In this episode of Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, Ron Hays, is back talking with Vice President of Governmental Affairs at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Ethan Lane about House Committee on Agriculture Chairman GT Thompson’s 2024 Farm Bill proposal.
The markup of the 2024 Farm Bill is scheduled for May 23, 2024- click here for current details as found on the House Ag Committee website.
CLICK HERE to listen to Part One of the conversation with NCBA’s Ethan Lane.
“Our goal with the Farm Bill was never to be too deeply involved in the Farm Bill,” Lane said. “The cattle industry is not like other parts of agriculture. Our producers are pretty independent, and they don’t necessarily want to be so tied to the federal government that their livelihood depends on money coming from the federal government or support programs with strings tied to them.”
While cattle producers are in favor of programs related to conservation and disaster relief, Lane said the industry has not been involved in issues more pertinent to the farming industry such as those present in the Farm Bill.
“The few things we did ask for appear to be in there, and we are happy with that and we are happy with the Chairman’s commitment that he wants to do a bill that doesn’t cater to some of these outside forces like the radical animal rights community that wants to gut the checkoff system or is seeking to create some sort of larger opportunity with the Proposition 12 decision in California by allowing the animal rights groups to circumvent a conservative Supreme Court by making nuanced state’s rights arguments like they have in that Prop 12 case,” Lane said.
Thankfully, Lane said there will not be a livestock title in the 2024 Farm Bill, as it is unnecessary.
“The things we need are in the bill, that is appropriate, and the way it has been done for a very long time,” Lane said. “All and all, it is a great draft and something we are excited to see.”
Based on comments from Chairwomen Debbie Stabenow Lane said he does not expect the Senate Agriculture Committee to move forward with their version of a Farm Bill.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
