There’s never a shortage of agriculture news. Here are a few policy stories you may have missed over the past week.

Austin Scott back in the Speaker mix

With no other Republicans able to win a majority so far, Rep. Austin Scott, R- Ga., announced he will try once again to become Speaker of the House.

Scott, and longtime Ag Committee member, is one of at least nine candidates now running for speaker. He chairs the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit. When Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise ended his Speaker bid two weeks ago, Scott challenge Rep. Jim Jordan for the Republican nomination. After losing that battle by a 124-81 vote, Scott supported Jordan in the three most recent House votes.

“Our goal, and our duty, is to make Congress function, and to do so, we have to rebalance power and work together,” Scott said in a Monday newsletter to constituents. “I intend to shift power away from the Speaker's office back to individual members and their respective committees. I believe in the committee process, and the only way we can govern as a majority, based on principle and not power, is to respect the committee process.”

Republicans are expected to meet behind closed doors Monday to consider a new nominee. A vote before the full house could come as early as Tuesday.

USDA looks to expand fertilizer production

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA has awarded $52.6 million in grants to boost domestic fertilizer manufacturing. Those grants will fund 17 new projects intended to support innovative fertilizer technologies and lower costs for farmers. The project will be overseen by USDA’s Fertilizer Production Expansion Program.

“Through a farmer-focused commitment, we will continue to build on our efforts to lower costs, bring made-in-America jobs to rural communities, and strengthen the agricultural supply chain and market opportunities to the benefit of producers,” Vilsack says.

NPPC reiterates need for disease prevention and swine traceability

National Pork Producers Council President Scott Hays says any new farm bill should fortify defenses against foreign animal diseases and implement a robust swine traceability system. He made the remarks in an Oct. 17 op-ed for National Hog Farmer to coincide with National Pork Month.

Hays says an African swine fever outbreak in the U.S. could cost the pork industry more than $75 billion over 10 years. Grain feed use and livestock employment would also suffer.

“It’s vital that lawmakers prioritize funding in the 2023 Farm Bill for prevention and preparedness efforts,” Hays says. “Renewal and expansion of key farm bill programs will allow the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, state animal health officials and other stakeholders to deploy early detection, prevention and rapid-response tools should an outbreak occur.”

Vilsack announces $50 million to help forest products industry

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA will award nearly $50 million in grant funding to create new markets for wood products and renewable wood energy. Funds will also be used to expand processing capacity and tackle climate change’s effects.

“A strong forest products economy contributes to healthier forests, vibrant communities and jobs in rural areas,” Vilsack says. “Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are investing in rural economies by growing markets for forest products through sustainable forest management while reducing wildfire risk, fighting climate change, and accelerating economic development.”

USDA’s Forest Service will be accepting grant applications into December.

EPA allocates $3.8M to improve children’s health in rural ag communities

EPA announced Oct. 16 it was allocating just under $3.8 million in grant funding to address the cumulative health impacts of exposure to agricultures pollutants and other non-chemical stressors. The grants are being awarded to programs at Florida State University in Tallahassee and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.

“Children are especially vulnerable to pollutants due to how fast they grow and how they play and interact with their environment,” Chris Frey, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development, says. “EPA is funding these research centers to identify effective, science-based options aimed at reducing early childhood health disparities in agricultural communities, and as part of our broader commitment to developing the science needed to protect children where they live and play.”

House bill aims to bolster urban ag initiatives

Rep. Shontel Brown, D- Ohio, and Alma Adams, introduced a bill they say will improve and expand USDA programs and resources for urban farmers. The Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act would boost federal support to urban farmers and improve service delivery for them. It would also increase funding for US’A's Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production.

Brown, the ranking member of the Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management and Credit, says urban agriculture is key to making food production more resilient, innovative and diverse.

“I am proud to introduce this legislation with Congresswoman Adams to build on the progress USDA has made, improve key programs, and expand grant opportunities for urban farmers,” Brown says. “As Congress continues work on the farm bill, it is imperative that urban agriculture is strengthened.”  

Twelve other lawmakers have signed on as co-sponsors. However, like everything related to the House, no further action can be taken until the vacant Speaker’s chair is filled.

New FDA Deputy Commissioner lays out priorities

A month after being named FDA’s first Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, James Jones says he plans to focus on three key priorities. They include preventing foodborne illnesses, decreasing diet-related chronic disease through improved nutrition and safeguarding the food supply through the save use of chemical sand dietary supplements.

In August, FDA tabbed Jones to lead the agency’s new Human Foods Program. It will focus on food safety and innovation to help improve food supply chain resiliency.

“Helping people live healthier lives through the food they eat remains the cornerstone of our vision for the new HFP,” Jones says. “I’m confident that with the help of the world-class experts in the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Food Policy and Response and ORA, we’ll bring the best we have to bear by creating a unified program that surpasses what each has been able to accomplish separately.”

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