PENNSYLVANIA FARM BUREAU

Agriculture

Support for the following: S. 3292, the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act, which would require the Secretary of Agriculture to initiate hearings to review Federal milk marketing orders relating to pricing of Class I skim milk, and for other purposes; H.R. 818, Giving Increased Variety to Ensure Milk Into the Lives of Kids Act, which would revise the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to allow WIC participants to elect to be issued nonfat milk, 1% low-fat milk, 2% reduced-fat milk, or whole milk; H.R. 1861, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would allow schools to offer whole milk to students as part of school meal programs; H.R. 2820, Growing Climate Solutions Act, a bill designed to break down barriers for farmers and foresters interested in participating in carbon markets so they can be rewarded for climate smart practices. Opposition to S. 2001, PRIME Act, which would expand the exemption of custom slaughtering of animals from federal inspection requirements. Support for the following: requiring the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) take enforcement action against manufacturers labeling non-dairy products as dairy; allowing for increased fat to be offered as part of the school lunch program/offered in schools; Federal Milk Marketing Order reform, and the need to implement a modified bloc voting provision within the Federal order, and concerns related to negative producer price differentials impacting dairy farmers and the need for the issue to be addressed; need for increased transparency in milk pricing; and increased investments in agriculture research. Advocacy and research related to the Farm Bill, including the importance of the farm safety net which is provided through Farm Bill programs especially crop insurance, Whole Farm Revenue Protection; the need for a 2023 Farm Bill that reflects the needs of agriculture; priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill, including the conservation title; concerns regarding the Conservation Reserve Program including sign ups and incentive practices; priorities for sustainability programs including streamlined cost-share programs, incentives for early adopters, and continued technical and financial assistance for farmers. General advocacy related to agriculture and the impacts encountered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including support challenges facing dairy, livestock and other agricultural operations related to the COVID-19 pandemic, needed measures to help agriculture during COVID-19, including supply chain/food security concerns; federal assistance for producers impacted by pandemic including through the Coronavirus Food Protection Program (CFAP). General advocacy related to climate and agriculture, including: support for providing voluntary, incentive-based tools and technical assistance for farmers, ranchers and foresters to maximize carbon sequestration and the reduction of other greenhouse gas emissions; development of private sector greenhouse gas markets; incentives to prioritize and scale climate-smart practices, reduce energy consumption, and increase on-farm renewable energy production; and the need for sustainability efforts that promote economic prosperity for farmers. Research, correspondence and/or advocacy related to appointments of certain individuals to the Pennsylvania State Farm Service Agency Committee; developing capacity and increasing opportunities for federal inspection qualifications for small meat and poultry processing; improvements in agricultural supply chain infrastructure including processing, production, distribution and trade; enhanced market transparency; increased prices for fertilizer and other agricultural inputs and potential need for mitigation; importance of funding for USDA Wildlife Services; and farm debt.