What Ag Retail Can Expect From A Biden Administration
At the 2020 Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) Conference & Expo, three industry panelists shed light on the horizon for what’s to come after the 2020 election.
In Biden’s first 100 days, ag retailers can expect Biden to fill his cabinet, address the COVID-19 pandemic, reverse Trump’s administrative policies (including many executive orders), and set forth the administration’s legislative priorities.
As ARA’s Richard Gupton explains, after such a close election, there are many areas to watch. One of which would be the runoff for the Senate seats in Georgia.
Wilbur-Ellis’s Scott Rawlins agrees that the Georgia runoffs provide a tipping point in the Senate for the direction of many legislative efforts. However, four things are for sure going to be in the spotlight in in the coming years.
“Waters of the U.S. returns in some fashion no matter what,” Rawlins says. “We can expect TPP to come back. And a slogan everyone should get used to hearing is “environmental justice. For the 2022 Farm Bill, watch for nutrition programs and green payments.”
Gupton provides 10 key issues of ag retailers:
- Climate change
- Farm Bill
- Waters of US
- Nutrient policy
- Pesticide policy/FIFRA
- Ag labor
- Trade
- Tax
- Transportation infrastructure
- Rural broadband
The industry is watching for who will be named leaders of the federal agencies that have oversight of ag retail, namely USDA and EPA.
Rawlins says the Secretary of Agriculture is a “wide open race,” but says Marcia Fudge is the front-runner right now.
Growmark’s Chuck Spencer encourages ag retailers to see the opportunities in working with politicians and political appointees who may be considered to have a more urban rather than rural background.
“For example, Marcia Fudge, whose district goes from Cleveland with a silver down to Akron, is an individual who has worked very closely with Ohio Farm Bureau,” Spencer says, and he shares it would be a big vulnerability to the industry if they don’t listen to the concerns of urban members.
As for EPA administrator, considered individuals include Mary Nichols (chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board), Jared Blumenfeld (California Secretary for Environmental Protection), Collin O’Mara (CEO of National Wildlife Federation), and others.
Rawlins and Gupton see two of the biggest vulnerabilities for the industry under the jurisdiction of the Biden EPA: climate change and FIFRA.
Another issue the panelists raise is ag retail should expect a more active regulatory approach. As Rawlins explains, the Trump administration gave a four-year pause in how regulatory agencies had typically operated, but the industry should prepare to quickly re-enter a phase of inspections and fines to bring compliance.
An on-demand recording of this panel discussion is available to all attendees of the ARA Conference.
