Written by:

Audry Thompson - Research Assistant

Brook Duer - Staff Attorney

The Agricultural Law Weekly Review provides an update of recent agricultural law developments from local, state, national, and international levels. Subscribe at pennstateaglaw.com.

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Pesticides: Bayer Announces Settlement of Glyphosate Exposure and Dicamba Drift Claims

On June 24, 2020, Bayer announced that it will make a settlement payment of $8.8 billion to $9.6 billion to settle “approximately 75%” of current glyphosate personal injury chemical exposure lawsuits, including the claims contained in the multi-district litigation consolidated for judicial administration in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, as well as a payment of $1.25 billion to settle future claims through a class action process to be established. The settlement does not include the three California bellwether jury verdicts returned so far, which will continue to be litigated on appeal without impact. No settlement agreement has yet been released. In addition, the same announcement stated that Bayer will make a settlement payment of up to a total of $400 million to resolve dicamba drift property damage claims, including the multi-district litigation pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and claims for the 2015-2020 crop years. Claimants will be required to provide proof of damage caused by dicamba to crop yields and the company expects settlement contribution from BASF. The Missouri federal court jury verdict in favor of peach producer Bader Farms is not included in the settlement.

COVID-19: EEOC Advises that Antibody Testing Violates ADA

On June 17, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its employer resource webpage titled, “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws,” and announced that requiring an employee to undergo COVID-19 antibody testing before workplace re-entry after isolation s prohibited under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This is distinguishable from a COVID-19 viral test to determine if a person has an active case of COVID-19, which is permissible under the ADA. The EEOC stated that an antibody test qualifies as a medical examination under the ADA and does not meet the ADA standard of “job related and consistent with business necessity” for employee medical examinations.

WOTUS: California Federal Court Denies WOTUS Rule Injunction

On June 19, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order in the case State of California v. Wheeler denying a preliminary injunction of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) defining the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS), promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on April 21, 2020. The Court stated that, were it “tasked with the question of whether the new rule represents wise environmental policy or the best approach to protecting water resources . . . the result might be different,” but that its “narrow role” was only to determine whether the agencies had complied with the Administrative Procedure Act in adopting the rule. The Court concluded it had. The Navigable Waters Protection Rule became effective June 22, 2020.

WOTUS: Colorado Federal Court Grants WOTUS Rule Injunction

On June 19, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado issued an order in the case State of Colorado v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency et al granting an injunction of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) and blocked its June 22, 2020 effective date within the District of Colorado. The Court agreed with Colorado’s position that the controlling case, Rapanos v. United States, precludes the new NWPR, promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on April 21, 2020. On June 23, 2020, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers filed a notice appealing the decision.

Pesticides: Federal Court Permanently Enjoins California Prop 65 Cancer Warning Labels for Glyphosate

On June 22, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California issued a memorandum and order in the case National Association of Wheat Growers v. Zeise permanently enjoining California’s Proposition 65 glyphosate cancer warning requirement. The court stated that “every regulator of which [it] is aware, with the sole exception of the [International Agency for Research on Cancer], has found that glyphosate does not cause cancer or that there is insufficient evidence to show that it does.” It then reasoned that the warning requirement was thus “not purely factual and uncontroversial,” and was, in fact, “misleading” and found that the requirement was a First Amendment violation.

Animal Welfare: National Pork Producers Council and American Farm Bureau Appeal California Proposition 12 Ruling

On June 17, 2020, the National Pork Producers Council (NPCC) and the American Farm Bureau Federation filed notice of an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, challenging the district court’s holding that California’s Proposition 12 does not violate the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. National Pork Producers Council et al v. Ross et al, Docket No. 3:19-cv-02324 (S.D. Cal. Dec 05, 2019). According to the Time Schedule Order filed by the circuit court, the appellants’ (NPCC and Farm Bureau) opening brief is due to the court August 24, 2020, and the appellees’ (CA state officials) answering brief is due September 24, 2020. For more on CA Prop 12 and the district court’s ruling in this case, see “Federal Court Upholds California Proposition 12,” Agricultural Law Weekly Review—April 30, 2020.

COVID-19: China Suspends Tyson Poultry Imports and USDA/FDA Responds

On June 21, 2020, the General Administration of Customs for the People’s Republic of China issued a declaration suspending immediately the import of Tyson Foods poultry products following a press release from Tyson on June 19, 2020 announcing that 13% of the workers in its northwest Arkansas locations had tested positive for COVID-19. On June 24, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a joint statement that “efforts by some countries to restrict global food exports related to COVID-19 transmission are not consistent with the known science of transmission. There is no evidence that people can contract COVID-19 from food or from food packaging.”

COVID-19: EPA Allows Remote Training to Satisfy Worker Protection Standard Annual Pesticide Training Requirement

On June 18, 2020 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the publication of a memorandum titled, “Guidance on Satisfying the Annual Pesticide Safety Training Requirement under the Agricultural Worker Protection Standard during the COVID-19 Emergency.” While the guidance encourages in-person training when possible, it permits remote training “as long as all WPS safety training requirements are met.” After the training, employers must create a record for each employee and document the training session. Whether training is conducted in-person or remotely, all trainers must meet qualifications set by EPA, or their respective state or tribal agency, and use EPA-approved training materials.

National Agricultural Policy: EPA Reinstates Farm Advisory Committee

On June 17, 2020, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the appointment of an entirely new, thirty-three member Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee (FRRCC), reinstating the previously vacant panel. The new committee members hail from twenty-four states and Puerto Rico, encompassing all ten U.S. EPA Regions, and represent an array of agriculture-related industries, organizations, government stakeholders, and academic interests. The new members began their respective two- or three-year terms on June 15, 2020. The committee plans to meet twice a year.

Pesticides: Dicamba Registration Expires in Ohio June 30, 2020

On June 11, 2020, the Ohio Department of Agriculture issued a statement reminding producers that the state registrations of Bayer/Monsanto's XtendiMax, BASF's Engenia, and DuPont's FeXapan expire on June 30, 2020. This is thirty days before the period for use of existing stocks is set to expire according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) June 8, 2020, Final Cancellation Order.

COVID-19: Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) Pennsylvania Data

Every Monday, USDA updates its publicly available data on aggregate Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments. Pennsylvania totals as of June 22, 2020, are set forth below.

PENNSYLVANIA Payments/Applications

Non-Specialty Crops $8,995,673.72 / 2,155

Specialty Crops $1,964,110.30 / 27

Livestock $12,199,192.19 / 2,297

Dairy $49,811,975.58 / 1,525

COVID-19 Ag Legal Update Webinars #1, #2 and #3

Penn State Law’s Center for Agricultural and Shale Law has initiated a webinar series of educational programming. The first webinar conducted on June 3, 2020, presented an overview of federal and Pennsylvania state government statutory and regulatory responses to COVID-19 and is available for on-line viewing at COVID-19 Ag Legal Update Webinar #1. The second webinar conducted on June 24, 2020, focused on the dairy industry legal issues during the COVID-19 pandemic and is available for on-line viewing at COVID-19 Ag Legal Update Webinar #2 - Focus on Dairy. The third webinar is scheduled for July 14, 2020, 11:00 am - 12 noon, and will focus on labor laws compliance for agricultural employers.

From National Ag Law Authorities & Sources:

Paul Goeringer, Consider Using a Flex Cash Lease for 2021, or a Modified Fixed Cash Lease (June 23, 2020).

Peggy Kirk Hall, The Paycheck Protection Program: Keeping Up with the Changes (June 24, 2020).

Brigit Rollins, Label-Free: Court Concludes No Warning Label For Glyphosate (June 25, 2020).

Penn State Research & News:

Asian Giant Hornets Currently Not a Concern for Pa., Eastern North America (June 17, 2020).

Francisco Tutella, New Argentine Fossils Uncover History of Celebrated Conifer Group (June 18, 2020).

AGENCY PRESS RELEASES—STATE/FEDERAL

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Press Releases:

Department of Agriculture: Pollinators Need Pennsylvanians Help to Sustain Future of Food Security (June 24, 2020).

Secretary of Agriculture Implores USDA to Continue Waiver to Safeguard Food Bank Employees, Volunteers, Clients (June 26, 2020).

U.S. Department of Agriculture Press Releases:

USDA Approves Program to Feed Kids in South Dakota (June 22, 2020).

Trump Administration Invests $1.6 Billion in Rural Electric Infrastructure in 21 States (June 22, 2020).

USDA Approves Kansas to Accept SNAP Benefits Online (June 23, 2020).

USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program Reaches 20 Million Boxes Distributed (June 23, 2020).

Trump Administration Invests $86 Million in Rural Broadband Service in Eight States (June 24, 2020).

Joint Statement from USDA and FDA on Food Export Restrictions Pertaining to COVID-19 (June 24, 2020).

