Agriculture

Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2023

Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2023 This bill increases the authorization of appropriations for the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives for each fiscal year. Under the Agricultural Marketing Service, the DBI Initiatives support dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products. The DBI Initiatives provide direct technical assistance and subawards to dairy businesses, including for niche dairy products and dairy products derived from cow milk, sheep milk, and goat milk. 

Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2023

Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument Act This bill establishes the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument in Arizona, consisting of approximately 1,069,970 acres of public land, with the purpose of protecting, conserving, and enhancing the unique and nationally important historic, cultural, archaeological, natural, scenic, dark-sky, wildlife, biological, ecological, scientific, geological, hydrological, educational, and recreational resources of the monument. The Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must jointly administer the monument, develop a comprehensive management plan for the monument, and allow only those uses of the monument that further its purpose. In addition, Interior and USDA must establish a tribal commission for the monument.

Food Worker Pay Standards Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023

Food Worker Pay Standards Act This bill prohibits the Department of Agriculture from purchasing any meat, meat food product, poultry, poultry food product, or processed food produced by workers in the United States who are compensated at a rate lower than the prevailing rate for wages and fringe benefits for such workers in their locality. The Department of Labor must determine the prevailing rates and in determining such rates shall take into account any applicable existing collective bargaining agreements in the locality. A prevailing rate established pursuant to this bill must not supersede a worker's wages and benefits agreed to in a collective bargaining agreement.

Laws Ensuring Safe Shrimp Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023

Laws Ensuring Safe Shrimp Act or the LESS Act This bill establishes the Inspection and Consumption of Shrimp and Shrimp Products Fund. The fund consists of duties that are collected on shrimp and shrimp products that are imported into the United States. The fund must be used to support (1) the ability of the Food and Drug Administration to inspect imported shrimp and shrimp products in accordance with certain health and safety standards, including with respect to antibiotic contaminations and fair labor standards; and (2) the Department of Agriculture in encouraging the domestic consumption of shrimp.

United States-Israel International Development Cooperation Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023

United States-Israel International Development Cooperation Act of 2023 This bill increases and extends the authorization to finance cooperative projects among the United States, Israel, and developing counties that identify and support local solutions to sustainability challenges related to water resources, agriculture, and energy storage. The U.S. Agency for International Development shall report to Congress on the feasibility and advisability of expanding development projects to include multilateral cooperation among the United States, Israel, and regional Arab partners.

A resolution expressing support for the designation of July 2023 as "American Grown Flower Month".

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023

This resolution supports the designation of July 2023 as American Grown Flower Month and recognizes that purchasing flowers and foliage grown in the United States supports the farmers, small businesses, jobs, and economy of the United States.

USDA Spending Accountability Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023

USDA Spending Accountability Act of 2023 This bill requires specific congressional authorization in order for the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to use its general powers and funds. (The CCC serves as a mandatory funding mechanism for agricultural programs.) Beginning on the date of the bill's enactment, any unobligated CCC funds held by the CCC or the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for operations not specifically authorized or provided for by Congress must be (1) transferred to the Treasury, and (2) permanently rescinded. The bill also specifies that the CCC may not borrow money to reimburse the CCC for, or carry out, any operations not specifically authorized or provided for by Congress. (The CCC Charter Act enables the CCC to act for authorized purposes and programs; the act also provides USDA with discretionary authority to use the CCC. Congress previously restricted this discretionary authority in annual appropriations acts.)  

Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023

Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act of 2023 This bill expands the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) producer indemnity and compensation program to include compensation for all poultry growers and layers located in an APHIS-determined control area.  Currently, APHIS provides indemnity and compensation to producers to remove animals classified as affected, suspect, or exposed to diseases of concern, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). An APHIS-determined  control area consists of both an infected zone and a buffer zone. Under the bill, APHIS must compensate all owners of poultry growing or laying facilities within a control area, which may include facilities that are located in the buffer zones and have non-infected poultry. Further, the bill establishes a new compensation payment formula that requires payments to be based on the owner’s average income from the five most recent flocks.

