Relaxing some regulations would support farmers without compromising food safety
Six Republican agriculture commissioners and secretaries want Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to consider permanently reinstating some measures that supported farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a Feb. 27 letter to Rollins, State ag leaders from Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama, North Carolina, Indiana, and West Virginia, highlighted that the bold action taken during the pandemic made sure producers could grow the food Americans needed access to.
“These emergency measures cut red tape, kept supply chains moving, and gave farmers more autonomy, all without compromising worker safety or the integrity of America’s food supply,” the letter says.
The State reps proposed five ideas:
1. Allowing digital signatures on USDA paperwork, and deferred interest accrual on crop insurance premium payments.
2. Allow bulk foods and eggs originally destined for restaurants to be redirected to grocery stores without burdensome re-labeling. And to explore an "emergency labeling pathway” to support food redirection in times of market disruptions.
3. A standing agricultural exemption of hours-of-service regulations for truckers during regional or national supply chain disruptions like states of emergency or periods of economic distress.
4. A collaboration between the USDA and EPA to establish permanent guidelines for EPA compliance extensions to support small farmers.
5. Modernize import and export paperwork acceptance by allowing electronic phytosanitary and veterinary certificates.
These measures the American government took during the pandemic proved successful and should be implemented to ensure farmers and those in the ag supply chain are supported, said Commissioner Andy Gipson from Mississippi.
“Reforms such as reducing duplicative rules, streamlining permitting, and modernizing outdated processes strengthen rural economies and position American agriculture for long-term success. So many of these reforms demonstrated lasting value and should be made permanent,” he said in a March 3 statement.
As of March 4 there’s been no public response from Secretary Rollins.