Press Releases

Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry approved proposals for the Farm Bill sections under its jurisdiction.  Congressman Leonard Boswell of Iowa is the Chairman of the Subcommittee.

The Subcommittee considered a discussion draft outlining two subtitles of Title I of the Farm Bill and approved two amendments by roll call vote.  Copies of the discussion draft, a section-by-section analysis of the provisions, and amendments approved by the Subcommittee are all available online.  A brief summary of the provisions considered today as well as approved amendments are listed below.

“The subcommittee has worked hard to develop a constructive and practical proposal for the livestock, dairy and poultry section of the Farm Bill,” said Chairman Boswell. “It was an open process, and I was pleased with today’s excellent discussion.  We continued to lay the groundwork for a strong Farm Bill that will meet the needs of our national’s agricultural producers.”

Subtitle A – Dairy-Related Provisions:  The discussion draft considered and approved by the Subcommittee requires a dairy product price support program through federal purchasing of dairy products, makes permanent the dairy forward pricing program, extends the dairy export incentive program, streamlines the Federal milk marketing order process by instituting deadlines, and requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reassess its reporting procedures for nonfat dry milk and its effect on milk marketing order minimum prices.

Subtitle B – Miscellaneous Provisions:  The discussion draft also repeals the prohibition on the use of a mandatory animal identification system to implement country-of-origin labeling, recognizes the importance of eradicating pseudorabies in swine under the Animal Health Protection Act, and prevents a State or locality from prohibiting the interstate shipment of USDA-inspected and approved meat.

Amendments approved by roll call vote:

• An amendment by Subcommittee Chairman Leonard Boswell of Iowa to allow for voluntary arbitration to resolve livestock or poultry contracts.
• An amendment by Representative Steve Kagen of Wisconsin to authorize Federal support for domestic veal producers.

All Subcommittee and full Committee markups will be broadcast live on the House Agriculture Committee’s website.

http://republicans-agriculture.house.gov

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