Washington Roundup – October 2024
By: Lowell Randel
Pressure Mounting on Agriculture Committee Leaders to Complete Farm Bill
The one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill that was passed in 2023, expired on October 1, 2024. The expiration of authority has generated concerns that another full year extension of the previous legislation may be needed to provide producers certainty with the new crop year beginning in 2025. When Congress returns from the election campaign, there will be a small window of opportunity to complete a new farm bill before the end of the calendar year. The “four corners” of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees have been meeting to discuss a potential pathway to move forward, but policy differences remain particularly in the areas of nutrition and conservation policies. Pressure is mounting both within Congress and from stakeholders about the urgency to pass a farm bill that reflects evolving needs since the 2018 bill was passed. A group of 140 House Republicans sent a letter to Speaker Johnson urging that the farm bill should be considered “must pass” legislation before the end of the year. House Minority Leader Jefferies has also included the farm bill on his agenda of key legislation after the election. Producer groups and lenders are also sounding the alarm regarding the need for legislation as certainty will be critical for 2025 planning.
Draft Dietary Guidelines Raise Meat Industry Concerns
Every five years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) manage a process for the creation of Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Central to the process is the work of an advisory committee which meets to establish draft guidelines. Work is underway for the 2025-2030 version of the guidelines and details are emerging regarding draft guidelines being developed. The committee recently completed its final meeting and it has been reported that the current draft includes concerning provisions related to the meat industry. The draft recommends increased consumption of plant-based protein and limiting the consumption of red and processed meats. The Meat Institute and National Cattleman’s Beef Association have expressed concerns regarding the draft, saying that it neglects the important role that meat plays in a nutritionally balanced diet. ASAS previously published a policy statement regarding nutrition and health provided by animal products that highlights the importance of animal products to balanced nutrition.
FDA Publishes 2023 Summary Report on Antimicrobials Sold or Distributed for Use in Food-Producing Animals
On October 10th, FDA released its 2023 Summary Report on Antimicrobials Sold or Distributed for Use in Food-Producing Animals. The 2023 data indicate that U.S. sales and distribution of medically important antimicrobial drugs approved for use in food-producing animals decreased by two percent between 2022 and 2023. Since 2015, when sales peaked, there has been a 37 percent decrease in sales. Each year, sponsors of approved antimicrobial animal drugs must report the amount of these drugs sold. The reporting requirement was established by Congress in 2008 to address antimicrobial resistance. It is important to note that the antimicrobial sales data do not necessarily reflect how much of the drugs are actually used in animals, only the volume that is sold.
