Senate, House Ag Committees Issue Farm Bill Frameworks

May 7, 2024 — 

The Senate and House agriculture committees released their respective frameworks for the next farm bill, with the House measure including a provision to fix the problems caused by California Proposition 12.

The House Agriculture Committee is expected to consider its legislation toward the end of this month. The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee has not yet set a date to begin work.

Provisions of the House 2024 Farm Bill plan of most interest to pork producers include ones that would:

• Clarify that state and local governments cannot impose a condition or standard on the production of covered livestock unless the livestock is physically located within their state or locality.
• Reauthorize and fund the Feral Swine Eradication Program.
• Substantially increase funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) export promotion programs.
• Provide guidance documents and other resources for small and very small meat and poultry processing facilities.
• Address trade barriers and infrastructure deficiencies.
• Require the Agriculture Secretary to conduct regular assessments to identify risks and security vulnerabilities in the food and agriculture critical infrastructure sectors.
• Allow livestock auction owners to invest in packing facilities, subject to head-per-day capacity limitations.

Read more at Farm Journal's Pork

[Source: Farm Journal's Pork, NPPC 6 May 2024]