Mission

Disaster Assistance

• Work with USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to ensure effective and timely implementation of WHIP+ disaster assistance for quality losses and excessive moisture

Crop Insurance – Malt Barley Endorsement

• Urge USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) to establish Malt Barley Endorsement indemnities based on local market prices for barley rather than Chicago Board of Trade corn prices for 2021 crop year

Market Facilitation Program (MFP)

• Urge continued implementation of MFP by USDA to offset market impacts of trade disruptions; include appropriate values for barley in MFP payment formula

Farm Bill Implementation

• Support timely implementation of the “Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018”, including sign-up for PLC and county ARC programs for 2019 and 2020 crops.
• Support continued development and posting of websites by University consortiums to assist producers in evaluating PLC and ARC program options.

Appropriations – FY2021

USDA -NASS & ERS

• NASS & ERS funding above FY2020 levels.
• Maintain barley crop county estimates.
• Restore barley estimates for KY, OH, OK & TX.

USDA-ARS

• Filling all ARS vacancies to ensure USDA meets Congressional directives for research goals.
• Funding for ARS Salaries and Expenses at or above FY2020 levels
• Funding of $5 million for the Barley Pest Initiative.
• Maintain funding for the US Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative (USWBSI) at the FY2020 level of $15 million, as authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill.
• Maintain funding for the Small Grains Genomic Initiative (SGGI) at the FY2020 level of $3.44 million.

USDA-NIFA

• Funding at or above FY2020 levels for Hatch Act and Smith-Lever Formula Grants and the Agriculture & Food Research Initiative (AFRI).

Trade

NBGA supports:

• Seamless implementation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
• Negotiation of a Phase II agreement with Japan that expands market access for U.S. barley
• Implementation of China Phase I agreement that increases U.S. barley exports
• Increased funding for Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD).

Tax Policy

NBGA supports making permanent the existing beer excise tax provisions that expire December 31, 2020.

Transportation

NBGA supports:

• Reauthorization of the Highway Bill with adequate funding to ensure road maintenance & construction needs are met.
• Provisions, endorsed by the Safer Hauling & Infrastructure Protection (SHIP) coalition, to modernize truck weight limits on federal highways and increase freight efficiency