The Farm Post eNews

Friday eNews from the Pike and Scott County Farm Bureaus
 

DECEMBER 18, 2015
Agreement reached on year-end bills
Congressional leaders released details of a $1.1 trillion Fiscal 2016 spending bill that would also repeal mandatory country of origin labeling for beef and pork (COOL). On Thursday, the House passed the tax portions of the bill but have not acted to repeal COOL. .

The Senate is expected to act on the measures today. Farm Bureau encourages members to contact Senators and Congressmen to call for passage of the spending bill and repeal of COOL. Go to the  Legislative Action Center to take action.

Passage of the bill to fund the federal government through next September would also prevent $1 billion in retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico authorized by the World Trade Organization on December 7, 2015.

In addition, House and Senate tax writers announced they reached agreement on a major tax bill that would make permanent Section 179 small business expensing at $500,000. The provision includes the 2015 tax year and is indexed to inflation thereafter. Fifty percent bonus depreciation provisions would be extended for the next five years.

The tax bill also extends renewable fuel credits for biodiesel and next generation biofuels as well as several other provisions supported by Farm Bureau.

In other parts of the bill, efforts to block language that would overrule USEPA's Waters of the U.S. rule lost out to a deal to lift the ban on oil exports. Efforts continue in federal courts to block the rule. Opponents of the rule expect the issue will end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
GAO says EPA broke the law
According to a legal opinion issued Monday by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the Environmental Protection Agency broke the law with its social media and grassroots lobbying campaign advocating for its own Waters of the U.S. rule.
 
"It's clear from this report that EPA orchestrated this matter in a biased fashion," said AFBF President Bob Stallman in a statement. "Now it's up to Congress to clean up this mess by including a corrective measure in the omnibus bill now taking shape on Capitol Hill.
 
"Courts already have declared serious doubts about the legal authority for the rule. Now that it has become clear that the agency used illegal tactics to manufacture ill-informed support for the rule, Congress should act immediately to prohibit implementation of this rule, which is the product of an unlawful and misguided process.
 
"We applaud U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Jim Inhofe for asking GAO to conduct this investigation. The GAO findings vindicate those, like the American Farm Bureau Federation, who have claimed all along that EPA's tactics advocating for this rule stepped past the bounds of proper agency rulemaking. EPA was focused only on promoting the rule rather than hearing good-faith concerns from a wide cross-section of Americans. The public deserves better when important matters of public policy are at stake."
Drones need to be registered with FAA
The FAA announced Monday that all small unmanned aircraft (UAS) weighing more than 0.55 pounds and less than 55 pounds must be registered.

Existing UAS owners must register no later than Feb. 19, 2016. Anyone purchasing a drone after Dec. 21, 2015, must register before their first outdoor flight. Operators will receive a unique identification number, valid for three years, that must be marked on the drone.

Operators who fail to register could get hit with some pretty stiff penalties, including civil penalties of up to $27,500 and criminal penalties up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to three years.

Registration is free for the first 30 days beginning Dec. 21 and $5 after that. Visit www.faa.gov/uas/registration for more information.

Source: Ben Potter, AgWeb.com
AFBF Supports TPP
The American Farm Bureau Federation's Board of Directors voted this week to support the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement. TPP promises to expand opportunities to some of the fastest growing markets around the world and goes a long way in establishing a much more level playing field for our nation's farmers and ranchers.
 
AFBF Statement
Don't Forget to Add This to Your Calendar
 
Plat Books Make a Great Gift
Pike and Scott plat books make great stocking stuffers. Pick yours up from either office. We can also mail them for you or to you.

Pike or Scott CFB Member Price: $33.00
Non-Member Price: $38.00
(Tax and S/H not included in price)
Just in Time for Christmas
Have you considered using construction equipment on your farm or ranch? Machines like skid steer loaders and compact track loaders, traditionally used on construction sites, can perform a dozen different farm jobs that could save you time and money. Farm Bureau members in Illiknois save up to $2,000 when buying or leasing a qualifying Cat Backhoe Loader, Wheel Loader, Mini Hydraulic Excavator, Multi Terrain Loader, Skid Steer Loader, Compact Track Loader, Telehandler or Small Dozer. Visit fbadvantage.com/cat to print your membership verification certificate and then visit your local Cat dealer.  
 
Cat On the Level blog
TODAY IN HISTORY
 
DECEMBER 18, 1777
Thanksgiving Proclamation

After the U.S. victory over British forces in the October 1777 Battle of Saratoga, the Continental Congress recommended that the colonies observe a day of thanksgiving. The commander-in-chief of the Continental forces, George Washington, issued General Orders setting aside Thursday, December 18 "for Solemn Thanksgiving and Praise".

All thirteen colonies celebrated on December 18 while Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont sponsored additional thanksgiving observances on separate days. The tradition of thanksgiving days sponsored by the Continental Congress continued through 1784 with proclamations such as the October 1782 decree.

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