Subcommittee Chair Blasts Proposed GIPSA Rules
Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), the chairman of the House Agriculture livestock subcommittee, blasted proposed rules by the Agriculture Department’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) designed to address competition in the livestock and poultry sectors.

At a subcommittee hearing Tuesday, Scott told Edward Avalos, USDA undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, that some of the rules went “well beyond” what Congress intended and USDA is trying to impose regulations that lawmakers had specifically rejected when they wrote the 2008 farm bill. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) said he is concerned the rules would make it harder to continue branded marketing arrangements between farmers and processors.

At the hearing, both Democrats and Republicans asked USDA to extend the comment period beyond the current Aug. 23 deadline. The American Farm Bureau Federation supports extending the comment period to provide more time to analyze the economic and legal ramifications of the proposed rules.

AFBF supports portions of the proposed rules and will submit comments. At first glance, the rules address many of AFBF’S concerns with the relationship between livestock and poultry producers and processors. For example, the rules limit the circumstances under which processors can demand capital investments from poultry and swine producers.

Senate Climate Bill Considered ‘Terminal’
The Capitol Hill newspaper Politico reports today that the Senate climate change and energy bill may be truly terminal now. There is some talk the Senate may consider the bill after the August recess, but even that is in doubt.

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) would not commit to what the bill would or would not contain. “We’re going to make a decision in the near future,” Reid said. “We’re really not at a point where I can determine what I think is the best for the caucus and the country at this stage.”

A Senate Democratic caucus on energy and climate legislation is planned for Thursday. Reid had hoped to have a climate and energy bill ready for floor debate next week, but is having trouble persuading swing-vote Democrats to commit to the bill.

Ag Committee to Consider Vet Investment Act Next Week
The House Agriculture Committee will mark up the Veterinary Services Investment Act on July 28. Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa) introduced H.R. 3519 last summer, and the Senate bill (S. 1709) was introduced in September by Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and John Thune (R-S.D.). AFBF supports the legislation.

The bills would authorize “such sums as necessary” for a competitive grant program to relieve veterinary shortage situations and support veterinary services. The new grant program will be administered by the National Institute for Food and Agriculture at USDA.

Congressmen ask Vilsack to OK Roundup Ready Alfalfa for Fall
A letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack from 75 members of Congress asks that farmers be allowed to plant Roundup Ready alfalfa in the fall 2010 planting season.

The June 21 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a nationwide ban on the cultivation of biotech alfalfa, but remanded the case back to the District Court. Depending on the District Court’s decision, USDA can then decide what interim measures can be implemented while the agency completes an environmental impact statement.

The letter points out that USDA’s draft statement concluded that there is “no significant impact on the human environment due to granting non-regulated status to Roundup Ready alfalfa.” A partial deregulation would allow farmers to plant their inventoried Roundup Ready alfalfa seed this fall while USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service completes its final environmental impact study.