Agriculture Rules

Locally Grown Labeling - Vermont

smitchell — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:01:23 -0500

To protect its citizens from deceptive advertising, the state of Vermont implemented a law in 2008 that says that labels like "local" and "locally grown" may be applied only to food and other goods that originate in Vermont or within 30 miles of where they are being sold.

Bio-Based Products Purchasing - Iowa

admin — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:34:17 -0600

A 1998 Iowa law required state agencies to give soy-based hydraulic fluid a purchasing preference. In April 2000, this law was amended to include a preference for greases and other industrial lubricants as well as hydraulic fluids. Soy is still the raw material of choice. In addition, the new law also removes two prerequisites for the purchasing preference: one said that the lubricant must be within the agency's budget, and the other that the lubricant must be consistent with the manufacturer's specifications for the equipment.

Farm Policy Reform Act

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:36:52 -0600

During the 1980's farm crisis the idea of a supply management system for agriculture was proposed by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. Bill Alexander (D-AK). In 1985 they introduced the Farm Policy Reform Act (S.1083). Title I of the Act required the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct referendums (in 1985, 1989, 1993, and 1997) to determine by majority vote if a mandatory supply management program should be in effect for the succeeding four-year program period. If the referendum failed, the Secretary would determine the farm program for the succeeding four-year period.

Protecting Contract Growers - Iowa Producer Protection Act

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:33:16 -0600

Historically, Minnesota led the way to protect contract growers, setting guidelines on contract cancellation, requiring a mediation clause in contracts between growers and processors, and assigning parent company responsibility for contracts of subsidiaries. There is still a dearth of legislation and case law in this area, however, and new legislation is still focused on the basics: contract readability and a 3 day right to review (MN), contract leins to give producers the first priority to be paid (IA), and banning confidentiality on production contracts (IA).

Contract Growers Protections - Minnesota

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:31:51 -0600

Bills on parent company liability failed in Iowa and South Dakota ( SD 1997 S.B 202, vetoed by governor in 1997 see SD Contractor liability). Minnesota passed a law in 1990 (see link to Statute below) that assigns liability to the corporation that owns the processor for any unpaid debts due to growers.

Contract Growers Protections - Kentucky

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:30:27 -0600

Kentucky's Division of Water recently finalized regulations on concentrated animal feedlot operations (CAFOs) which include integrator liability. The KY law is the first of its kind in the country. Under the regulations, integrators must apply for a state permit (KPDES) even if they own animals kept by a farmer under contract. If the permit is violated, it is the integrators who are liable for consequences. The regulations were to go into effect August 24, 2000, but last June the Farm Bureau and other groups challenged the rule in court by arguing that it was pre-empted by another Kentucky law that precludes the state from passing legislation stricter than federal standards. They were granted a temporary restraining order specifically on the integrator liability provision.

Price Reporting and Disclosure - Iowa

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:24:41 -0600

RELATING TO PRACTICES INVOLVING THE MARKETING OF LIVESTOCK CONCERNING PACKERS, BY PROVIDING FOR THE REGULATION OF CERTAIN PURCHASE INFORMATION AND CONTRACTING, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES AND EFFECTIVE DATES.

Price Reporting and Disclosure - South Dakota

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:20:58 -0600

The price discrimination provision of SB 95 was overturned in a July 1999 case brought by the American Meat Institute (AMI), an industry trade group. The law was interpreted as extending uniform pricing to other states "for livestock purchased for slaughter in this state," thereby interfering with interstate commerce." The price disclosure/reporting provision remains in effect, harmonized with the national price reporting legislation passed in 1999.

Price Reporting and Disclosure - Nebraska

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:19:01 -0600

A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to livestock; to adopt the Competitive Livestock Markets Act; and to declare an emergency.

Price Disclosure Law - Federal

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:16:41 -0600

In October 1999 Congress passed price reporting legislation as part of its 1999 Agricultural Appropriations bill. The provision follows the lead of several states in requiring meatpackers to report the prices they pay to producers. The goal is to help restore competition to livestock markets. Price reporting had previously been voluntary, leading some producers to report only the lowest paid prices, thereby artificially depressing the market.

Family Farm Tax Break - Georgia

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:03:06 -0600

Prior to 1999, Georgia levied ad valorem taxes for some agricultural commodities, such as fruit and nut trees and livestock. Legislation passed in 1998 relieved small scale farmers of this additional burden. For other crops, such as ornamental trees and shrubs, the possibility of ad valorem taxation was eliminated.

The legislation is noteworthy not because of the tax impact- farmers will save about $ 2.5 million a year, or an average of less than $ 20,000 per Georgia county- but because it targets those tax cuts to a well defined "family farm" scale agriculture.

WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Act

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:00:31 -0600

The WIC Farmer's Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is a small program but a significant program because it acknowledges the role of farmers' markets in sustaining small farmers and local communities.

The Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, popularly known as WIC, which is administered in cooperation with the States by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of USDA. WIC provides supplemental foods, health care referrals and nutrition education at no cost to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding post-partum women, and to infants and children up to 5 years of age, who are found to be at nutritional risk.