Capital Update – For the Week Ending November 22, 2024

Capital Update Audio Version Now Available!

Senate Approves Bill Authorizing 'Beagle Brigade' | After Nearly Two Decades, EPA Releases Draft Farm Emissions Methodologies | Senate Democrats' Farm Bill Fails to Address California Prop. 12 | Pork Representatives Picked for USDA Air Quality Task Force | Applications Being Accepted for NPPC Internship Program

Senate Approves Bill Authorizing 'Beagle Brigade'

What happened: The U.S. Senate unanimously approved legislation to authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Detector Dog Training Center, which trains beagles and other dogs - known as the Beagle Brigade - to detect food, plants, and other host material that can carry foreign pests and diseases. The center has been operating under USDA's general authority over animal and plant health, with funding through user fees.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uses dogs at U.S. ports of entry to spot contraband fruits, vegetables, and meat products in international passenger baggage, mailed packages, and vehicles entering the United States. On a typical day, CBP seizes more than 4,600 plants, meat, and animal byproducts that must be quarantined or destroyed.

Sponsored by Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), the "Beagle Brigade Act of 2023" also requires USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to report to Congress within one year on:

• Current and emerging threats to domestic agricultural and natural resources from foreign pests and diseases;
• Improvements needed in federal programs to minimize threats from foreign pests and diseases, including strengthened coordination among the APHIS, CBP, and other relevant federal agencies; and
• Recommendations for strengthening the capabilities of the dog training center in protecting against foreign pests and diseases.

While the House Agriculture Committee included a provision authorizing and funding the dog training center in its 2024 Farm Bill, the full House would need to approve the Farm Bill or pass the Senate's "Beagle Brigade" bill before it could become law.

NPPC's take: NPPC strongly supports the "Beagle Brigade Act of 2023" (S.759), which funds and formally provides congressional authorization for the Newnan, Georgia, dog training center.

Why it matters: Safe and reliable food production is critical to the United States' continued national and economic security. NPPC is particularly concerned about African swine fever (ASF) making it to the U.S. mainland. According to the USDA, foreign diseases and pests carried into the United States cost the country $138 billion annually in economic and environmental losses. Strengthening early detection capabilities at U.S. borders is critically important.

A member of the Beagle Brigade demonstrates his inspection skills at the 2023 World Pork Expo.

After Nearly Two Decades, EPA Releases Draft Farm Emissions Methodologies

What happened: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency' (EPA) published draft air emission estimating methodologies for livestock farms.

NPPC is grateful that, after nearly two decades, EPA finally released draft data and air emission estimating methodologies to help farmers better understand the application of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and other regulations to their farms. NPPC raised concerns, however, about the time it took to publish the draft methodologies, EPA's failure to answer critical questions on their implementation, the obligations of farmers who entered consent agreements with EPA, and how the agency intends to ultimately communicate those obligations to the farmers. EPA will be accepting comments on the draft models for 90 days, until February 17, 2025.

In 2006, the pork industry negotiated with EPA "air consent agreements" that absolved producers from CAA emissions violations - because there were no standards for measuring air emissions from farms - in exchange for participating in a National Air Emissions Monitoring Study (NAEMS). Data on various farm emissions, including ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, from NAEMS was transmitted in 2010 to EPA for developing estimating methodologies.

Throughout the process, as it did in 2006, NPPC has pointed out that "every farm is different, and there are no easy ways to develop emission reporting or permitting thresholds." It has been suggested that federal agencies focus on reducing burdens on food production and easing the effects of inflation rather than setting standards for emissions that on farms quickly dissipate.

Why it matters: Once finalized by EPA, farmers who signed the air consent agreements in 2006 may be obligated to take specific actions under the terms of those consent agreements. When poorly conceived or implemented, EPA rules can add significant burdens to agricultural producers and expose farmers and the industry to abusive attacks by activists and trial lawyers.

Senate Democrats' Farm Bill Fails to Address California Prop. 12

What happened: The Farm Bill released by U.S. Senate Agriculture, Forestry, and Nutrition Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) drew a strong rebuke from NPPC for failing to address the problems caused by California's Proposition 12, which bans the sale of pork, veal, and eggs in California from animals raised in housing that fails to meet the state's arbitrary farm production standards-regardless of whether the animals are located within or outside of the state's boundaries.

Unlike the House Agriculture Committee's bipartisan Farm Bill and Senate Republican's Farm Bill framework, Chairwoman Stabenow's "Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act" does not fix Prop. 12, which already has resulted in higher pork prices in California. The law took effect Jan. 1, 2024.

NPPC's take: NPPC, which has fought against Prop. 12 for the past five years, has been working with members of Congress on a solution to the problems created by the law. NPPC strongly encourages Congress to fix Prop. 12 and prevent a 50-state patchwork of conflicting regulations where other states impose their own farm production standards on producers outside their borders.

Why it matters: Unless there's a fix to Prop. 12, pork producers across the country will need to comply or forgo selling into the California market of 40 million people, who consume nearly 15% of all pork sold in the United States. The negative effects of Prop. 12 would be compounded if other states were to adopt similar restrictive laws and regulations.

Pork Representatives Picked for USDA Air Quality Task Force

What happened: Two pork industry technical representative were appointed to USDA's Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality Research, which examines the connection between agricultural production and air quality and advises the Secretary of Agriculture on scientifically sound, cost-effective, federally supported agricultural solutions that can help improve air quality.

Dr. Robert Burns, a professor of agriculture at the University of Tennessee with extensive experience working on behalf of pork producers and other livestock farmers and Arizona producer Marguerite Tan, who serves on the staff at the National Pork Board, were selected to serve up to two years on the 27-member task force.

The focus areas of the task force include:

• Providing recommendations for research related to agricultural air quality issues.
• Ensuring that USDA practices, programs, and research for air quality and climate change promote environmental justice goals and improve the environment for all.
• Addressing reactive nitrogen emissions, including ammonia from agricultural sources.
• Discussing agricultural greenhouse gas and carbon sequestration topics, including climate-smart agriculture and forestry options and sustainable solutions.
• Providing guidance and recommendations on the impact on agriculture of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules and research, including the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and emissions estimating methodologies for livestock and poultry farms.
• Discussing state and local air quality regulations related to agriculture and the potential impact on agricultural operations in those areas.

Why it matters: Created by the 1996 Farm Bill, the Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality Research works to address agricultural air quality issues. It also helps better coordinate activities and resources among USDA agencies and other federal partners, including EPA.

Applications Being Accepted for NPPC Internship Program

What happened: NPPC is accepting applications for its summer 2025 government affairs internship program at the organization's Washington, DC, public policy office. The internship offers an opportunity for young professionals to gain hands-on experience in public policy, trade, international relations, economics, and advocacy.

The selected candidate will work with NPPC's policy experts, government officials, and industry stakeholders to help shape and advocate for national and international policies essential to the viability of the U.S. pork industry.

Criteria: Applicants should be college-aged students pursuing a major in political science, agriculture, international trade, economics, or another relevant field. A cover letter and resume should be submitted by Dec. 6 here.

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