2014
Letter Urges West Coast Port Negotiations Conclusion (30k pdf)12/31/2014
The NCC joined onto a letter to President Obama with associations representing US manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, importers, exporters, and transportation and logistics providers to express the coalitions continued concerns with the status of the West Coast port labor negotiations and the impact the ongoing congestion and slowdowns are having on all segments of the economy. Learn more
Senators' Letters Convey Concerns On Turkish Anti-Dumping Case (149k pdf)
12/22/2014
Eight Senators, including incoming Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Corker (R-TN), signed onto letters sent on Dec. 19 to US Trade Representative Froman, Secretary of Commerce Pritzker, and Turkish Ambassador Kılıç, noting, among other points, their concerns that the Turkish government's anti-dumping investigation is being driven by factors unrelated to the import of US cotton and there is no clear evidence of US cotton exports dumping. Learn more
Letters Convey Concerns on Turkish Anti-Dumping Issue (1.1mb pdf)
12/19/2014
Congressional letters have been sent to US Trade Representative Froman, Secretary of Commerce Pritzker, and Turkish Ambassador Kılıç, noting the apparent political nature of the anti-dumping case, the lack of transparency in the basis used to initiate the case, and the potential WTO violations that may occur if Turkey proceeds to assess duties on US cotton imports. Learn more
Senate Makes Assignments For Four Key Committees
12/18/2014
Assignments were made for the Senate committees on agriculture, appropriations, finance, and environment and public works for the 114th Congress. (Cotton Belt members are in bold and freshman members are noted with an asterisk.) The complete House and Senate committee and subcommittee memberships will be available once the new Congress convenes in January '15. Learn more
NCC Conveys Support for House California Drought Legislation
12/04/2014
A letter to House Majority Leader McCarthy (R-CA) on behalf of the NCC and its grower, gin, warehouse and merchandizing members based in California thanked him for co-sponsoring the California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014 (H.R. 5781) that was introduced the week of Dec. 1 and for his ongoing efforts to address that critical situation. The NCC said it strongly supports the bill, which is to be considered by the House the week of Dec. 8. Learn more
NCC Submits Pollinator Health Comments
11/21/2014
In its comments to the President’s Pollinator Health Task Force, the NCC informed EPA of activities that the NCC has been engaged towards improving honey bee health and offered suggestions for federal actions. Learn more
Letter Conveys Support For Restoring Higher Section 179 Expensing Limit, Bonus Depreciation (11k pdf)
11/18/2014
The NCC joined with a group of other farm and ranch organizations representing small businesses on a Nov. 18 letter to Senate Majority Leader Reid, Senate Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Boehner, and House Minority Leader Pelosi encouraging the Senate and the House to carefully consider the importance of including Section 179 Small Business Financing and bonus depreciation in a multi-year tax extenders package. Learn more
President Asked To Intervene On West Coast Port Labor Negotiations (108K pdf)
11/17/2014
The NCC joined onto a letter with associations representing United States agriculture and forest products producers asking President Obama to resolve this critical situation. The Nov. 17 letter asked the President to reach out to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime Association to insist that they immediately restore the ports to full operation while they continue negotiations. Learn more
Letter Calls For WOTUS Rule Withdrawal (857k pdf)
11/17/2014
The NCC joined with a large contingent of other agricultural and agribusiness organizations on a letter to EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers asking those agencies to withdraw their proposed rule to define “Waters of the United States” Under the Clean Water Act. Learn more
Notice ARCPLC-14 Provides State/County Offices' Guidance On ARC, PLC Elections (1.2 mb pdf)
11/13/2014
USDA's Farm Service Agency issued Notice ARCPLC-14, which provides guidance to state and county Offices on Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) elections. As authorized in the new farm law, current producers on farms with base acres have the opportunity to elect ARC or PLC that will be in effect for the life of the '14 farm law. The election period is Nov. 17, '14-March 31, '15, and the election will be made on CCC-857. Learn more
Notice ARCPLC-13 Provides ARC, PLC Timeline (22k pdf)
10/31/2014
USDA's Notice ARCPLC-13 has a summary of the phases for ARCPLC and dates for when phases or actions are expected to occur or be complete. Learn more
FSA Issues Revised AD-1026 Regarding HELC, WC (2.8mb pdf)
10/30/2014
Revised versions of AD-1026 and AD-1026 Appendix (dated 6-30-14) were issued by USDA's Farm Service Agency to reflect the linkage for any premium subsidy eligibility for crop insurance policy or plan paid by FCIC to compliance with Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification provisions as required by the Agricultural Act of 2014. Learn more
NCC Reminds Its Members to Vote
10/30/2014
NCC members are reminded that U.S. elections are being held throughout '14, with the general elections scheduled for Tuesday, November 4. During this midterm election year, all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 33 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate will be contested. As many of those Cotton Belt state races are tightly contested, the NCC urges its members to get out and vote!! Learn more
NCC Responds To Post Editorial Regarding Brazil WTO Case
10/09/2014
The NCC sent a letter to the editor to the Washington Post in response to the newspaper's editorial that was critical of the Brazil WTO Dispute resolution. Learn more
COTTON TRANSITION PAYMENT SIGN-UP DEADLINE HERE!
09/24/2014
Producers are reminded that sign-up for the Cotton Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) is underway at county Farm Service Agency offices. The deadline for application is Oct. 7, '14. Learn more
CTAP Details, ARC/PLC Program General Provisions (222k pdf)
09/24/2014
Details of the Cotton Transition Assistance Program, along with general provisions for ARC and PLC programs, are contained in Federal Register notice 7 CFR Part 1412. Learn more
NCC Comments on China WTO Compliance (110k pdf)
09/19/2014
This document has a summary of NCC Chairman Wally Darneille's oral testimony and the NCC's full written comments submitted to the Office of the US Trade Representative in advance of an Oct. 1 public hearing in Washington, DC, on China’s compliance with its WTO obligations. Learn more
NCC Urges APH Adjustment Implementation
09/12/2014
In a letter to Risk Management Agency Administrator Brandon Willis, the NCC urged the RMA to make every effort to implement for the '15 cotton crop the farm bill provision allowing a producer to adjust their APH insurance yield. The letter is based on an American Cotton Producers resolution subsequently approved by the NCC Board. Learn more
NCC Comments on RMA’s Interim Rule Regarding Farm Law Provisions
09/05/2014
The NCC submitted comments on the Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) Interim Rule published on July 1 that addressed implementation of enterprise units by practice, coverage by practice, beginning farmer provisions and the new linkage of crop insurance and conservation compliance. Learn more
NCC Files Comments On EPA's Proposed Revisions To Agricultural Worker Protection Standard
08/04/2014
The NCC says that it believes EPA, in its proposed revisions to the Agricultural Worker Protection Standard, has failed to demonstrate benefits that outweigh the additional costs to farmers and has significantly underestimated the costs to farmers that these additional regulations will impose. Learn more
House Passes H.R. 935
07/25/2014
The House on July 31 passed H.R. 935, “Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act,” by a 267-161 vote. The NCC had issued an action alert on July 25 asking leadership to contact several Congressional offices and urge support for the legislation. Learn more
Producers Reminded of '14 Farm Law Conservation Compliance Changes
07/23/2014
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack reminds producers that changes mandated through the '14 farm bill require them to have on file a Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation Certification (WC) (AD-1026). USDA also made available a fact sheet on (HELC) and (WC) provisions. Learn more
NCC Letters Convey California Water Legislation Support
07/18/2014
In letters to several members of California’s congressional delegation, the NCC urged the House and Senate to work to resolve the differences between S. 2198 and H.R. 3964 and work together in the remaining days of the 113th Congress to approve comprehensive drought relief legislation. Learn more
California Drought Relief Bill Recommendations Forwarded (202k pdf)
07/18/2014
Producers from several different areas and water districts in California developed a list of recommendations to guide the House and Senate negotiations on the “Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act”. The recommendations were contained in a letter sent to the California Congressional delegation that urged their inclusion in legislation that can be presented to the House and Senate for approval and sent to the President for his signature in the near future.<br /> Learn more
Compliance Form 1026 (1mb pdf)
07/11/2014
The Agricultural Act of 2014 ('14 farm law) links eligibility for any premium subsidy paid by the Federal Crop Insurance Corp. on a policy or plan of federally reinsured crop insurance to compliance with HELC and WC provisions. This necessitates the completion of this compliance form -- the revised AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification. Learn more
NCC Responds to Interpretive Rule
07/03/2014
In comments, the NCC urged the EPA and Corps of Engineers to withdraw their Interpretive Rule (IR) regarding the exemption from permitting under Section 404(f)(1)(A) of the Clean Water Act to certain agricultural conservation practices. The NCC disagrees with EPA’s assessment saying that the IR actually will restrict the exemptions that Congress intended for agriculture. Learn more
President Issues Pollinator Protection Memo
06/20/2014
President Obama issued a memorandum on June 20 directing US government agencies to take additional steps to protect and restore domestic populations of pollinators, including honey bees, native bees, birds, bats, and butterflies – critical contributors to our nation’s economy, food system, and environmental health. Learn more
NCC Supports CFTC Reauthorization Bill (92k pdf)
06/20/2014
The NCC joined other organizations representing a very broad cross-section of US production agriculture and agribusiness on a letter to House Members urging them to cast an affirmative vote on H.R. 4413, the “Customer Protection and End-User Relief Act,” when it moves to the House floor for consideration. Learn more
Statement Calls For Withdrawal of CWA Interpretive Rule (280k pdf)
06/20/2014
The NCC joined with other agricultural organizations in submitting a statement conveying concerns with and calling for withdrawal of the Interpretive Rule regarding the Clean Water Act's agricultural exemptions. The statement was sent to House Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Forestry Chairman Thompson (R-PA) and Ranking Member Walz (D-MN) prior to the Subcommittee's review of that Rule. Learn more
Congress Urged To Support Targeted Truck Weight Provisions (70k pdf)
06/11/2014
The NCC joined a group of organizations, including several agricultural groups, on a letter to House Speaker Boehner (R-OH) and House Minority Leader Pelosi (D-CA) in which Congressional Members were urged to support the targeted truck weight provisions included in Section 125 of the FY15 Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Appropriations Act (H.R. 4745). Learn more
No Farm Law Modifications Urged
06/10/2014
The NCC joined commodity and general farm organizations on a letter urging House Members to reject any amendments to change farm law when the FY15 Agriculture Appropriations measure is debated beginning on June 11. Modifications would create instability and uncertainty for farmers who have to make large investments and complex cropping and marketing decisions in increasingly volatile markets. The '14 farm law required three years of debate, includes far-reaching policy reform and achieves significant budget savings. Learn more
NCC Supports America's Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2014 (96k pdf)
06/09/2014
The NCC joined onto a letter with other organizations representing millions of businesses from every state and from every industry sector to Reps. Kind (D-WI) and Tiberi (R-OH) conveying support for H.R. 4457, legislation they introduced that would restore the small business expensing—sometimes called Section 179 expensing—level to $500,000, including limited improvements to real property and permanently index the level to inflation. Learn more
USDA Announces ’14 Cotton Loan Rate Differentials (See Corrections Made on April 16)
04/17/2014
USDA's Farm Service Agency announced on April 15 the '14-crop loan rate differentials, also referred to as loan rate premiums and discounts, for upland and extra-long staple cotton. On April 16, USDA re-released page 3 of the upland cotton tables, which includes corrected numbers for extraneous matter, strength, length uniformity and micronaire. Learn more
NCC Rebuttal to Roll Call Honeybee Decline Commentary
04/11/2014
Dr. Don Parker, the NCC's manager, Integrated Pest Management, submitted on April 10 a rebuttal to a commentary targeting neonicotinoids that appeared in the DC-based online newspaper, Roll Call. Learn more
News Release On Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act of 2014
01/10/2014
A news release was issued on The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act of 2014 by the bill's co-sponsors: House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). Learn more
Bee Protection Presenting Crop Protection Challenge
01/06/2014
The NCC reminds its members that for the past five years it has closely monitored the escalating events surrounding bee protection -- and will stay involved in pollinator protection activities that challenge crop protection product usage. Learn more