NBGA Winter 2020 Meeting

Hyatt House Washington, DC/ The Wharf
725 Wharf St. SW, Washington, DC 20024

Click to make your hotel reservation by January 3, 2020 to receive the NBGA group rate of $229/night and click to register for the meeting on our website.

Monday, Feb 3: Travel day
Tuesday, Feb 4: Board meets all day, board dinner
Wednesday, Feb 5: Hill visits, evening reception
Thursday, Feb 6: Board meets until noon
Upcoming Barley Industry Events
December 2019: Montana Grain Growers Association Annual Convention Great Falls, MT 12/3-12/5; National Scab Initiative Meeting Milwaukee, WI 12/7-12/9; Prairie Grains Conference Grand Forks, ND 12/11-12/12

January 2020: Deadline to reserve hotel room for NBGA winter meeting in Washington, DC 1/3!

February 2020: NBGA Winter Meeting in DC 2/3-2/6; Craft Maltsters Guild Advanced Class in Craft Malt Production 2/3-2/6; Craft Malt Conference in Fort Collins, CO 2/7-2/8, Craft Maltsters Guild Annual Meeting 2/8; Idaho Barley Commission Research Review (Joint with Idaho Wheat Commission) in Boise, ID 2/20; Idaho Barley Commission Meeting in Boise, ID 2/21; Canadian Barley Symposium and BRMBRI Triennial Meeting Winnipeg, AB 2/24-2/25
March 2020: National Barley Improvement Committee, Washington, DC 3/8-3/11

April 2020: World Beer Cup San Antonio, TX 4/17-4/19; Craft Brewers Conference San Antonio, TX 4/19-4/22

May 2020:

June 2020: Idaho Barley Commission Annual Budget Meeting in Soda Springs, ID 6/11-6/12; NBGA meeting tentatively scheduled for 6/15-6/18 in St. Louis, MO

July 2020:

August 2020: MBAA and ASBC World Brewing Congress Minneapolis, MN 8/1-8/4

September 2020: Great American Beer Festival Denver, CO 9/24-9/26



In This Issue:
  • Appropriations Update
  • Market Facilitation Program Update
  • USMCA Update
  • China Update
  • Japan Trade Agreement Letter
  • Beer Tax Modernization Provisions Set to Expire

Appropriations Update

Prior to Thanksgiving, Congress passed another Continuing Resolution (CR) through December 21st. The CR keeps the government operating at previous fiscal year levels while Congress continues to negotiate and pass new Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations bills. The FY20 Agriculture Appropriations bill has cleared the House and Senate and is awaiting final Conference Committee agreement to work out the differences in the two versions. The chart below shows the status of the individual appropriations bills.
(Graphic Source: Politico Pro, Nov. 25, 2019)
Market Facilitation Program Update

Several Democrat U.S. Senators, led by Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking member Debbie Stabenow, released a letter and report highlighting the regional disparities in MFP payments. Likewise, on November 1st House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson sent a letter to USDA Secretary Perdue expressing his concerns with the MFP.


Meanwhile, USDA has released the second tranche of MFP payments to producers, which represents 25% of the total 2019 MFP payments. The first tranche included 50% of 2019 MFP payments and a third tranche representing the remaining 25% could be released in early 2020. However, USDA has not confirmed if or when the third tranche will occur, and it could depend on whether "phase one" of a trade agreement is reached with China in the coming weeks.

USMCA Update

Congress and the Administration continue work toward a final agreement and a vote in Congress on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement. House leadership have indicated that progress has been made and they are working with the Administration on the legislative text. However, it still remains uncertain if the USMCA will be voted on before the end of the calendar year.
China Update

Negotiations also continue on a potential "Phase One" agreement with China that could include a suspension of tariffs and President Trump has touted that it could also include a commitment by China to increase purchases of U.S. agricultural products. A "phase one" agreement with China would not require congressional approval.
Japan Trade Agreement Letter

NBGA joined other agricultural groups on a letter in support of the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement phase one. The letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal was prompted by concern that some Members of Congress would seek to slow down progress and implementation of the U.S.-Japan agreement.

Beer Tax Modernization Provisions Set to Expire

The Craft beverage Modernization and tax Reform Act provisions included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 provided tax relief for beer producers, but the provisions were only two years- 2018 and 2019. NBGA continues to support efforts to make the beer tax modernization provisions permanent or at the very least have them extended beyond 2019. There are a number of temporary tax provisions that have expired in 2017, 2018, and 2019 and stakeholders, including NBGA, are urging Congress to pass a "tax extenders" package before the end of the year.
National Barley Growers Association
(202) 548-0734
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