• Kansas Farm Bureaus advocated for reauthorizing the Farm Bill in 2024. While this was not successful we are appreciative of the 1-year extension. Our priorities include the following: First and foremost the protection of the federal crop insurance program. We oppose any ties and/or connections of climate focused practices to federal crop insurance programs including incentive programs. Reform USDA disaster programs to provide better flexibility in the event of natural disasters. Increase funding for the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program and Market Assistance Program (MAP). Maintain the current prioritization of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funding being targeted to livestock producers. Ensure Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres are focused on protecting marginal and highly erodible/non-productive lands. Create programs that encourage water conservation throughout the High Plains Aquifer. Farmers and ranchers continue to navigate disrupted supply chains and logistic challenges. Language included in various infrastructure proposals will benefit agriculture by expanding broadband, modernizing surface and inland water way transportation routes, and provide additional assistance within USDA conservation programs. Carbon markets and programs have been a point of conversation. As congress continues to debate the appropriate role for carbon programs, Kansas Farm Bureau will continue to monitor and protect agriculture that takes place in a semi-arid environment. Not every producer can successfully grow a cover crop. Many Kansas producers ranch on native pastures in the Flint Hills, Smoky Hills and the Gyp Hills. Ensuring these ranchers can participate in carbon programs will be key moving forward. Ongoing and expanding drought conditions throughout 2023 and continuing into 2024 are reducing crop yields, limiting pasture and grass growth. Many fall 2023 crops including corn, soybeans and grain sorghum were a total loss in 2023. Ensuring programs like federal crop insurance are available are essential to Kansas agriculture. Other issues we are following include, Growing Climate Solutions Act Implementation H.R. 1756 - Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act of 2023 S. 719/H.R. 1495 Precision Ag Loan Act S. 1736 Farmers First Act of 2023 (Reauthorization of FRSAN) S. 1867/H.R. 3922 Expanding Childcare in Rural America (ECRA) Act Support for H.R. 7062/S. 3661 - the Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act of 2024 Support for H.R. 7015 - the Creating Access to Rural Employment and Education for Resilience and Success (CAREERS) Act
• Kansas Farm Bureau staunchly oppose the Biden Administration proposed revision to the definition of waters of the United States (WOTUS). We believe the rule unnecessarily expands the definition of WOTUS as well as maintains vague and contradictory definitions. We believe non-federal waters are best regulated at the state level. KFB supports H.J. Res. 27 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Revised Definition of 'Waters of the United States'". We are grateful for the Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA case. Maintaining the ability for grasslands to use prescribed fire to fight off invasive trees and brush must be protected. Kansas has a smoke management plan, of which Kansas Farm Bureau was involved in establishing and still promotes the use of today.
• Kansas Farm Bureau supports additional assistance to help federal meet inspections as well as expansion of small and medium livestock slaughter facilities. S. 2951, the Butcher Block Act is one of the bill that does just that. Kansas Farm Bureau does not support additional government intervention and bureaucracy in livestock markets. We most certainly do not support the government mandating or setting a minimum level of cash bids. We do support additional transparency within livestock marketing. We strongly oppose S. 228 and H.R. 1287, the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act. Farm Bureau supports S. 1512, the DIRECT Act allowing state inspected meat processors to be able to sell their products through e-commerce.
• Kansas Farm Bureau opposes various bills and proposals that eliminate step up basis. We oppose legislation that creates a capital gains tax at date of death. We are thankful Representative Mann lead an effort in a Sense of the House to oppose the repeal of stepped up basis. We also commend and support Rep Mann for introducing HR 1250, the Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act. Kansas Farm Bureau supports a full repeal of the estate tax (commonly referred to as the "death tax" in farming and ranching). Short of a full repeal, keeping the current estate tax at the $11 million indexed for inflation will be key as farming and ranching families make decisions to transition the farm to future generations. Other issues we are monitoring include, Biodiesel Tax Credits Renewable Energy Tax Credits Cost Recovery and Depreciation Issues Extend Bonus Depreciation Business Income Deduction Corporate Tax Rate Like-Kind Exchanges (Section 1031) S. 1706, The Main Street Tax Certainty Act S. 1108, The Death Tax Repeal Act The American Families and Jobs Act (H.R. 3936, H.R. 3937, H.R. 3938) H.R. 7024 - The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act
• Kansas Farm Bureau supports expanding trade opportunities. Enforcing USMCA, continuing and expanding China Phase 1, and expanding markets in Japan, the EU, Britain, Korea, and elsewhere around the world are key to improving the economic vitality of farms and ranches in Kansas. Fallout of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has disrupted international trade. We support open trade and do not support protectionist policies. We continue to monitor and work with Congress and USTR to develop a longer-term framework for agricultural trade with China, including implementation of Phase I of US-China Trade Agreement. The U.S. and Mexico are engaged in discussions to resolve Mexico's proposed biotech regulations on imported corn. We support the U.S. launching a formal dispute under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Mexico's lack of action on biotech approvals is also part of the discussions. We support continued trade of corn and other agricultural products with Mexico.
• Kansas Farm Bureau supports agricultural exemptions to the hours-of-service rules and regulatory relief for farmers, ranchers and agricultural haulers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations (FMCSA) hours-of-service (HOS) requirements limit the time a commercial motor vehicle driver may be on duty to 14 hours and driving to 11 hours. However, agriculture and livestock haulers face unique circumstances due to the perishability of their products. Full implementation of the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements in February of 2022 created a dramatic shortage in rural school bus drivers as well as commercial trucker drivers who transport agricultural products. Farmers and ranchers are dependent on commercial truckers to bring input products to their region and haul bulk commodities raised on the farm and ranch to other commercial locations. The lack of truck drivers, and a growing difficulty to replace them, adds additional burdens and costs to the agricultural supply chain. Other issues we are following include, Future highway and transportation funding Electronic Logging Devices Infrastructure Supply Chain Water Resources Development Act
• General Immigration Reform The Average Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) continues to financially burden agricultural producers who utilize the H-2A Temporary Agriculture Worker program (H2-A program). HR 4708 H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers (HIRE) Act (H-2A, H-2B streamlining provisions) Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP) H.R. 7046/S. 3848 Supporting Farm Operations Act H-2A Legislative Reforms TN visa regulatory reforms
• Burdensome reporting requirements on farms and ranches S. 391/H.R. 1018 Protect Farmers from the SEC Act Implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act Basel III Endgame Joint Proposed Rulemaking Natural Asset Companies

