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The U.S. House of Representatives, June 8, passed a $99 billion fiscal year 2006 ag appropriations bill by a 408-18 vote.
The bill includes $16.8 billion in discretionary ag funding, the same level appropriated in fiscal 2005. A total of $82.8 billion was approved for mandatory spending.
The measure includes $90 million for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) detection and prevention, the same amount in the fiscal year 2005 budget.
Prior to approving the overall bill, representatives voted on numerous amendments, including one on country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for meat and meat products.
That amendment, which called for repeal of language in the bill that would have delayed mandatory COOL for meat and meat products until September 2007, instead of September 2006, was defeated.
That means the original language in the bill, which called for implementation of mandatory COOL by September 2007, instead of September 2006, remained in place and was approved by the House.
Farm Bureau supports voluntary COOL for meat products.
The World Trade Organization has ruled Mexico has unfairly imposed anti-dumping tariffs on U.S. rice exports. The ruling was made in response to a 2002 complaint brought against the United States by Mexico, which claimed U.S. long grain rice imports hurt Mexican producers. Despite a U.S. defense strategy, Mexico imposed tariffs, prompting the United States to seek a ruling by the WTO dispute panel.
On July 13, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will hear Agriculture Department arguments for lifting a March court injunction against Canadian cattle and meat imports. The preliminary injunction was put in place by a Montana U.S. district court judge to stop implementation of a federal rule that would have allowed imports of Canadian cattle and beef less than 30 months of age. The Montana judge had planned to begin hearings on July 27 about making his ruling a permanent injunction.
AFBF, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the National Pork Producers Council are major organizations that filed friend-of-the-court briefs with the Ninth Circuit in support of USDA's appeal of the preliminary injunction. The Consumers Federation of America, Public Citizen and several other organizations have joined R-CALF and the Organization of Competitive Markets in requesting a permanent injunction against Canadian beef imports.
"An 8-billion-gallon renewable fuels standard would provide substantial market growth opportunities for traditional ethanol, cellulosic ethanol technology and biodiesel, while creating new markets for America's farmers. It would also decrease our dependence on foreign sources for oil, providing greater energy independence and economic growth.
"We will work with Senate leaders over the next several weeks as the energy bill is debated. Passing a comprehensive energy bill with an 8-billion-gallon renewable fuels amendment remains one of AFBF's highest legislative priorities. It is not only important to America's farmers, but it is also critical for our environment, our economy and our security."
Texans awarded Dodge scholarships
Two Texans were among a group of 50 students
nationwide awarded scholarships by the National FFA Organization
in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Federation
and the Dodge Division of Daimler Chrysler Corporation.
Ashley Come of Grandview and Eric Quisenberry of Quanah each received a $1,000 scholarship for agricultural studies.
Dodge provided funding, and a stipulation for earning the scholarship was that the FFA student had to be from a Farm Bureau family. Selection of winners was also based on the applicant's academic record, FFA and other school and community activities, supervised agricultural experience program in agricultural education and future goals.
—Statement by American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman regarding the renewable fuels amendment, offered June 14 to the Senate Energy Bill.
