JANUARY 20, 2023 | VOLUME 26 | ISSUE 2
Farm Bureau Press A PEEK INSIDE
RELIEF FOR RICE FARMERS IN OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL Near the end of 2022, President Joe Biden signed the FY 23 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. The bill created a program designed to address the disproportionately higher inputs costs faced by rice farmers during the 2022 growing season. Specifically, the bill allocated $250 million to provide a onetime payment to farmers. The payment will be calculated by multiplying the payment rate, individual actual production history (APH), or area yield and an amount of certified rice acres determined by the number of planted acres and acres that were prevented from being planted. The payment rate has yet to be determined, as USDA must write the rule to implement the program.
American Farm Bureau Establishes 2023 Policies, Page 2
ArFB President Rich Hillman has written Sen. Boozman to thank him for his work and to encourage him to work with USDA to craft rules that prioritize support for those who incurred the risk and made the investment in planting and harvesting a crop. For more information on the program, see the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture fact sheet online. In total, the bill allocated an additional $3.74 billion to offset crop losses due to droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, or floods, and $494.5 million for livestock disaster loss. Another $100 million was allocated to address losses incurred by cotton producers impacted by pandemic-related supply chain issues and depressed textile demand.
UPDATES FROM ARKANSAS LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY MEETING The Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commision held a meeting on Jan. 12 at the Hot springs Convention Center. The board of commissioners, which includes current ArFB treasurer Dan Wright, goal is to safeguard human and animal health, assure food safety and quality, and promote Arkansas livestock and poultry industries for the benefit of our citizens.
Arkansas State University 2023 Agribusiness Conference, Page 3
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A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION