We have made it to another Friday and the start of summer for many!  There are a number of important agricultural law stories in the news.

Photo by Darren Halstead

* House Committee on Agriculture releases Farm Bill Draft.  The House Committee on Agriculture, led by Chairman GT Thompson released its draft of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 last week.  Last night, the bill passed out of committee on a bipartisan vote 33-21.  To read the text of the bill, click here.  To read a summary of the House provisions next to the framework that the Senate has put forth, click here.

* USDA announces electronic identification rule for cattle and bison; effective November 5, 2024.  The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced a new final rule requiring the use of electronic identification for certain cattle and bison transported across state lines.  The final rule requires EID tags for sexually intact cattle and bison over 18 months of age; all dairy cattle; and cattle and bison of any age used for rodeo, recreation, shows, and exhibitions.  The final rule is set to go into effect on November 5.   There have been some industry associations that have threatened to file suit challenging the rule, and Senator Mike Rounds from South Dakota has filed a bill in Congress prohibiting USDA from implementing any rules requiring electronic identification.  [Read rule here and an article here.]

* Bayer files application for approval of dicamba product.  Bayer has applied for registration of “KHNP0090,” formerly called Xtendimax. [See proposed label here.]  This registration submission comes after an Arizona court revoked the prior registration.  [Read more about that here.]  There are a number of key changes to Bayer’s new proposed label, including no post-emergence use in soybeans, a June 12 application cutoff for soybeans pre-emergence, and a July 30 application cutoff for cotton. The EPA is currently accepting public comments on this new registration through June 3 here.

* California judge dismisses lawsuit pitting kids against EPA.  A California judge has dismissed claims filed by children claiming that the EPA has violated their constitutional rights by allowing pollution from the burning of fossil fuels that contributes to climate change.  The judge found the plaintiffs lacked standing, in particular, failing to demonstrate how the requested relief would remedy their claimed injuries. Attorneys for the children have said they will file an amended complaint.  [Read more here.]

* Mental Health Awareness Month.  May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and is it draws to a close, we want to remind you that if you or someone you love is struggling, you are not alone.  There is help.  There is hope.  We have a number of podcast interviews focused on rural mental health available here.

Upcoming Programs

I will actually be out of the office next week at a couple of livestock shows with my children.  To see my full list of upcoming programs, click here.

Also, remember that we have two online courses that are available 24/7, on demand.  Learn about our Online Ranchers Leasing Workshop here and our Online Owning Your Piece of Texas course here.