The Biden administration has made several proposals for the agriculture and tobacco industries. However, these changes have been very controversial. Former USDA official Ray Starling has criticized the administration’s farming regulations and its proposed ban on menthol cigarettes, claiming they will harm farmers and the industry as a whole.
Farming Under Biden’s Regulations
Farmers have shared their concerns over the Biden administration’s water policies. Currently, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is trying to expand its power over waterways. Critics have claimed this is an “attack on farmers” and claim it will simply make it more difficult for them to get water for their farms.
Starling’s Thoughts on EPA Control
Starling said, “Anybody involved in agriculture needs [water], needs access to it, needs to be able to manage it, and probably the biggest thing we’ve seen in the water space is that this administration seems very determined to maximize the EPA’s jurisdiction over land that has some kind of water on it.”
Continued Thoughts
He continued, “But now they’re trying to read expansively, the second part of that limitation, which is there has to be a relatively permanent body of water to which it is connected, and they are obviously trying to maximize use of the phrase ‘relatively permanent,’ and so EPA is a great example of something we have to keep our eye on.”
Guest Worker Visa Program Challenges
The administration has made it more challenging for farmers to access labor through the H-2A guest worker visa program. Changes to the program have increased costs for farmers by creating additional requirements for them. This includes housing for union representatives and safety regulations, which are far more costly for farmers.
Starling’s Thoughts on the H-2A Program
Starling praised the work of immigrants, claiming that “American agriculture is absolutely dependent on our guest worker visa program.” He continued, “This involves workers that come from foreign countries, primarily from Mexico, primarily from southern Mexico. They come in with a work visa. They are cleared by the Department of Homeland Security to do that. There is a contract for work waiting for them here.”
Making Things Harder
However, he criticized the Biden administration’s approach, saying, “It is mind-boggling that this is an American regulation in any sector, but particularly in agriculture, where it’s pretty darn important to our country. It just seems that this administration is bound and determined to make the raising of that food harder and harder and less and less economical.”
FDA’s Impact on Agriculture
Many farmers are concerned over regulatory actions by the FDA to regulate menthol and tobacco production. The FDA has proposed banning menthol cigarettes, which many tobacco farmers see as a threat. This could have serious economic consequences on the tobacco industry, which would also affect the U.S. economy, as, according to Starling, the industry contributes “$2.4 billion” to the economy.
The Debate Over Menthol Cigarettes
Some people argue that banning menthol cigarettes could save lives, particularly among Black smokers. Studies suggest that a menthol ban could lead to significant public health benefits, including reducing smoking rates. Several other countries have already banned them, including the United Kingdom.
Consumer and Economic Consequences
However, Starling claims that banning them simply creates an underground market for menthol cigarettes. He spoke about the effect of the ban in California, saying, “40% of the market for cigarettes in that state are now black market. […] They are untaxed at the state or the federal level and, ironically, there’s a large percentage of them that’s actually coming here from Russia. […] We’re literally empowering the Russians with this kind of regulation.”
Using GMOs
Starling also spoke about the government’s approach to GMOs. He said, “I’m a believer in GMOs. I don’t think there’s any real risk to the population of mass consumption of GMOs. We’ve seen that in corn and soybeans over the years. But with that said, we’ve never seen the federal government say, “I’m going to take the choice of that selection away. You have to grow this particular GMO product.’ That’s new. That doesn’t seem very American to me.”
Continued Discussion
Starling continued, “I hope there’s some political consequences here, because I feel like that some of the very people this administration says they’re trying to help and some of the very problems that they say they’re trying to solve, they’re actually making those problems more acute and more painful, particularly with regard to the cost of food and access to copious amounts of what has traditionally been the most abundant food supply in the world.”
A Threat to Livelihoods
The proposed FDA regulations on menthol could seriously threaten tobacco farmers. Tobacco is a very important crop in states like North Carolina. Changes in regulation over menthol cigarettes could have disastrous consequences for these states’ economies and the US economy as a whole.
Generational Shifts in Farming
At the moment, the agricultural sector is facing a generational shift. Older farmers are retiring, and younger ones are taking over. Regulations that make farming more challenging could affect how practical farming is for future generations. Starling said, “If we’re going to make it harder for this next generation to farm and to make the use of that capital make sense, land in particular, we can’t continue to pile on regulation after regulation.”
The Future
Starling then shared his thoughts on the future of farming, claiming that many people would leave the industry. He said, “I’m not going to tell you that I can predict all of the trade-offs. I think there are others and that we will rue the day that we’ve made it harder, harder to farm, particularly with […] no real reason to do so.”
The White House Reaction
In response to some of Starling’s comments, the White House praised the Biden administration’s work for farmers. Jeremy Edwards, a spokesperson, said, “The previous administration’s disastrous trade war hurt farmers, leading to an increase in farm bankruptcies and debt, and forcing President Biden’s predecessor to spend tens of billions of dollars to mitigate the fallout.”
Apparent Benefits
He continued, “Fortunately, Bidenomics and President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda are delivering for rural communities and farmers nationwide. U.S. agriculture exports have seen the three highest years on record in 2021-2023, while 2024 is projected to be the fourth highest year on record.”
Biden’s Moves
Edwards spoke about the administration’s work to help farmers. He spoke about how they had given “over $56 billion in specific direct federal assistance programs to support American farmers who feed our country and the world.” He spoke about making “transformative investments through the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act.”
Continuing to Help
Edwards then stressed that the administration would continue to help farmers. He said they would “ensure that American farmers have the tools and resources they need to be successful, which means better options – and prices – for farmers, ranchers, and ultimately, the consumer. And, it means creating a structure so farms of all sizes can survive and remain an integral part of rural economies.”
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