NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL for NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL

Agriculture AGR

Continued to engage with Cotton Belt Congressional Members offices with the goal of a Congressional compromise on a disaster bill which could be approved and signed into law expeditiously. Submitted priority funding requests letters to the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees for the FY 20 Agriculture Appropriations bill. Joined by 25 affiliated industry groups, submitted comments to EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding the final Waters of the U.S. rule (WOTUS). In conjunction with comments from the American Farm Bureau Federation, joined with groups on three other sets of comments making many of the same points regarding the final WOTUS rule but with additional legal interpretations. Joined numerous other agricultural organizations, on a letter to the Surface Transportation Board regarding demurrage and accessorial charges imposed by railroads. Worked with the American Farm Bureau Federation and Farm Credit Council in coordinating a letter from 135 organizations to the President and Congressional leadership urging them to reach the consensus necessary to enact a disaster assistance bill. Continued to engage with USDA and Congressional offices on updates to the ELS Cotton Competitiveness Program provisions. Continued to engage with USDA on updates to the cotton warehouse shipping standards. Filed comments with USDA on proposed rule updating the cotton warehouse shipping standards. Continued to monitor court cases and legal actions involving the plant protection products glyphosate and chloropyrifos, including attempts to ban the latter product in California. A group of 68 agriculture and food associations and companies, including the NCC, wrote to Congressional leadership in support of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Bart Davis, a cotton and peanut producer from Doerun, GA, and Matt Huie, a cotton, sorghum, and corn producer from Beeville, TX, testified at the House Agriculture Committees General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee hearing, State of the Farm Economy. Joined with 18 other organizations on letters organized by the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) to leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees -- strongly urging those Committees to maintain and strengthen the Berry Amendment provisions in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Continued working with NCTO and other partners to protect the Berry Amendment provisions as the NDAA bill moves through Congress. Continued to help build support among Congressional Members for USMCA consideration in 2019, including efforts as part of the Pass USMCA coalition through activities in Washington and at the grassroots level. Represented by Allen McLaurin, a North Carolina cotton producer, on EPA's Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee, which held a two-day Spring meeting. Sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue outlining the industrys analysis of the cotton market impact and recommendations for the structure of the trade assistance package being developed by USDA; continued to communicate these recommendations to USDA officials and Congressional offices. As part of the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports, signed onto a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Subcommittee leadership requesting their strong support for maintaining vital funding for USDAs important agricultural export programs. Filed comments on EPA's proposed interim registration review decision for Buprofezin (trade name Courier). Joined other textile and fabric groups, including the National Council of Textile Organizations, on a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of both the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee -- urging Congress not to threaten final passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement by including controversial unrelated trade measures. Joined with nearly 1,000 other agricultural organizations on a letter to Congressional leadership urging swift passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and continued efforts, including as part of multiple coalitions, to build Congressional support for USMCA. Continued to work with Congress and USDA to include important recommendations as a part of WHIP disaster program. Engaged with USDA on seed cotton recourse loans and upland cotton marketing loan program provisions. Continued to engage with USDA and Congressional offices on 2018 Farm Bill implementation. Participated in a discussion with USDA AMS and Under Secretary Greg Ibach about the importance of the USDA cotton classing data management and the ELS Competitiveness Program. Participated in the USDA NASS data users meeting. Participated in discussions with USDA FSA regarding implementation of the 2019 MFP program. Participated in a 2018 Farm Bill cover crop webinar hosted by NRCS, FSA, and RMA. Participated in a discussion with USDA RMA regarding new crop insurance products, changes to existing crop insurance provisions, and 2019 STAX provisions. Engaged with Congressional Offices regarding rail rate increases. Participated in Roundtable with EPA on regulatory reform. Participated in a meeting with EPA on pesticide issues. Participated in a conference call with USDA on cotton pest challenges. Participated in various congressional meetings on sustainability in agriculture. Participated in meeting with House staff on pesticides.

Contacted: Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA); SENATE; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); White House Office; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); State, Dept of (DOS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers)