2010
Congress Acts on Food Safety, FY10 Funding Measures (updated Dec. 22)12/20/2010
The lame duck Congress is still working on various issues from food safety to federal government funding. Learn more
Summary of the Reid Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (491k pdf)
12/10/2010
This 12-page summary of the Reid Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 includes a section on the estate tax. Learn more
Estate Tax Reinstatement Will Harm Producers, Associated Agribusinesses
11/30/2010
The NCC says that if estate taxes are allowed to be reinstated at the beginning of '11 with only a $1 million exemption and top rate of 55%, US agriculture will be affected very negatively. Learn more
Influence of India's Export Restrictions on the World Cotton Market (332KB)
10/29/2010
NCC staff, along with representatives of the NCTO, ACSA, and AMCOT, met with Administration officials to raise concerns regarding India’s ongoing restrictions on cotton exports. Learn more
Crop Assistance Program Announced
10/22/2010
The NCC prepared a summary/outline of the Crop Assistance Program under which up to $550 million in disaster assistance will be issued, beginning on Oct. 22, to producers of rice, upland cotton, soybeans and sweet potatoes who suffered losses because of excessive moisture or related conditions in '09. Learn more
NCC Responds to Washington Post’s Misleading Editorial
10/18/2010
In a letter to the editor, the NCC says an Oct. 18 Washington Post editorial, “Cotton Candy” is full of errors, insinuations and political posturing. Learn more
Fact Sheet on Currency Reform For Fair Trade Bill
09/24/2010
The House Ways and Means Committee prepared a fact sheet on the Currency Reform For Fair Trade bill (H.R. 2378 as amended). Learn more
USDA Accepting 4.3 Million Acres Into CRP
09/14/2010
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Sept. 14 that that USDA will accept 4.3 million acres offered by landowners under the Conservation Reserve Program general sign-up. Learn more
Letters to Congressmen Regarding IRS Reporting Requirement (26k pdf)
09/09/2010
The NCC joined 25 state and national farm, livestock and commodity organizations on letters to Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) and to Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA) in urging Congressional repeal of a proposed 1099 reporting requirement. Learn more
Final Rule Issued on Cotton Program/CCC-Approved Warehouses (62k pdf)
08/20/2010
USDA's Commodity Credit Corp. is amending a previous final rule that implemented the '08 farm bill provisions for the cotton program. The correction removes definitions that are no longer used concerning Northern Europe prices for cotton. CCC also is making clarifying changes to the regulations for the cotton program and for CCC-approved warehouses. CCC is clarifying the payment calculation for upland cotton that is eligible for the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program (EAAP) and clarifying the definition of ‘‘active shipping order.’’ Learn more
NCC Summary of Conservation Stewardship Program Final Rule
06/03/2010
The NCC summarized the Conservation Stewardship Program final rule carried in the Federal Register. Learn more
NCC Responds to Post Editorial on Brazil WTO Case
06/03/2010
The NCC's letter response to a June 3 Washington Post editorial said the newspaper is quick with inflammatory adjectives but short on facts when it comes to agricultural policy and trade disputes. Learn more
NCC Responds to WSJ Editorial's Misinformation
05/26/2010
The NCC sent its leadership a document that responds in detail to the misinformation contained in a May 21 Wall Street Journal editorial about the US-Brazil WTO case. Learn more
Vote Looming on Climate Change Policy
05/25/2010
The Senate is expected to conduct a highly significant vote on climate change policy when it returns from the Memorial Day recess. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) reached an agreement with Senate leaders for a vote on the Resolution of Disapproval (S J Res 26) which, if passed by the House and Senate and signed into law, would roll back EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more
House Agriculture Committee Posts Farm Bill Hearing Schedule
04/21/2010
The schedule includes a full Committee public hearing Monday, May 3rd at 9:00 am PDT at the Fresno City Hall Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, Fresno, CA, to review US agriculture policy in advance of the '12 farm bill. Learn more
NCC Statement on Brazil-U.S. WTO Case
04/21/2010
The NCC is pleased to see progress along the previously agreed path and welcomes Brazil's April 20 announcement that retaliation has been suspended for 60 days. Learn more
Food Safety Bill Concerns Conveyed
04/15/2010
The NCC and the NCGA joined with other agricultural organizations on a letter to the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee urging the Senate not to establish a traceability requirement that would be impossible for bulk commodities to handle. Learn more
Senators Urge Thorough SRA Review (525k pdf)
03/29/2010
A Senate Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee letter, signed by 30 Senators, to USDA's Risk Management Agency Administrator William Murphy strongly encouraged a thorough review of comments on proposals contained in the second draft of the Standard Reinsurance Agreement to ensure the federal crop insurance program remains a viable risk management tool for producers. Learn more
Recess Appointments to Key Administration Positions Announced
03/29/2010
President Obama announced 15 recess appointments including Michael Punke to serve as deputy trade representative based in Geneva; Islam A. Siddiqui to serve as chief agricultural negotiator, Office of the US Trade Representative; and Jill Long Thompson to serve as a member of the Farm Credit Administration Board. Learn more
NCC Expresses Opposition to Farm Safety Net Cuts (40k pdf)
03/16/2010
The NCC was among 35 organizations on a letter to Senate and Budget Committee leaders expressing opposition to farm safety net cuts proposed by the President. Learn more
Greenhouse Regulation Disapproval Resolutions Supported
03/11/2010
The NCC was among 175 organizations which signed onto a letter to Reps. Barton (R-TX) and Skelton (D-MO) conveying support for those legislators' introduction of resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act regarding EPA's decision to move forward on regulating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Learn more
Representatives' Letter to Secretary Vilsack Urging MAP Funding Retention (3mb pdf)
01/26/2010
A group of Representatives sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Vilsack urging him to retain Market Access Program funding in the 2011 budget proposal. Learn more
Letters to Senate, House Panels In Support Of TC2 and National Textile Center Funding
01/25/2010
The NCC joined with other trade associations representing the overwhelming majority of US fiber, yarn, fabric, apparel and home furnishings workers on letters to the Senate and House subcommittees on Commerce, Justice and Science to express strong support of continued funding for both the Textile/Clothing Technology Corp. [TC] ² and the National Textile Center. Learn more
Letter to Senate Finance Committee Leaders Regarding Siddiqui Nomination (26k pdf)
01/22/2010
The NCC joined with other agricultural organizations on a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus and Ranking Member Grassley expressing strong support for the President Obama selection of Dr. Isi Siddiqui as chief agricultural trade negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Learn more
Letter to Senate Leaders Regarding Siddiqui, Punke Nominations (26k pdf)
01/22/2010
The NCC and other agricultural organizations sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Reid and Republican Leader McConnell expressing their deep concern with the continuing delay in formal Senate approval of the nominations of Michael Punke to be Deputy US Trade Representative based in Geneva, and Dr. Isi Siddiqui to be chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the US Trade Representative. Learn more
Letter to Producers Receiving CCC-1099-G’s for 2009 Tax Year (27k pdf)
01/22/2010
The FSA letter says that an insert will be included with the '09 tax year CCC-1099-G mailing explaining that additional resources were committed to ensuring that the '09 CRP annual rental payments and '09 DCP payments were timely and accurately processed, and that it is recommended the amounts shown on CC-1099-G be verified with the producers records. Learn more
NCC Coordinates Letter to Sen. Murkowski Regarding Greenhouse Gases Regulation
01/21/2010
The NCC was joined by 137 other commodity and agricultural organizations on a letter to Senator Murkowski declaring support for her introduction of a resolution opposing an EPA plan to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Learn more