H.R. 4059 - a bill to include phosphate and potash on the final list of critical minerals of the Department of the Interior. We support this legislation as these minerals are critical for food production. H.R. 4739 and S.26 82 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act. The bill would make improvements to the USDA Tree Assistance Program. S. 322 Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act - the bill would direct USDA APHIS to establish a fund for research and activities related to mitigating the effects of spotted wing drosophila, an insect hurting the specialty crop industry.

Issues related to the 2023 Farm Bill, Specialty Crop Issues, agricultural trade, S.322 - SWAT Act of 2023, Agricultural Research, Disaster Assistance, H.R. 4739 & S. 2682 - Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act, H.R. 4173 - Advancing Automation Research & Development in Agriculture, H.R. 5062 - The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act, H.R. 4838 - Specialty Crop Security Act, H.R. 5199 - Specialty Crop Research Act, H.R. 679 - Amending Specialty Crop Research Initiative, S. 176 & H.R. 648 - Expanding Agriculture Exports Act of 2023, H.R. 5061 - The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act, S. 2301 & H.R. 4613 - American Foods for American Schools Act, H.R. 4856 - GusNIP Expansion Act of 2023, USDAs Tree Assistance Program, and S.557 & H.R. 1249 - Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2023.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE