House Committee on Agriculture Launches Agriculture Labor Working Group

Last week, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) announced a 14-member, bipartisan working group to address issues in the agriculture workforce, particularly reforms to the H-2A visa program. The group will be co-chaired by Reps. Rick Crawford (R-AR) and Don Davis (D-NC) and is composed of members of the Committee whose districts are especially impacted by workforce challenges. The group will begin considering solutions after the July 4th recess and will produce an interim and final report on its conclusions, as well as producing legislative recommendations. The Agriculture Committee does not have jurisdiction over immigration; however, several members of the group are also on the Judiciary Committee, which does have jurisdiction over the issue. 

USDA to Use CCC to Fund Food Procurement and Fertilizer Production

On Friday, USDA announced $2.7 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funding for food procurement and fertilizer production projects. $1.3 billion will be awarded to states for school meal purchasing of domestic commodities and to address high food and labor costs. $1 billion will be awarded to states to procure commodities for emergency food providers, such as food banks. $400 million will be awarded for grants to support expanding domestic fertilizer production capacity through the Fertilizer Product Expansion Program.