	Introduction

Animal agriculture is an important part of the U.S. agricultural economy, and consequently is important to U.S. policymakers. The farm value of animal production is estimated at $169 billion in 2012, nearly 44% of the total value of U.S. agricultural production. In addition, the value of animal product exports and imports grew to about $43 billion in 2012. Approximately 1.1 million of the nation's more than 2.2 million farms were classified in the 2007 Census of Agriculture as primarily animal production operations. With the exception of dairy, livestock and poultry products generally are not eligible for the price and income support programs authorized in farm bills for major crops such as grains, cotton, and oilseeds. Instead, the livestock and poultry industries seek federal government leadership and support in food safety, monitoring animal diseases, and promoting fair and competitive trade practices that benefit consumers and animal agriculture. Livestock and poultry producers count on the U.S. government for negotiating international market access, monitoring trade agreements, and settling trade disputes. Other long-standing public policy concerns include animal agriculture's obligations with respect to animal welfare and environmental protection. Selected Issues

Major animal agriculture issues likely to be of interest to the 113 th Congress include a proposal to restructure U.S. dairy policy as part of any omnibus farm bill and several regulatory issues. In addition, Congress continues to oversee U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) activities related to livestock and poultry markets and USDA's food safety responsibilities, such as meat and poultry inspections. Other key issues, including animal welfare, the role of trade in the animal sector, and environmental regulations that impact animal agriculture, continue to generate interest in Congress. Both bills proposed replacing the current U.S. dairy programs that rely on a simple price trigger (DPPSP and MILC) with two programs—the Dairy Production Margin Protection Program (DPMPP), a new income support program based on the monthly difference (i.e., the margin) between the national average farm all-milk price and a formula-derived estimate of feed costs, and the Dairy Market Stabilization Program (DMSP), which, under certain conditions, would reduce payments to participating producers for their milk when the margin falls below proposed statutory thresholds. The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) compensates producers for disaster losses not covered under other disaster programs. Given general widespread support for livestock disaster aid, many expect the reauthorization of the disaster programs with mandatory funds to be included in any farm bill reauthorization that is introduced in the 113 th Congress. However, livestock and poultry industries have intently focused on repealing or revising the RFS, which they say has harmed the livestock and poultry sectors by driving up feed costs. Like the FY2012 appropriations act, the FY2013 House Agriculture appropriations bill ( H.R. 5973 ) would have prohibited USDA from implementing the GIPSA rule provisions. In addition, the bill would have repealed the provisions that USDA finalized in December 2011. Also, Congress might address the GIPSA rule provisions during debate on any omnibus farm bill. In the 112 th Congress, the House Agriculture Committee-reported farm bill ( H.R. These bills did not advance, but could be reintroduced in the 113 th Congress. A similar bill may be introduced in the 113 th Congress. Egg legislation could also become part of an omnibus farm bill debate during 2013.
Animal agriculture is an important part of the U.S. agricultural economy, and consequently is important to U.S. policymakers. The farm value of animal production is estimated at $169 billion in 2012, nearly 44% of the total value of U.S. agricultural production. In addition, the value of animal product exports and imports grew to about $43 billion in 2012. Approximately 1.1 million of the nation's more than 2.2 million farms were classified in the 2007 Census of Agriculture as primarily animal production operations. These included cattle farms and ranches; cattle feedlots; dairies; operations with hogs, poultry, eggs, sheep, or goats; and farms with horses, bison, beekeeping, and aquaculture.
Except for dairy, livestock and poultry products generally are not eligible for the price and income support programs authorized in farm bills for major crops such as grains, cotton, and oilseeds. Livestock and poultry producers count on federal government leadership in policy areas such as food safety, animal health, the promotion of fair and competitive trade practices, and foreign trade for the benefit of animal agriculture. Other long-standing public policy concerns include animal agriculture's obligations with respect to animal welfare and environmental protection.
A couple of key animal agriculture issues are expected to be part of the omnibus farm bill debate in the 113th Congress. The 112th Congress proposed substantial changes to U.S. dairy policy, including the creation of a Dairy Production Margin Protection Program and a Dairy Market Stabilization Program. Similar provisions may be reintroduced in the 113th Congress as part of a new omnibus farm bill. Also, three expired livestock disaster assistance programs—the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, the Livestock Indemnity Program, and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program—may be proposed for reauthorization with mandatory funds in any farm bill introduced this year. The farm bills in the 112th Congress would have reauthorized the programs.
The House and Senate Agriculture Committees might be involved in a variety of issues through their oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The livestock and poultry industries have intently focused on a repeal or revision of the Renewable Fuels Standard, which they say has harmed their sectors by driving up feed costs.
The 113th Congress also might address issues related to livestock and poultry contracts. In the FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations Act, the 112th Congress prohibited USDA from finalizing parts of its proposed rule on contracts. Proposals in the FY2013 House Agriculture appropriations bill and the House farm bill would have repealed the provisions that USDA finalized in 2011. The repeal of the USDA rules may be reintroduced this year.
Oversight of USDA's food safety responsibilities could also be of interest to Congress as USDA is in the midst of rulemaking for some significant food safety–related issues. Trade agreements could be addressed as the United States negotiates the Trans-Pacific Partnership and considers engaging the European Union in free trade negotiations. Congress may address legislation on horse slaughter and laying-hen cages. Congress might also consider environmental regulations that impact livestock and poultry, and conservation programs that have benefited animal agriculture.