Feed Emergency Enhancement During Disasters Act with Cover Crops (FEEDD ACT)
Background: First introduced into Congress in 2019, the FEEDD Act was recently reintroduced by U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Angie Craig (D-MN) along with Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).
Legislation: This bill hopes to provide farmers and ranchers flexibility during times of emergency to ease shortages in livestock feed when they are prevented from planting due to severe weather, such as heavy rain or drought. The Federal Crop Insurance Program currently provides a small indemnity in these circumstances, but not enough to make up for the loss incurred. The FEEDD Act would give waiver authority to the USDA to let farmers graze, hay, or chop cover crops before November 1st without taking a discount on their crop indemnity payments.
Supporters: This act carries bipartisan support along with support from major agricultural groups, such as the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Milk Producers Federation, and more.
“Especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, Congress has a responsibility to provide farmers and ranchers the flexibility they need to do their jobs successfully. The FEEDD Act will help to support ag producers in Minnesota at no cost to the taxpayer — while incentivizing the planting of cover crops to protect the health and quality of farmers’ soil in Minnesota. I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan, commonsense effort and look forward to its passage in the House.”
– Angie Craig, Minnesota Senator