Trump Administration Invests More Than $12.5 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural Georgia (June 25, 2020).

DOI Signs Agreement with USDA to Increase Investment in Infrastructure on Federal and Tribal Lands (June 25, 2020).

USDA Provides Flexibilities to Ensure Kids Receive Meals This Fall (June 25, 2020).

USDA Highlights Accomplishments in Rural High-Speed Broadband Deployment Under American Broadband Initiative (June 25, 2020).

USDA Approves Program to Feed Kids in Oklahoma and Montana (June 26, 2020).

USDA Agencies Press Releases:

USDA Dairy Safety-Net Program Signup to Begin October 12 for the 2021 Coverage Period (June 18, 2020).

USDA Provides Additional $2.8 million to Support Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Suppression in Western States (June 22, 2020).

APHIS Announces Project to Develop ASF/CSF-Monitored Certification Pilot (June 23, 2020).

Availability of Deregulation Extension Request for GE Potato (June 24, 2020).

USDA Adds Digital Options for Farmers and Ranchers to Apply for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (June 25, 2020).

STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE/LEGISLATIVE

Pennsylvania Executive Agencies—Actions and Notices:

Department of Environmental Protection

50 Pa.B. 3170 Notice: “Agricultural Advisory Board Virtual Meeting [Wednesday, July 1, 2020]” (June 27, 2020).

50 Pa.B. 3111 Notice—Applications: “The Clean Streams Law And The Federal Clean Water Act: Applications For National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits And Water Quality Management (WQM) Permits” (June 27, 2020).

50 Pa.B. 3170 Notice: “Draft 2020 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report; Available for Public Comment” (June 27, 2020).

50 Pa.B. 3173 Notice: “Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee Virtual Meeting” (June 27, 2020).

Department of Labor and Industry

50 Pa.B. 3108 Proposed Rulemaking: “Unemployment Compensation; Employee Provisions” (June 27, 2020).

Milk Marketing Board

50 Pa.B. 3189 Notice: “Hearing and Presubmission Schedule; All Milk Marketing Areas; Over-Price Premium Cross Section” (June 27, 2020).

Pennsylvania Legislature

Presented to the Governor

S.B. 905 “An Act providing for the capital budget for fiscal year 2019-2020 . . . .” Presented to the Governor (June 22, 2020).

H.B. 1003 “An Act amending Title 30 (Fish) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in dams, bar racks and migration devices, further providing for marking of dams.” Presented to the Governor (June 24, 2020).

H.B. 1188 “An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in hunting and furtaking, further providing for unlawful devices and methods.” Presented to the Governor (June 24, 2020).

House Legislation in the Senate

H.B. 2045 “An Act authorizing the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to Ohiopyle Borough, Fayette County, certain lands situate in Ohiopyle Borough, Fayette County, in exchange for Ohiopyle Borough granting and conveying certain lands to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to be added to those existing lands at Ohiopyle State Park.” Second consideration [Senate] (June 22, 2020).

H.B. 2348 “An Act amending Title 64 (Public Authorities and Quasi-Public Corporations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth Financing Authority, providing for Unserved High-Speed Broadband Funding Program; establishing the Unserved High-Speed Broadband Funding Program Account; making an appropriation; and making a related repeal.” Referred to Communications and Technology [Senate] (June 22, 2020).

H.B. 2438 “An Act amending Title 68 (Real and Personal Property) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for broadband services.” First Consideration [Senate] (June 22, 2020).

H.B. 2435 “An Act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for Food Establishment Personal Protective Equipment Reimbursement Grant Program.” First consideration [Senate] (June 23, 2020).

H.B. 2484 “An Act amending Titles 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations) and 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing financial restrictions related to the COVID-19 emergency: in financial matters of domestic nonprofit corporations, further providing for investment of trust funds and providing for nonjudicial settlement agreement; and, in principal and income, further providing for charitable trusts.” Re-referred to Appropriations [Senate] (June 24, 2020).

Senate Legislation

S.B. 85 “An Act amending . . . the Dog Law, in licenses, tags and kennels, further providing for transfer of dog licenses or tags and other licensing requirements and for service dogs and dogs used by municipal or State Police departments.” Re-reported as committed [Senate] (June 22, 2020).

S.B. 1118 “An Act amending Title 68 (Real and Personal Property) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for broadband services.” First consideration [Senate] (June 22, 2020).

S.B. 835 “An Act providing for funding of high-speed broadband service infrastructure deployment in unserved areas of this Commonwealth and for powers and duties of the Commonwealth Financing Authority; establishing the Unserved High-speed Broadband Funding Program Account; making an appropriation; and making a related repeal.” Re-referred to Appropriations [Senate] (June 23, 2020).

S.B. 881 “An Act amending . . . the Agricultural Area Security Law, further providing for purchase of agricultural conservation easements, for Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund and for Land Trust Reimbursement Program.” First consideration [Senate] (June 23, 2020).

S.B. 1036 “An Act amending . . . the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in sales and use tax, further providing for definitions [Clarification of Sales Tax Exemption for Cervidae Livestock Operations].” Re-referred to Appropriations [Senate] (June 23, 2020).

S.B. 1089 “An Act repealing . . . The Frozen Dessert Law.” First consideration [Senate] (June 23, 2020).

S.B. 1182 “An Act amending . . . the Pennsylvania Agricultural Fair Act, providing for COVID-19 Emergency Agricultural Fair Grant Program.” Re-referred to Appropriations [Senate] (June 24, 2020).

House Legislation

H.Res. 901 “A Resolution designating the month of June 2020 as "Food Desert Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.” Referred to Agriculture and Rural Affairs [House] (June 23, 2020).

H.B. 2149 “An Act amending . . . the Hardwoods Development Council Act, further providing for Hardwoods Development Council.” Removed from table [House] (June 24, 2020).

H.B. 441 “An Act amending. . . the Agricultural Area Security Law, further providing for definitions and for purchase of agricultural conservation easements [Allow Wind Energy on Farmland Preservation].” Re-referred to Appropriations [Senate] (June 24, 2020).

H.B. 2018 “An Act authorizing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to the borough of Plymouth a permanent storm water drainage easement in Plymouth Borough, Luzerne County.” Signed in House (June 24, 2020).

FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE/LEGISLATIVE

Federal Executive Agencies—Actions and Notices:

Agricultural Department

85 FR 37416 Notice: “Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request [Rural Utilities Service: Electric System Emergency Restoration Plan]” (June 22, 2020).

85 FR 38356 Notice: “Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request [Food Safety and Inspection Service: Laboratory Assessment Requests]” (June 26, 2020).

85 FR 38356 Notice: “Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request [Risk Management Agency: Subpart U—Ineligibility for Programs under the Federal Crop Insurance Act]” (June 26, 2020).

Agricultural Marketing Service

85 FR 37822 Notice—Comment Period: “Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection [Web-Based Supply Chain Management]” (June 24, 2020).

85 FR 37820 Notice: “Revision of Three U.S. Grade Standards for Carrots” (June 24, 2020).

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

85 FR 37823 Notice—Comment Period: “Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Importation of Animals and Animal Products” (June 24, 2020).

85 FR 38110 Notice—Comment Period: “J.R. Simplot Company; Availability of a Request and Plant Pest Risk Similarity Assessment for an Extension of a Determination of Nonregulated Status for Z6 Potatoes With Late Blight Protection, Low Acrylamide Potential, Lowered Reducing Sugars, and Reduced Black Spot” (June 25, 2020).

85 FR 38108 Notice—Comment Period: “Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Blood and Tissue Collection and Recordkeeping at Slaughtering, Rendering, and Approved Livestock Marketing Establishments and Facilities” (June 25, 2020).

Commodity Credit Corporation and the Rural Business-Cooperative Service

85 FR 37824 Notice: “Notice of Funds Availability for the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) for Fiscal Year 2020; Correction” (June 24, 2020).

Commodity Credit Union

85 FR 37824 Notice: “Notice of Funds Availability for the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) for Fiscal Year 2020; Correction” (June 24, 2020).

Economic Development Administration

85 FR 37827 Notice: “Notice of Petitions by Firms for Determination of Eligibility To Apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance” (June 24, 2020).

Environmental Protection Agency

85 FR 37760 Rule: “Indaziflam; Pesticide Tolerances” (June 24, 2020).

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation

85 FR 38276 Rule—Comment Period: “Common Crop Insurance Regulations; Dry Pea Crop Insurance Provisions” (June 26, 2020).

Federal Emergency Management Agency

85 FR 37469 Notice: “Final Flood Hazard Determinations [Mass.]” (June 22, 2020).

85 FR 38151 Notice: “Final Flood Hazard Determinations [Mass.]” (June 25, 2020).

85 FR 38385 Notice—Comment Period: “Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations [Cal., Iowa, Kan.]” (June 26, 2020).

Fish and Wildlife Service

85 FR 37576 Rule: “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Sonoyta Mud Turtle” (June 23, 2020).

Food and Drug Administration

85 FR 38372 Notice: “Guidance Documents Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19); Availability” (June 26, 2020).

International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico

85 FR 37470 Notice: “United States Section: Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Arroyo Colorado at Harlingen Flood Flow Improvement Project, Cameron County Texas” (June 22, 2020).

Labor Department

85 FR 37691 Notice—Comment Period:“Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Employer's First Report of Injury or Occupational Disease, Employer's Supplementary Report of Accident or Occupational Illness” (June 23, 2020).

National Park Service

85 FR 37959 Notice: “Boundary Adjustment at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area” (June 24, 2020).

Rural Utilities Service

85 FR 38358 Notice—Comment Period: “Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection [Telecommunications System Construction Policies and Procedures]” (June 26, 2020).

Small Business Administration

85 FR 37726 Notice: “Administrative Declaration of a Disaster for the State of Arkansas” (June 23, 2020).

85 FR 37995 Notice: “Administrative Declaration of an Economic Injury Disaster for the State of California” (June 24, 2020).

85 FR 38301 Rule—Comment Period: “Business Loan Program Temporary Changes; Paycheck Protection Program-Additional Eligibility Revisions to First Interim Final Rule” (June 26, 2020).

85 FR 38304 Rule—Comment Period: “Business Loan Program Temporary Changes; Paycheck Protection Program-Revisions to Loan Forgiveness and Loan Review Procedures Interim Final Rules” (June 26, 2020).

Trade Representative, Office of United States

85 FR 38000 Notice: “Notice of Product Exclusion and Amendments: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation” (June 24, 2020).

85 FR 38482 Notice: “Request for Comments Concerning the Extension of Particular Exclusions Granted Under the $300 Billion Action Pursuant to Section 301: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation” (June 26, 2020).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

85 FR 37744 Rule: “Notification of Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Canada” (June 24, 2020).

85 FR 37745 Rule: “Notification of Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Mexico” (June 24, 2020).

U.S. House Agriculture Committee Actions:

H.R.7308 “To authorize appropriations for offsetting the costs related to reductions in research productivity resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.” Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Natural Resources (June 24, 2020).

H.R.7344 “To require the Federal Communications Commission to provide broadband availability data to the Department of Interior.” Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture (June 25, 2020).

H.R.7349 “To require the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to provide a plan to ensure adequate staffing throughout organizational units of the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture to review communications use authorizations in a timely manner.” Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Committee on Agriculture (June 25, 2020).

H.R.7367 “To require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to report to Congress every 60 days on barriers to implementation by the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture of an online portal to accept, process, and dispose of an application for the placement of communications facilities on certain Federal lands.” Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and the Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce (June 25, 2020).

H.R.7377 “To require the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture to establish an online portal to accept, process, and dispose of an application for the placement of communications facilities on certain Federal lands.” Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Agriculture (June 25, 2020).

H.R.7393 “To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a program to reduce barriers to entry for farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners in certain private markets, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (June 26, 2020).

U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, And Forestry Committee Actions:

S.4035 “A bill to establish and provide for the use of amounts in a Trail Stewardship for Economic Recovery Fund, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (June 23, 2020).

S.4054 “An original bill to reauthorize the United States Grain Standards Act, and for other purposes.” Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 484 (June 24, 2020).

S.4061 “A bill to provide emergency nutrition assistance to States, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (June 24, 2020).

June 22–26, 2020 Top #AgLaw links:

China to Accelerate U.S. Farm Purchases, as Trade Partners Raise Concerns Over U.S. Farm Assistance, Farm Policy News (June 21, 2020).

COVID-19 Ag Related Losses Mount, as China Seeks Virus Documentation on Soybeans, Farm Policy News (June 23, 2020).

Webinar Reviews the Past and Plans for the Future of Dairy Farming, AGWEEK (June 25, 2020).

Florida’s Coronavirus Spike is Ravaging Migrant Farmworkers, New York Times (June 18, 2020).

Another Court Win for EPA, Politico Morning Agriculture (June 22, 2020).

China Suspends Imports of Poultry from Tyson Plant Over COVID-19, Customs Authority Says, Reuters (June 21, 2020).

Saharan Dust Cloud Should Have Minimal Impact on Agriculture, Brownfield (June 24, 2020).

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