Rounds Reintroduces Several Agriculture Priorities for Congress
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today introduced four pieces of legislation outlining agriculture policy priorities for the 119th Congress. This includes legislation to update safety net programs, expand markets for meat and poultry products and prevent against federal government overreach. Because each of these bills specifically addresses current programs run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rounds is proposing for them to be included in the upcoming Farm Bill which has a deadline of September 30, 2025.
“South Dakota is home to a robust and diverse agriculture industry. Despite not serving on the Senate Agriculture Committee, I continue to work on addressing issues that impact our farm and ranch operations in South Dakota,” said Rounds. “This includes updating safety net programs to make certain producers are receiving fair coverage for their products, allowing state-inspected meat and poultry products to be sold across state lines and reforming the Natural Resources Conservation Service to protect landowners from unnecessary government overreach. I’m looking forward to working with Chairman Boozman and the Senate Agriculture Committee to get these priorities included in the Farm Bill and across the finish line. I will continue to work to support farmers and ranchers in South Dakota and across the country.”
The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) Improvement Act is legislation to require the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to make quarterly updates to LIP payment rates that reflect livestock market prices. Currently, the FSA is required to update LIP payment rates annually. While the agency occasionally provides periodic price updates, the Livestock Indemnity Program Improvement Act would make these updates more frequently to reflect an ever-changing market. Rounds first introduced this legislation in March 2024 and it was included and passed out of the House Agriculture Committee’s version of the Farm Bill in May 2024.
This legislation is cosponsored by Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). Read the full text of the bill HERE.
The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) Enhancement Act is legislation to amend the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to make additional coverage available for crops and grasses used for grazing. Rounds first introduced this legislation in June 2023.
This legislation is cosponsored by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). Read the full text of the bill HERE.
The New Markets for State Inspected Meat and Poultry Act is legislation to allow meat and poultry products inspected by state Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs to be sold across state lines. Currently, meat and poultry products inspected by state programs are limited to markets within the state, even though inspection at a state facility meets or exceeds federal inspection standards. Rounds first introduced this legislation in May 2018 during the 115th Congress.
This legislation is cosponsored by Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senators Angus King (I-Maine), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.). Read full text of the bill HERE.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act is legislation to reform the NRCS within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act would safeguard farmers, ranchers and landowners from bureaucratic overreach by the NRCS and empower producers to continue to protect their land as they see fit. Rounds first introduced this legislation in October 2020 during the 116th Congress.
This legislation is cosponsored by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.). Read the full text of the bill HERE.
Rounds has been a leader on addressing issues faced by South Dakota farmers and ranchers. He was recently named the second most effective Republican senator on agricultural issues during the 118th Congress.
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