Bipartisan, Bicameral Omnibus Funding Agreement Reached; 1-Week CR Passed to Allow Time to Complete Larger Package
Congressional negotiators reached a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on an Omnibus Appropriations Bill funding all twelve FY 2023 appropriations measures, including Agriculture. However, additional time is needed to assemble what has been agreed upon. Hence, the House and Senate voted this week on a one-week Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through December 23. The current CR is set to expire tonight at midnight. The plan is for the heavy lifting to occur this weekend in order for the bill to be introduced in the Senate on Monday at which time cloture would be filed to close the debate on the motion to proceed to the bill which would ripen by Wednesday and a vote on passage could occur on Thursday, with the House taking up and passing the measure on Friday. “We’re moving along, we’re moving internally along on allocations and everything. We haven’t sealed [up] everything, but we’re close to it,” said Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), the Ranking Republican Member on the Appropriations Committee. A good number of agriculture-related matters hinge on completion of this legislation, including an extension of the Emergency Relief Program, aid to producers facing especially difficult circumstances, and strengthening A&O under crop insurance. Read more on omnibus and funding developmentshere and here.
EPA Expected to Announce New WOTUS Next Week
Despite calls from Congress to hold off on announcing any new Waters of the U.S. regulation until the Supreme Court has ruled on the Sackett v. EPA case in which EPA’s reach under the Clean Water Act is being litigated, the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to release its updated Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) regulation next week. Since the release of its proposedrule in December of 2021, the EPA has reportedly received over 120,000 public comments and conducted 10 regional round tables. The EPA rule is not expected to be much of an improvement over the Obama Administration’s sweeping regulation that roped virtually any water into EPA’s regulatory powers whenever the agency determined there was a “significant nexus” between that water and a water that is clearly governed under the Clean Water Act (i.e., navigable and interstate waters and adjacent wetlands). If all of the justices who made up the plurality opinion in the Rapanos case are joined by at least two of the three justices subsequently appointed to the bench by Republican presidents, the reach of the Clean Water Act would be paired back to its original bounds. However, during oral argument, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh appeared to be wavering.
NRCS Seeks Input on IRA Climate Programs, Public Comment Period Set to Close Dec. 21
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) isrequesting public input regarding the agency’s implementation of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding for climate programs within the conservation title of the Farm Bill. The IRA designates “unprecedented funding levels” in its conservation title for programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The public comment period is set to close on December 21.
USDA’s Climate Initiative Has Spent Over $3 Billion So Far
Another round of funding aimed at incentivizing certain climate practices wasannounced Monday by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. The additional $325M, aimed at niche markets and minority producers, brings the total of USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities project spending to $3.1B. USDA has been using Commodity Credit Corporation funds for these projects. However, in future, funding will also be available through Farm Bill conservation title programs (e.g., EQIP, CSP, etc.), which are funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
NSP Hosts December Board and Strategic Planning Meetings
The National Sorghum Producers Board of Directors held its annual board and strategic planning meeting in Lubbock, Texas, this week. The meeting included a number of updates from staff and state organizations as well as policy updates from representatives of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, biofuels policy and regulatory updates, and a presentation by the RMA Product Administration and Standards Division Director Francie Tolle who outlined 2023sorghum crop insurance changes. The board will hold its next meeting in conjunction with Commodity Classic in March.
Registration & Housing Open for 2023 Commodity Classic in Orlando
Online registration and housing for the 2023 Commodity Classic opened November 15, 2022. America’s largest farmer-led agricultural and educational experience will be held Thursday, March 9 through Saturday, March 11 in Orlando. To register, reserve hotel rooms, sign up for email updates, and register for optional tours in and around Orlando, visit CommodityClassic.com. A list of exhibiting companies, a map of the trade show floor, and the registration brochure can also be found online. Early discounts on registration end January 20, 2023.
Sorghum Checkoff Releases Weekly <br>Sorghum Basis Snapshot
The Sorghum Checkoff, with Southwest Agribusiness Consulting, released its weekly sorghum basis snapshot, available at SorghumCheckoff.com.
Market News
To view this week’s Gulf export grain report, click here.
About Sorghum Notes
Sorghum Notes is a publication of the National Sorghum Producers. NSP represents U.S. sorghum producers and serves as the voice of the sorghum industry from coast to coast through education and legislative and regulatory representation. Learn more at www.SorghumGrowers.com.