FIELD HEARING ON TRADE IN AMERICA: AGRICULTURE AND CRITICAL SUPPLY CHAINS - KIMBALL, MINNESOTA

United States · United States House of Representatives · 10 July 2023

SHOPP Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2023

Supporting all Healthy Options when Purchasing Produce Act of 2023 or the SHOPP Act of 2023 This bill modifies the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), which provides grants for projects that provide incentives for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to purchase fruits and vegetables.  Specifically, the bill amends GusNIP to require the Department of Agriculture to give priority to projects that increase year-round availability of nutrition incentives by offering fresh frozen fruits or vegetables in the program. The bill also amends the GusNIP Produce Prescription Program to include fresh frozen fruits and vegetables, as well as fresh and fresh frozen legumes. Currently, only fresh fruits and vegetables are covered under the program. (This program supports projects that demonstrate and evaluate the impact of fruit and vegetable prescriptions on increasing procurement and consumption of fruits and vegetables, reducing individual and household food insecurity, and reducing healthcare usage and associated costs.) 

School Food Modernization Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 July 2023

RAISE Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 3 July 2023

Restore Agricultural Investment, Stability, and Expansion Act of 2023 or the RAISE Act of 2023 This bill allows the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide payments to producers of high-value crops (including citrus) for revenue losses or losses of crop quality or production that are a consequence of specific events. These events include a drought, wildfire, hurricane, flood, tornado, winter storm, and smoke exposure. USDA may implement this program by providing block grants to states and territories.  

Renaming the National School Lunch Program Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 3 July 2023

Renaming the National School Lunch Program Act of 2023 This bill renames the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act as the Jean E. Fairfax National School Lunch Act.

Community Facilities Program for Rural Clean School Bus Infrastructure Act

United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023

Community Facilities Program for Rural Clean School Bus Infrastructure Act This bill expands the essential community facilities direct loan and grant program of the Department of Agriculture to allow loans or grants to be used for deploying clean school buses and related infrastructure. Specifically, loans or grants may be used for (1) acquisition and labor costs for charging or other infrastructure needed to charge or maintain clean school buses, or (2) planning and technical activities to support the adoption and deployment of clean school buses. 

OHH SNAP Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023

Women in Agriculture Act

United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023

Women in Agriculture Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish the position of Women Farmers and Ranchers Liaison within USDA. Among other things, the liaison must advocate on behalf of women who are farmers and ranchers in interactions with USDA employees and promote the advancement of women in USDA leadership roles. The liaison may also enter into a contract or cooperative agreement to conduct various research, training, and other activities with respect to women who are farmers and ranchers. The liaison must submit an annual report to Congress on USDA grants, loans, loan guarantees, and cost-share programs for woman-owned agriculture operations. In addition, the bill expands the USDA high-priority research and extension areas to authorize grants for developing and making widely available agriculture equipment and machinery that is ergonomically designed for use by women. Further, USDA must give priority to certain loans or grants to address the availability, quality, or cost of childcare in an agricultural or rural community. 

Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act

United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023

Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act This bill restricts state and local governments from imposing certain standards or conditions on the preharvest production of agricultural products sold or offered for sale in interstate commerce. Specifically, it prohibits the imposition of such standards or conditions if (1) the production occurs in another state, and (2) the standard or condition adds to requirements applicable under federal law and the laws of the state and locality where the product is produced. The bill also allows for a private right of action to challenge state or local regulations relating to agricultural goods sold in interstate commerce. A person may bring an action in (1) the U.S. district court for the judicial district in which the person is affected by a regulation or the person resides, operates, or does business; or (2) any other appropriate court with jurisdiction.

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 This bill provides FY2024 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies. The bill provides appropriations to USDA for agricultural programs, including the Office of the Secretary, Executive Operations, the Economic Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the Agricultural Research Service, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Agricultural Marketing Service, and the Food Safety and Inspection Service. The bill also provides appropriations to USDA for farm production and conservation programs, including the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center, the Farm Service Agency, the Risk Management Agency, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The bill provides appropriations to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund and the Commodity Credit Corporation Fund. For USDA rural development programs, the bill includes appropriations for Salaries and Expenses, the Rural Housing Service, the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and the Rural Utilities Service. The bill provides appropriations to the Food and Nutrition Service for Child Nutrition Programs; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Commodity Assistance Program; and Nutrition Programs Administration. The bill provides appropriations to the Foreign Agricultural Service for (1) Food for Peace Title II Grants, and (2) McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program Grants. The bill also provides appropriations for the Food and Drug Administration, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Farm Credit Administration. Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.

Cybersecurity in Agriculture Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023

Cybersecurity in Agriculture Act of 2023 This bill directs the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to establish an agriculture cybersecurity program. Under the program, NIFA must provide grants to or enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities to establish a network of five Regional Agriculture Cybersecurity Centers to carry out research, development, and education on agriculture cybersecurity related to seed agriculture, horticulture, animal agriculture, and the agriculture supply chain. An eligible entity is a college or university that has programs in food and agriculture sciences and cybersecurity that coordinate regional industry partners, cooperatives, government authorities, and other stakeholders to (1) strengthen security, privacy, and resiliency; (2) bolster the independent networks; and (3) develop a skilled workforce. The program must also establish a national network of such regional centers and designate one college or university to coordinate the national network's activities.

Agricultural Access to Addiction and Mental Health Care Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023

Agricultural Access to Addiction and Mental Health Care Act This bill directs the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to study the accessibility of addiction and mental health care providers and services for farmers and ranchers impacted by severe and persistent drought, extreme weather events, instability in the commodities market, and misinformation targeting consumers. For example, the study must examine (1) best practices and successful programs at the state and local level that can be replicated at the federal level to address addiction and mental health care needs in agricultural communities, and (2) recommendations for improving the accessibility of care. In conducting the study, NIFA must collaborate and consult with relevant federal agencies, state departments of agriculture, and mental health and agricultural organizations.

Weather Information for Agriculture Act.

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023

Weather Information for Agriculture Act This bill reauthorizes, revises, and establishes programs related to weather forecasting, monitoring, and research for agriculture. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2028 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA's) National Integrated Drought Information System program, which coordinates drought monitoring and forecasting at the federal, tribal, state, and local levels. The bill also (1) requires NOAA to integrate advanced technology (e.g., artificial intelligence) into the program, and (2) provides statutory authority for the program's National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network.

Stop Child Hunger Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023

Stop Child Hunger Act of 2023 This bill expands the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT) to include coverage during a school closure period. (Summer EBT provides grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer.) Under the bill, a school closure period means a period in which an elementary school or secondary school is closed, operating remotely, or operating in a hybrid manner for five or more consecutive weekdays during a calendar year. The bill also increases the daily value of the benefit to cover the cost of breakfast, lunch, and a snack for every day school is closed. USDA must pay each state agency and covered tribal organization 100% of the administrative expenses (currently 50%) incurred in operating the program. USDA must also provide grants to states to support the development or upgrading of data systems that are necessary to implement Summer EBT. 

Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023

Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2023 This bill addresses issues relating to visas for farmworkers, including provisions establishing a certified agricultural worker (CAW) status and changing the H-2A temporary worker program. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may grant CAW status to an applying non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) who (1) performed at least 1,035 hours of agricultural labor during the two-year period prior to June 23, 2023; (2) on that date was inadmissible, deportable, or under a grant of deferred enforced departure or temporary protected status; and (3) has been continuously present in the United States from that date until receiving CAW status. The bill imposes additional crime-related inadmissibility grounds on CAW applicants and makes some other grounds inapplicable. CAW status shall be valid for 5.5 years and may be extended. The applicant's spouse or children may receive CAW dependent status. A CAW applicant may not be detained or removed by DHS and shall be authorized for employment until DHS makes a final decision on the application. A CAW status recipient (and dependents) may apply for lawful permanent resident status (sometimes known as a green card) after meeting various requirements, including performing a certain amount of agricultural labor for a number of years. The bill also makes various changes to the H-2A program, such as (1) modifying the method for calculating and making adjustments to the H-2A worker minimum wage, (2) specifying how an employer may satisfy requirements that it attempted to recruit U.S. workers, (3) requiring H-2A employers to guarantee certain minimum work hours, (4) making the program available for agricultural work that is not temporary or seasonal, and (5) reserving a visa allocation for the dairy industry. DHS shall establish a pilot program allowing certain H-2A workers to apply for portable status, which gives the worker 60 days after leaving a position to secure new employment with a registered H-2A employer. DHS must also establish an electronic system patterned on the E-Verify Program for employers to verify an individual's identity and employment authorization. Employers hiring individuals for agricultural employment must use the system. This bill permanently establishes the Housing Preservation and Revitalization Program, which provides financing assistance for rural rental housing and off-farm labor housing and rental assistance for qualified tenants of such housing. It also authorizes the Department of Agriculture to provide various assistance, including funding for insuring loans and grants for new farmworker housing.

Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023

Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2023 This bill directs the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to conduct research relating to smoke exposure and wine grapes. This research must be done in coordination with land-grant colleges and universities that are located in California, Oregon, and Washington and have researched the effects of smoke exposure on viticulture and enology operations and practices. Specifically, ARS must conduct research to identify the compounds responsible for smoke exposure, conduct research to establish standard methodologies for sampling and testing smoke-exposed wine grapes and smoke-affected wines, establish a reliable database of background levels of smoke exposure compounds that occur naturally in wine grapes, develop risk assessment tools or mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke exposure, and study compounds that can act as a barrier between wine grapes and smoke compounds.

Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023

Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023 This bill establishes an alternative manure management program for eligible dairy and livestock producers and provides specified funds to the program for FY2024 through FY2028. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish an alternative manure management program to award producers contracts to support carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Producers must implement management measures that include adopting   pasture-based management; alternative manure treatment and storage practices; a solid separation system (or installing a new, higher efficiency solid separation system); or scrape technologies, including vacuum technologies. The federal cost share may not exceed 90%. Further, the bill caps the maximum payment to a person or legal entity in any five-year period at $825,000. USDA must prioritize contracts to entities that address public health concerns (e.g., air quality and water quality) associated with dairy and livestock operations located near low-income or underserved communities. Further, USDA must ensure geographical diversity when awarding contracts. USDA must also reserve a majority of the program's funds for beginning, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, as well as farmers and ranchers that continue to transition towards enhanced methods of sequestering carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide emissions. The bill also includes composting practices as eligible projects under USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program. Finally, USDA must review practice standards for composting facilities and soil carbon amendments (e.g., compost) and develop and implement a new conservation practice standard for the on-farm production of compost. 

Summer Meals REACH Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023

Summer Meals Reaching Every Area's Child Hunger Act of 2023 or the Summer Meals REACH Act of 2023 This bill permanently extends certain modifications to the Summer Food Service Program that were authorized and implemented to respond to COVID-19. The changes generally expanded the program, which provides free meals to children in low-income areas when school is not in session. Specifically, the bill permanently makes all children eligible to participate in the program. This includes requiring reimbursement to camps for meals served to all children. The bill also specifically allows for non-congregate meal distribution, which is meal distribution outside of the typically required group, or congregate, setting (e.g., grab-and-go meal service). Further, the bill expands eligible service institutions by allowing for on-site or off-site food service monitoring.

Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to complete a landscape assessment of the Seeley Lake Ranger District of the Lolo National Forest in Montana, designates areas in the forest for recreation and as wilderness, and otherwise revises provisions related to the forest. A collaboratively developed restoration project within the district may be carried out in accordance with certain hazardous fuel reduction projects. USDA shall, if a local collaborative group submits a proposal to improve motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail opportunities within the district, analyze the environmental effects of the proposal. It may also provide for the construction of any of the routes included in such proposal. The bill designates specified federal land in the forest as (1) the Otatsy Recreation Management Area, and (2) the Spread Mountain Recreation Area. The bill designates specified wilderness additions in the forest as wilderness areas and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Transparency in Energy Production Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Transparency in Energy Production Act of 2023 This bill requires certain disclosures by entities seeking a lease or holding a lease to develop renewable energy operations or fossil fuel operations on public lands or Indian lands or any operation using any right-of-way or special use permit that would cross public lands, Indian lands, or national forests that would facilitate fossil fuel development. The disclosures are those described in the Sustainability Accounting Standard for the Renewable Resources and Alternative Energy Sector or the Extractives and Mineral Processing Sector. Every two years, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture must report to Congress on such operations, including greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, water management, biodiversity impacts, production, and the number of sites. For renewable energy operations on public lands or Indian lands, the report must include greenhouse gas emissions that would result from the production of the same amount of energy using fossil fuels.

Smoke Exposure Crop Insurance Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Smoke Exposure Crop Insurance Act of 2023 This bill requires the federal crop insurance program (FCIP) to provide for the research and development of a policy to insure wine grapes (including wine grapes produced in California, Oregon, and Washington) against losses due to wildfire smoke exposure. (The term policy means an insurance policy, plan of insurance, provision of a policy or plan of insurance, and related materials.) The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, the agency that finances FCIP operations, must make any resulting policy available that meets specified FCIP requirements. The FCIP must also submit a report to Congress on the research and any resulting policy. The report must include the feasibility of a policy that allows producers to claim an indemnity through post-harvest, post-vinification testing if such testing demonstrates smoke damage that was not detectable prior to harvest.

Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act This bill specifies that agricultural producers who rely on acequia systems are eligible to receive assistance under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for all losses suffered as a result of drought, flood, or other natural disasters. Acequias, or community ditches, are community-operated and -organized water irrigation systems.  The bill also provides that a special use permit shall not be required on Department of Agriculture (USDA) or Department of the Interior land for the (1) presence or use of water from an acequia, or (2) routine maintenance and minor improvements conducted by a community user or governing body of an acequia. Further, USDA must submit a report to Congress on agricultural producers who rely on acequia systems.

A resolution expressing support for the designation of June 2023 as "National Dairy Month" to recognize the important role dairy plays in a healthy diet and the exceptional work of dairy producers in being stewards of the land and livestock.

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

This resolution (1) supports the designation of June 2023 as National Dairy Month, and (2) encourages the people of the United States to visit with dairy producers to learn more about agriculture and the vital role dairy producers play in our global food system.

American Farmers Feed the World Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

American Farmers Feed the World Act of 2023 This bill imposes limits and requirements on international food assistance provided under Title II of the Food for Peace Act and makes other changes to the assistance program. First, the bill eliminates the use of food procured outside of the United States, food vouchers, or cash transfers as food as assistance under the program. Second, the bill restricts the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from using more than 50% of its annual appropriations for program expenses other than the procurement of agricultural commodities and ocean transportation. Additionally, the bill limits the amount that USAID may provide to qualified organizations to be used for purposes such as administration, personnel, and program evaluation. Under current law, USAID must spend a minimum of 7.5% and a maximum of 20% of its annual appropriations for these purposes. The bill reduces the minimum to 5% and the maximum to 10%. The bill also cancels the Local and Regional Procurement assistance program, which funds field-based (i.e., outside the United States) agricultural projects. The bill also modifies some of the respective powers of USAID and the Department of Agriculture (USDA). For example, the bill transfers from USAID to USDA the authority to approve drawing emergency food aid from the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. The bill also renames the assistance program as the Peter O'Brien Food for Peace Program.

