CATFISH FARMERS OF AMERICA

Advocacy on changing the definition of Agriculture Labor to include catfish processing in the Farm Bill. Advocacy on exempting seafood processing from exiting H2B caps in FY2025 appropriations legislation.

Advocacy to include in the next Farm Bill coverage under the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program for catfish farmers. There is no coverage for bird depredation for fish losses on farms in existing USDA emergency assistance programs, including ELAP. Advocacy includes adding this coverage for fish farms. Advocacy on changing the definition of Agriculture Labor to include catfish processing in the Farm Bill.

Consultant was engaged on the following issues: Aquaculture as an eligible commodity under USDA disaster programs; and General structuralreform and coverage for catfsh under the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program for disease events.