As Congress continues its efforts to finalize a new five-year Farm Bill, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry convened to address critical issues affecting animal agriculture. During a hearing held on January 26, representatives from various producer groups, including the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), and the National Turkey Federation (NTF), presented their perspectives on the challenges currently facing the agriculture sector.

The hearing, titled “Perspectives from the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy,” was the second in a series aimed at evaluating the condition of the agriculture industry. John Boozman (R-Ark.), the chairman of the Senate committee, emphasized the need for improved risk management tools to assist both specialty crop and livestock producers in the forthcoming Farm Bill. He stated, “It is important to continue investing in our research and marketing programs. We must invest in our animal health programs to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks and address the regulatory overreach burdening all producers.”

The second panel of the hearing featured representatives from livestock, poultry, and dairy sectors, who detailed the pressing challenges they face.

Mitigating Avian Diseases

John Zimmerman, the NTF 2024 chair and a second-generation turkey grower from Northfield, Minnesota, highlighted the ongoing animal health challenges within the U.S. turkey industry. He discussed the detrimental effects of diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) on turkey operations across the nation.

“As chairman of NTF and a grower, I cannot overstate the impact of these two viral diseases that have killed millions of turkeys nationwide,” Zimmerman stated. He noted that while HPAI has garnered significant media attention due to its impact on egg and milk prices, aMPV has also caused substantial losses, killing millions of turkeys and leading to increased volatility, supply shortages, and market uncertainty.

Zimmerman revealed that aMPV has affected between 60-80% of turkey flocks across the country. Although less lethal than HPAI, aMPV poses significant risks by severely reducing egg production in breeder stock and causing prolonged mortality in commercial flocks. He expressed frustration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) vaccine approval process, which can take up to a year, thereby delaying critical interventions for turkey producers experiencing financial losses due to these diseases.

“As the industry recovers from aMPV, we urge the committee to make aMPV an eligible disease under the USDA’s Livestock Indemnity Program,” Zimmerman urged. “This would assist growers in mitigating economic losses and support poultry producers who are facing significant challenges.”

Additionally, Zimmerman emphasized the ongoing threat posed by HPAI, which has affected 459 commercial turkey flocks and over 18.6 million turkeys as of mid-February. He criticized the lack of a national strategy to control H5 influenza, emphasizing the need for a successful vaccination program that does not negatively impact trade. Furthermore, he raised concerns about USDA’s interim final rule linking biosecurity audits to indemnity, suggesting it could discourage the reporting of HPAI detections.

Beef Industry Priorities

Representing the beef industry, Buck Wehrbein, president of the NCBA, addressed the committee on issues such as animal health, regulatory burdens, and the implications of upcoming national Dietary Guidelines. “The cattle industry is experiencing improved market conditions and strong consumer demand for beef, yet challenges persist,” Wehrbein noted. He urged Congress to recognize that food security is national security and that policy decisions will significantly impact American cattle producers.

Wehrbein advocated for the passage of the Farm Bill, the elimination of the Death Tax, the protection of beef in the Dietary Guidelines, and the reduction of excessive regulations affecting cattle producers. He also expressed concern about the New World screwworm, a parasitic threat recently detected in Mexico, urging Congress to invest in sterile fly production facilities to help eradicate it.

Finally, Wehrbein emphasized the importance of the Beef Checkoff program, which promotes beef demand, educates consumers, and funds research. He called for continued support for public lands ranching and the reduction of regulatory burdens on American cattle producers.

Addressing Proposition 12

NPPC President Lori Stevermer, a pork producer from Easton, Minnesota, brought attention to the challenges posed by California’s Proposition 12, which has led to increased operating costs for farmers, business uncertainty, and higher pork prices at retail. “We must fix the problems caused by Prop. 12,” Stevermer asserted, highlighting the support from both former Presidents Trump and Biden in opposing the regulation.

Stevermer explained that while Prop. 12 is a state regulation, its ramifications extend throughout the entire U.S. agriculture sector. The law, which prohibits the sale of uncooked whole pork not produced under specific housing dimensions, was created without input from pork producers, veterinarians, or animal welfare experts. She pointed out inconsistencies within the law, such as allowing cooked bacon produced outside the standards to be sold while prohibiting uncooked bacon from the same source.

Furthermore, the requirement for outside auditors to certify farms under Prop. 12 threatens to increase production costs significantly. Stevermer concluded by addressing other pressing concerns for the pork industry, including foreign animal disease prevention, ongoing market access challenges, and the need for year-round H-2A visas to address labor shortages.