Duration: November 1, 2007 to present

General Issues: Agriculture, Clean Air & Water (Quality), Food Industry (Safety, Labeling, etc.), Taxation/Internal Revenue Code, Trade (Domestic & Foreign), Transportation, Immigration, Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities, Animals, Telecommunications, Natural Resources, Fuel/Gas/Oil, Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace, Budget/Appropriations, Insurance, Energy/Nuclear, Roads/Highway, Railroads, Science/Technology, Real Estate/Land Use/Conservation, Homeland Security, Education, Postal, Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV, Environmental/Superfund, Small Business, Health Issues, Disaster Planning/Emergencies, Foreign Relations

Spending: about $3,068,000 (But it's complicated. Here's why.)

It can be tricky to figure out how much an organization spent on a particular lobbying engagement. The law only requires lobbyists to report the amount they were paid for federal lobbying each quarter rounded to the nearest $10,000—and if it's less than $3,000 in a given quarter (or less than $13,000 for organizations with in-house lobbyists), they don't have to disclose it at all. Plus, some organizations include spending that doesn’t belong in the report—for instance, money spent lobbying state governments or other legal work.

Agencies lobbied since 2007: U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, Agriculture - Dept of (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Army - Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Agriculture - Dept of (USDA), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Transportation - Dept of (DOT), Natl Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA), Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Interior - Dept of (DOI), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS),, Risk Management Agency, Health & Human Services - Dept of (HHS), White House Office, Labor - Dept of (DOL), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Army - Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Bureau of Reclamation, Homeland Security - Dept of (DHS), Justice - Dept of (DOJ), Y Y USDA, Y Y, Y N, N Y, Y APHIS, Y