ARA 2009 Public Policy Priorities

 

 

1. Transportation Issues 
• Work to ensure the Hours of service ag exemption stays in place at 100 air miles
• Support efforts to streamline and standardize the CDL / Hazmat endorsement finger print and background check requirements, including the elimination of redundant background checks and restraints to the seasonal CDL regulations.
• Work with coalitions and the STB to obtain fair railroad rates and shipping practices for retailers and to maintain the common carrier obligation.
• Oppose efforts by states or municipalities to enact hazmat transportation restrictions that supersede federal rules.
• Maintain active role in any policies that restrict transportation of hazmat materials, whether they affect drivers, routes, materials, or any administration issues.
• Assist in national effort to increase number of CDL / HME drivers.
• Work with the DOT and other trade associations to support testing of all nurse tanks, with allowance for self-certification.

 

2. Stewardship 
• Actively participate with the EPA in their P R Notice on Spray Drift by communicating ARA’s spray drift policy.
• Assist EPA with stewardship and applicator training and guidance programs.
• Actively monitor EPA’s DRT program and involve ARA equipment and surfactant companies to ensure no adverse impact on retailers and distributors. 
• Support NAFTA pesticide labeling project.
• Maintain involvement in pesticide recycling issues with industry and EPA to ensure the program is efficient and at no cost to retailers.
• Actively participate with EPA on web-based labeling project and workgroup and insist on retailer test group. 
• Work with the EPA on the guidance document for the new Spill Protection Containment and Counter (SPCC) Measure Rules. 
• Work on the NPDES issue to ensure that retailers receive favorable treatment
• Work with coalition to oppose legislation which supports ocean ecosystems using the precautionary principal and in effect, creates a super-statute.

 

3. Chemical Site Security 
• Communicate the Agricultural Chemical Security Credit to retailers. 
• Oppose chemical facility security legislation that includes inherently safer technology (IST) mandate, third party enforcement provisions, and weakening of federal preemption.
• Work with DHS and TFI on the implementation of new ammonium nitrate registration regulations.
• Maintain active participation in the DHS Chemical Sector Coordinating Council.

 

4.   Energy Issues 
• Support greater CFTC oversight of natural gas markets similar to agricultural commodities to help prevent price volatility. 
• Support H.R. 977, the Derivatives Markets Transparency and Accountability Act of 2009, a bill to bring transparency to the futures market and provides additional oversight to the CFTC.
• Support federal energy policies that increase domestic natural gas supplies and help reduce domestic fertilizer production costs by ensuring the moratorium for domestic production on the outer continental shelf is permanently removed.
• Support efforts to encourage oil refiners to blend more ethanol into their gasoline products from the current 10% up to 20%.

 

5.  Climate Change Issues  
• Participate with other agricultural industry segments in discussions with Congress and federal agencies on climate change, carbon cap and trade program to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, or other air quality federal legislative or regulatory proposals.
• Work to ensure agricultural retailers and distributors are not adversely impacted by any emissions reduction requirements considered by Congress or the EPA.
• Work to establish opportunities for ag retailers to benefit from proposed climate change legislation.
• Oppose efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.

 

6.   2008 Farm Bill Implementation  
• Support reforms to farm bill programs related to the Technical Services Providers (TSP) program.
• Support CRP program flexibility for exiting and re-entering program.
• Support promotion of renewable energy and rural development programs.
• Support funding for authorized anti-Meth grant program. 

 

7.  Fertilizer Supplies  
• Work closely with the Congress, U.S. ITC and other federal agencies to support policies that ensure adequate supplies of fertilizer products are available for U.S. retailers and farmers and promote the development and use of risk management tools.
• Support legislation to eliminate outdated tariffs on Russian and Ukrainian urea and ammonium nitrate fertilizer. 
• Support efforts for uniform state fertilizer registration regulations and state tonnage reporting and fees.

 

8.  Miscellaneous Issues 
• Support a comprehensive immigration reform policy that provides for a usable Ag guest worker program, a reliable verification system, secured borders, and the opportunity for current farm workers with the support of an employer sponsor to apply for legal status. 
• Tax Reform issues (Estate Tax, Business Expensing, Pensions, etc.).
• Work to support native pollinators while opposing efforts of environmental extremists to link pesticide use to the colony collapse disorder.
• Oppose Card Check legislation which removes secret ballots for workers.
• Maintain involvement in the fertilizer anti-Meth task force