Continuing Resolution Passes

Last week, Congress avoided a government shutdown by passing a continuing resolution before the September 30 deadline. The bill will fund the government at FY22 levels and extend authorizations for programs including the National Flood Insurance Program, Food and Drug Administration user fees, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. It also provides supplemental funding, including $12.3 billion for Ukraine, over $20 billion for natural disaster recovery, $1 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and $20 million for Army Corps water and wastewater infrastructure improvements. The continuing resolution expires on December 16.

Mexico Announces Agreement to Address Inflation

This week, the government of Mexico announced an agreement with 15 private companies to address food price inflation. The Opening Agreement against Inflation and Scarcity pledges to reduce the costs of 24 basic goods, including rice, by 8%. As part of the agreement, the 15 companies are exempted from Mexico’s import requirements for food and food packaging. The agreement extends through February 2023.

Senate Agriculture Committee Leaders Advocate for Crop Protection Tools

This week, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) sent a letter to Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and Risk Management Agency (RMA) Administrator Marcia Bunger advocating for the expansion of margin protection tools. In the letter, the Senators cited the increased risk producers face due to elevated input costs. They called for RMA to increase the commodities eligible for RMA insurance policies and improve producer awareness of available programs. The letter can be found here.

House Republicans Voice Concern for Foreign Ownership of U.S. Farmland

In the House, 130 Republican members sent a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro requesting the Government Accountability Office (GAO) review the impacts of foreign investment in U.S. farmland. The letter noted foreign landownership has increased significantly in recent years and cited concerns about the effects this has on national security, trade, and food security. The members of Congress requested GAO conduct a study to assess and improve current measurement practices. The letter can be found here.

Senate Confirms Agricultural Nominees

Last week, the Senate confirmed two agricultural nominees. The Senate approved by voice vote the nominations of Dr. Jose Emilio Esteban for USDA undersecretary for food safety and Vincent Garfield to be on the board of the Farm Credit Administration. The Senate has yet to take up votes for Alexis Taylor, nominee for USDA undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, or Doug McKalip, nominee for chief agricultural negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.