Latest List of Issues

2008

FR Notices on Program Payment Limitation and Payment Eligibility (112k pdf)
12/29/2008
On December 29, USDA published a Federal Register notice pertaining to farm program payment limitation and payment eligibility for 2009 and subsequent crop, program and fiscal years. Learn more


FR Notice on DCP, CCP and ACRE Programs (138k pdf)
12/29/2008
On December 29, USDA published a notice on regulations regarding provisions implementing the direct and counter-cyclical payment program (DCP) for the 2008-12 crop years and the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program payments for the 2009-12 crop years. Learn more


Letters Urge Action on Export Credit Cap (152k pdf)
12/19/2008
The NCC has joined commodity and farm organizations on letters to the chairmen and ranking members of: 1) the House/Senate agriculture committees and 2) the House/Senate agriculture appropriations committees urging Congress to eliminate or suspend the $5.5 billion cap on export credit guarantees. Learn more


Letter to Secretary Schafer Expressing Regulations Implementation Delay Concerns
12/09/2008
The NCC joined multilple farm groups whose members produce a significant portion of the U.S. food, fiber and feed in the United States on a letter to Agriculture Secretary Schafer to express concern about the significant delay in publishing the regulations implementing numerous commodity and conservation provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. Learn more


Baucus, Grassley, Rangel, McCrery Letter to Administration on Doha Concerns
12/09/2008
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA), along with House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Ranking Member Jim McCrery (R-La), sent a letter to President Bush, urging the administration to stand firm in the Doha Round negotiations. Learn more


Doha Negotiations Concerns Conveyed to President Bush (435k pdf)
12/08/2008
A December 8 letter to President Bush from Senate agriculture committee chairman Harkin and ranking member Chambliss and signed by multiple Senators expressed concerns about the agricultural trade negotiations in Geneva. Learn more


NCC Issues Statement on Revised Falconer Text
12/08/2008
The NCC says the revised Falconer Text unfortunately incorporates most of the loopholes in agricultural market access contained in the failed Lamy compromise package offered in July. Learn more


Senator Chambliss Re-Election Encouraging for Agriculture
12/03/2008
In a statement, the NCC congratulated Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), on his re-election to a second term noting that U.S. farmers, businesses and rural communities will continue to benefit from his leadership. Learn more


China and India Distorting World Market (424k pdf)
11/26/2008
China and India are the two largest producers and processors of cotton fiber. Over the past few years, increased government support has spurred an increase in cotton and textile production in both countries, even as the rest of the world decreases production and mill use. Learn more


Special Products Undermine WTO Market Access (369k pdf)
11/21/2008
NCC analysis indicates that exemptions for Special Products in the latest World Trade Organization Doha negotiating text could dramatically undermine potential market access gains. Learn more


Doha in December
11/20/2008
In a column appearing in Farm Press publications, NCC Chairman Larry McClendon says if a December meeting of the WTO Doha Round is held, and the Lamy text used as a starting point, the haste to conclude the negotiations would work against a balanced agreement and the result would be a text that cannot pass Congress. Learn more


Letter Urges Support of H.R. 6604
07/30/2008
The NCC joined with other agricultural organizations on a letter to US Representatives strongly urging them to vote for the Commodity Markets Transparency and Accountability Act of 2008. Learn more


NCC Statement on Collapse of Doha Negotiations
07/29/2008
The NCC is encouraged that the United States held firm to its commitments to U.S. agriculture in the Doha negotiations. Learn more


Letter Sent in Support of Keenum FCA Nomination
07/16/2008
The NCC joined other agricultural organizations on a letter to the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee expressing support for the nomination of Dr. Mark Keenum to serve as a member of the Farm Credit Administration Board for the remainder of a six year term expiring May, 2014. Learn more


Ag Groups Convey WTO Ministerial Concerns to President Bush
07/16/2008
The NCC joined other agricultural organizations on a letter to President Bush expressing their continuing deep concern about the status and direction of the Doha Round of WTO agricultural negotiations -- including some remarks reportedly made by Administration officials, suggesting that concessions on U.S. agriculture are to be traded off for gains in NAMA (Non-Agricultural Market Access) and Services. Learn more


NCC Dispels Myths About U.S. Support to Cotton Farmers
07/10/2008
This NCC document summarizes several myths/facts regarding US support to cotton farmers, including the fact that US programs have not caused low cotton prices and hurt foreign growers. Learn more


USDA Moves AWP Calculation to Far East Quotes
05/27/2008
USDA has issued a final rule outlining the switch to Far East (FE) quotes for the purposes of determining the Adjusted World Price (AWP). The use of FE quotes better reflects cotton trade patterns and is necessitated by the pending elimination of North Europe quotes by Cotton Outlook. The change, which will be reflected in the announced AWP on Thursday, May 29, would allow the commencement of the 6-week blending period of current and forward quotes. Learn more


Timely Action Urged at CFTC Forum
04/23/2008
Testifying at a Commodity Futures Trading Commission Forum, American Cotton Producers Chairman Chuck Coley said the cotton futures market is totally dysfuntional and decisive action is needed short term to restore confidence in the markets for all US cotton industry segments. (The public also can submit comments for the official record by sending statements to agforum@cftc.gov by 5 pm EDT, May 7, '08). Learn more


USDA Announces Partial '07-Crop-Year Counter-Cyclical Payments
02/11/2008
Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer announced to NCC Annual Meeting attendees that USDA will soon begin issuing about $315 million in partial '07-crop-year counter-cyclical payments for producers with upland cotton and/or peanuts base acres enrolled in USDA's direct and counter-cyclical program. Learn more


President's '09 Budget (52k pdf)
02/04/2008
President Bush released a summary and detailed fact sheet of his 2009 budget and its overall goals of: 1) addressing immediate economic challenges; 2) ensuring sustained prosperity; 3) keeping America Safe; and 4) balancing the Budget by '12. Learn more


Sen. Dole Letters Regarding ATPA Renewal (324k pdf)
01/28/2008
Sen. Elizabeth Dole is circulating the second of two letters aimed at garnering Senate support for expedited Congressional approval of the Andean Trade Preferences Act renewal. Learn more