NEWS FROM THE HILL

to be addressed in the upcoming Farm Bill. I will continue to advocate for drought and disaster relief programs and crop insurance that will assist Montanans in the wake of natural disasters. Severe drought, flooding, and wildfires have the ability to upend generations of Montana ag producers’ tireless work in a moment’s notice. These hardworking men and women help feed people throughout the world, and they deserve a fair shot at maintaining their livelihood.

go to impose big government regulations on Montanans.

From out-of-touch federal rulings to the late harsh winter conditions experienced across the State of Montana, farmers and ranchers throughout the Treasure State continue to prove their resiliency through their consistent contributions to Montana’s ag economy.

Discussions regarding the 2023 Farm Bill are continuing to ramp up, and I am meeting with men and women around the state to hear their concerns and priorities that need

As planting season takes hold, I’m hopeful for greener pastures, better yields, and most importantly – your feedback as we continue to craft the upcoming Farm Bill.

I know that working families are feeling the effects of rising costs across the board, and too often folks in Washington, D.C., don’t understand life in places like rural Montana. That’s why it’s so important I hear directly from you as we fight to keep production ag strong in the Treasure State.

Earlier this year I hit the Hi-Line and eastern Montana with folks from MFU and other leading ag groups to listen to local producers from around the state as we begin work on the next Farm Bill. From Havre to Plentywood, Glasgow, and down through Sidney, I was able to hear directly from producers about what they need in the upcoming bill.

Between four public farm bill listening sessions – in Glasgow, Plentywood, Sidney, and Havre – I heard a lot.

Risk management tools like Price Lock

The Biden administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule would place unnecessary regulations on farmers, ranchers and private property owners throughout Montana and the U.S., despite the clear message from Congress that enough is enough. I helped lead the fight against the administration with a formal challenge to revoke the new WOTUS rule, and it passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote. But to no one’s surprise, President Biden vetoed the measure. It shows just how far he’s willing to

When it comes to weather patterns in Montana, it’s no secret that conditions remain notoriously unpredictable. Spring snowstorms and cold snaps can be incredibly challenging for Montanans in every corner of the state who are calving this time of year. Keeping calves warm enough in harsh winter conditions and trying to build up their immune systems amid drastic temperature fluctuation is tough. I commend the tireless efforts of our farmers and ranchers as they maintain their livelihood and help feed people throughout the world.

I’ll keep up the fight in Washington to ensure Montana farmers’ and ranchers’ voices are heard and their needs are met. It’s an honor to serve Montana as your United States Senator and if there is ever anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) are working, but it’s time that we boost PLC reference prices. Disaster relief programs like the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP) and the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) are making a real difference, but folks need more flexibility if they’re facing severe storms and devastating droughts.

And we need to double down on trade programs that promote American goods abroad so that folks have markets for their products.

But the thing that stood out to me the most after talking face to face with Montana’s producers, was the need to restore competition in the marketplace.

We passed the Packers and Stockyards Act more than 100 years ago, yet somehow the meatpacking industry is more consolidated now than it was back then. Four packers control more than 80% of the beef industry, and Montana’s ranchers are being forced to take less while consumers are being forced to pay more. With your help we’re going to put a stop to it, and make sure that folks in Montana are getting a fair shake.

I want to thank MFU President Walter Schweitzer for joining me on the Farm Bill tour, and I also want to hear from MFU membership about what you need in the upcoming Farm Bill. So, please, get ahold of my office, or go directly to tester.senate. gov/farmbill to tell me what you need as a producer. My Farm Bill listening session tour is far from over, so stay in touch, and I hope to see you in person at the next one.

Jon Tester, U.S. Senator

YEAR-ROUND E15; LOWCARBON, HIGH-OCTANE FUELS

Throughout March, there have been several developments in Congress and from the Biden Administration that will have major implications for the production of biofuels in the years ahead.

On March 1, the EPA approved petitions from eight states to allow for year-round sales of E15, starting in 2024. The proposal covers petitions from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. NFU has urged the Biden Administration to allow E15 usage for the upcoming summer driving season, as was done last year. NFU continues to advocate for higher blends, such as E30, for greater reductions in air pollutants while increasing octane.

Over on Capitol Hill, two key pieces of legislation have been reintroduced in the 118th Congress. On March 14, Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2023. This legislation will enable the yearround, nationwide sale of E15 and permanently extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) volatility waiver to ethanol blends above 10 percent, providing nationwide uniformity across U.S. fuel markets. Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE-03) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01) are leading companion legislation in the House. NFU endorsed this legislation in the 117th Congress and is pleased with its quick reintroduction.

On March 22, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced the reintroduction of the Next Generation Fuels Act, with Rep. Miller-Meeks sponsoring the House companion. This legislation establishes a minimum research octane number (RON) standard of 98 for gasoline, requires the added octane value to reduce carbon emissions by at least 40 percent compared to regular gasoline, and incentivizes vehicle technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel economy.

NFU will pursue the passage of both bills this Congress. NFU supports efforts to expand the production and sale of E15, while noting use of higher-level blends of ethanol, like E30, would add additional benefits to the economy, the environment, and America’s farmers.

USDA ANNOUNCEMENTS: “PRODUCT OF USA” LABELING, MEAT AND POULTRY PROCESSING

Over the past month, USDA made a string of announcements advancing the Biden-Harris Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain, as well as the efforts at USDA to boost competition and expand domestic production in the fertilizer industry.

Under a proposed rule issued by USDA on March 6, the voluntary “Product of USA” label will now require all steps in the production chain occur in the U.S. in order for a meat or egg product to bear the label. Secretary Vilsack announced this rule while speaking at NFU’s national convention in San Francisco.

The current rules for the label allow meat from animals that spent some of their lifespan outside of the U.S. to be labeled as “Product of USA,” which runs counter to consumer expectations from such a label. While this new rule is a not a replacement for mandatory country-of-origin labeling, it is a major step in the right direction. NFU continues to advocate for mandatory COOL legislation, like the American Beef Labeling Act, to provide consumers with the information they seek about their food and the opportunity to American farmers and ranchers to convey that information clearly, accurately, and consistently.

USDA also announced nearly $200 million in investments to increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity. The investments were announced as part of the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) and the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP). The programs are aimed at helping processors increase capacity and finance independent processing startups. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) also announced investments into meat and poultry processing research, focused on developing and deploying emerging technologies and making applied research more accessible to independent producers, cooperatives, and worker associations.

As part of USDA’s Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP), USDA announced a $29 million investment to help increase production of Americanmade fertilizer, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to spur competition, provide U.S. farmers with more choices and fairer prices, and reduce dependence on foreign fertilizer sources, such as Russia and Belarus.

In May 2022, amidst robust demand, President Biden directed USDA to increase the program from $250 million to $500 million. USDA received nearly $3 billion in applications for crop years 2023 and 2024. As fertilizer prices have skyrocketed due to a lack of competition in the industry and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the FPEP program will be critical to ensuring the long-term availability of American-made fertilizer for farmers.