Georgia Citrus Development Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Georgia Citrus Development Act of 2023 This bill modifies the membership of the Citrus Disease Subcommittee of the Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Committee and reauthorizes the subcommittee through FY2028. Specifically, the bill increases the subcommittee membership (domestic producers of citrus in a state) to 12 members and requires one of the members to represent Georgia. Currently, the subcommittee must include 11 members, with 5 members representing Arizona or California, 5 representing Florida, and 1 member representing Texas.

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 This bill provides FY2024 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies. The bill provides appropriations to USDA for agricultural programs, including the Office of the Secretary, Executive Operations, the Economic Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the Agricultural Research Service, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Agricultural Marketing Service, and the Food Safety and Inspection Service. The bill also provides appropriations to USDA for farm production and conservation programs, including the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center, the Farm Service Agency, the Risk Management Agency, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The bill provides appropriations to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund and the Commodity Credit Corporation Fund. For USDA rural development programs, the bill includes appropriations for Salaries and Expenses, the Rural Housing Service, the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and the Rural Utilities Service. The bill provides appropriations to the Food and Nutrition Service for Child Nutrition Programs; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Commodity Assistance Program; and Nutrition Programs Administration. The bill provides appropriations to the Foreign Agricultural Service for (1) Food for Peace Title II Grants, and (2) McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program Grants. The bill also provides appropriations for (1) the Food and Drug Administration, and (2) the Farm Credit Administration. Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.

National Seafood Supply Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

National Seafood Supply Act of 2023 This bill expands Department of Agriculture (USDA) support for domestically harvested seafood. USDA must establish an Office of Seafood Policy and Program Integration to coordinate USDA's seafood policies and activities and to work in coordination with the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to support domestically harvested and processed wild and farmed seafood. The bill establishes requirements that must be met to label fish as wild USA seafood  or wild American seafood .  The bill also includes commercial fishing in the definition of farming for the purposes of certain USDA farm loans. Further, the bill expands the Agricultural Marketing Service's Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements to include cooked king crab and tanner crab and cooked and canned salmon. Under COOL, retailers must provide their customers with information regarding the source of certain foods (e.g., wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish). In addition, the bill requires a school food authority to receive a waiver of Buy American requirements to purchase foreign seafood commodities and products under the National School Lunch Program unless the commodities or products are not produced domestically or available domestically. Further, the newly created Office of Seafood Policy and Program Integration must develop a plan to increase seafood in the school lunch program to levels commensurate with federal dietary guidelines. Finally, USDA must conduct a study to identify barriers to local and regional food production, processing, and market delivery in locations facing food security challenges, including Alaska and Hawaii.

Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems, Livelihoods, and Local Seafood Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems, Livelihoods, and Local Seafood Act or the SHELLS Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish an Office of Aquaculture and an Aquaculture Advisory Committee. The term aquaculture means the propagation and rearing of aquatic species in controlled or selected environments, including ocean ranching (with exclusions). Specifically, the Office of Aquaculture must encourage and promote aquaculture operations that promote U.S. food security and limit adverse environmental effects. USDA must also establish a 14-member Aquaculture Advisory Committee to advise USDA on (1) developing policies and outreach relating to sustainable aquaculture practices; and (2) the history, use, and preservation of indigenous and traditional aquaculture practices and ecological knowledge.

Small Farm Conservation Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Wild USA Seafood Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Wild USA Seafood Act of 2023 This bill establishes requirements for labeling fish as wild USA seafood or wild American seafood . The bill defines fish as finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of aquatic animal and plant life other than aquatic mammals and birds. Specifically, a retailer of fish (or a person engaged in the business of supplying fish to a retailer) may label fish as wild USA seafood, wild American seafood , or any equivalent designation if the fish is naturally born in the wild or hatchery-originated fish released in the wild; caught, taken, or harvested from within U.S. waters; and caught, taken, or harvested by a vessel of the United States. If the Department of Agriculture (USDA) determines that a retailer is in violation of these labeling requirements, USDA must notify the retailer. The retailer has 30 days to comply with the labeling requirements. After 30 days, USDA may fine the retailer for an unfair or deceptive act or practice if the retailer (1) has not made a good faith effort to comply with the labeling requirements, and (2) continues to willfully violate the requirements.

A bill to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to allow for the separation of enterprise units by continuous and fallow cropping systems.

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

This bill allows for the separation of enterprise units (EUs) for fallow and continuous acreage of crops in counties under the Federal Crop Insurance Program. An EU is an insurance unit structure that consists of all insurable acreage of the same insured crop in the county in which a farmer has a share on the date coverage begins for the crop year. Separate EUs may be selected for a crop based on certain irrigation or cropping practices.

Pollinator-Friendly Plant Labeling Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Pollinator-Friendly Plant Labeling Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a voluntary pollinator-friendly plant labeling and certification program. Specifically, a producer (i.e., a nursery or farmer growing a plant or cultivating a seed for sale) may submit an application to USDA for approval to sell or label a plant as a USDA pollinator-friendly plant. To qualify, a plant must (1) be living; (2) have a Natural Resources Conservation Service determination that it is native to the United States and known to be beneficial to pollinators (including providing habitat and forage for pollinators); and (3) be produced without any pesticide or substance prohibited from being used in the production or handling of organic products under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. USDA must approve an application for certification if the producer meets the requirements and has been third-party certified. Further, a plant labeled as USDA pollinator-friendly must comply with additional labeling requirements (e.g., include the name of the plant producer and an instruction specifying that distributors and retailers are not permitted to apply any pesticide product to the plant). The bill also provides for USDA investigation and enforcement authority. Any person who knowingly mislabels a plant as USDA pollinator-friendly is subject to a civil penalty.

Rebuild Rural America Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Rebuild Rural America Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish the Rural Innovation and Partnership Administration and the Rural Future Partnership Fund to provide five-year renewable rural partnership block grants to certified rural regions to implement locally developed regional revitalization plans. For purposes of these grants, the following areas may constitute a rural region: a micropolitan statistical area (i.e., at least 10,000 but fewer than 50,000 people); a collection of rural census tracts or counties that fall outside of a micropolitan or metropolitan statistical area (i.e., 50,000 people or more) and that demonstrate evidence of economic, social, and cultural cooperation; or an Indian reservation. A rural region must be certified by its state, in coordination with USDA, after having formed a rural partnership council made up of representatives from across different sectors. For specified rural development programs, USDA must waive any matching funds requirements for projects that are carried out in certain rural regions that have a poverty rate of 20% or greater. USDA must provide each rural partnership council with training, education, support, and advice to enhance the technical assistance, research, organizational, and other capacities of the council. USDA must also enter into an agreement with the Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps) to establish a Rural Future Corps to (1) help rural communities expand critical services such as child care, health, nutrition assistance, education, and job training; and (2) strengthen the capacity of local governments and economic and community development organizations.

Smoke Exposure Crop Insurance Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Smoke Exposure Crop Insurance Act of 2023 This bill requires the federal crop insurance program (FCIP) to provide for the research and development of a policy to insure wine grapes (including wine grapes produced in California, Oregon, and Washington) against losses due to wildfire smoke exposure. (The term policy means an insurance policy, plan of insurance, provision of a policy or plan of insurance, and related materials.) The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, the agency that finances FCIP operations, must make any resulting policy available that meets specified FCIP requirements. The FCIP must also submit a report to Congress on the research and any resulting policy. The report must include an evaluation of the feasibility of a policy that allows producers to claim an indemnity through post-harvest, post-vinification testing if such testing demonstrates smoke damage that was not detectable prior to harvest.

Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2023 This bill directs the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to conduct research relating to smoke exposure and wine grapes. This research must be done in coordination with land-grant colleges and universities that are located in California, Oregon, and Washington and have researched the effects of smoke exposure on viticulture and enology operations and practices. Specifically, ARS must conduct research to identify the compounds responsible for smoke taint, conduct research to establish standard methodologies for sampling and testing smoke-exposed wine grapes and smoke-affected wines, establish a reliable database of background levels of smoke taint compounds that occur naturally in wine grapes, develop risk assessment tools or mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke taint, and study compounds that can act as a barrier between wine grapes and smoke compounds.

Jeffrey Prescott, of the District of Columbia, to be U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, with the rank of Ambassador.

United States · United States Senate · 21 June 2023

Rebuild Rural America Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2023

Rebuild Rural America Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish the Rural Innovation and Partnership Administration and the Rural Future Partnership Fund to provide five-year renewable rural partnership block grants to certified rural regions to implement locally developed regional revitalization plans. For purposes of these grants, the following areas may constitute a rural region: a micropolitan statistical area (i.e., at least 10,000 but fewer than 50,000 people); a collection of rural census tracts or counties that fall outside of a micropolitan or metropolitan statistical area (i.e., 50,000 people or more) and that demonstrate evidence of economic, social, and cultural cooperation; or an Indian reservation. A rural region must be certified by its state, in coordination with USDA, after having formed a rural partnership council made up of representatives from across different sectors. For specified rural development programs, USDA must waive any matching funds requirements for projects that are carried out in certain rural regions that have a poverty rate of 20% or greater. USDA must provide each rural partnership council with training, education, support, and advice to enhance the technical assistance, research, organizational, and other capacities of the council. USDA must also enter into an agreement with the Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps) to establish a Rural Future Corps to (1) help rural communities expand critical services such as child care, health, nutrition assistance, education, and job training; and (2) strengthen the capacity of local governments and economic and community development organizations.

DALCI Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2023

Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative Act or the DALCI Act This bill reestablishes an initiative within the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist farmers in fighting erosion and restoring cold water stream corridors in the Driftless Area of the Midwestern United States. (The Driftless Area is a region in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa that was never glaciated.) USDA must provide assistance to grassroots partnerships to educate landowners and operators on the benefits of climate-smart agriculture, soil health, and holistic grazing, with a focus on equity.

1890s Advancing and Building Leadership and Excellence Opportunity Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2023

1890s Advancing and Building Leadership and Excellence Opportunity Act of 2023 This bill expands the allowable areas of focus for Centers of Excellence at 1890 Institutions (1890 COEs) and reauthorizes the 1890 COEs program through FY2028. (The 1890 Institutions are historically Black colleges and universities that belong to the U.S. land-grant university system and receive federal funds through programs administered by the Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.) The current areas of focus for 1890 COEs may also include climate change adaptation and mitigation; fostering forestry resilience and conservation; food safety, bioprocessing, and value-added agriculture; and the integration of the social sciences into the food and agricultural sciences. The bill also specifies that no more than 10 1890 COEs may be in the program. Currently, there is no maximum limit.

ADINA Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2023

Allergen Disclosure In Non-food Articles Act or the ADINA Act This bill requires the labels of drugs to identify ingredients that contain, or are derived from, major food allergens or gluten-containing grains.

ADINA Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2023

Allergen Disclosure In Non-food Articles Act or the ADINA Act This bill requires the labels of drugs to identify ingredients that contain, or are derived from, major food allergens or gluten-containing grains.

Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2023

Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act This bill specifies that agricultural producers who rely on acequia systems are eligible to receive assistance under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for all losses suffered as a result of drought, flood, or other natural disasters. Acequias, or community ditches, are community-operated and -organized water irrigation systems.  The bill also provides that a special use permit shall not be required on Department of Agriculture (USDA) or Department of the Interior land for the (1) presence or use of an acequia or the use of the acequia's water, or (2) routine maintenance and minor improvements conducted by a community user or governing body of an acequia. Further, USDA must submit a report to Congress on agricultural producers who rely on acequia systems.