LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE - BRITT KISSOCK-ROBINSON, CHAIR

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 2025 AQHA OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF RULES AND REGULATIONS

The AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations is now available online as a free PDF at www.aqha.com/aqha-rulebook. The printed rulebook can be purchased for $10 at www.aqha.com/rulebook-request-form.

AQHA members can also download the app for free by visiting your smart phone app store and searching for “AQHA rulebook.” If you previously downloaded a 2023 AQHA Rulebook app, you will need to update your current app.

Disclaimer: Because the online version of the AQHA Rulebook can be updated throughout the year, it should be considered the most-current version of the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations.

AQHA ANNOUNCES 2025 RULE CHANGE PROPOSALS

November 5: The American Quarter Horse Association wants to hear any suggestions members have to make AQHA membership, programs and services reach their fullest potential. Each spring, AQHA holds a convention to review AQHA rules, policies, and member-submitted rule changes and suggestions.

If you are an AQHA member, you can submit a suggestion for a rule change by completing a rule-change proposal form and submitting by December 31, 2024, for consideration at the 2025 AQHA Convention, slated for March 28-31, 2025, at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

https://www.quarterhorsenews.com/2024/11/aqha-announces-2025-rule-change-proposals/

GET THE 2025 AQHA RULEBOOK

November 18: The AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations is now available online as a free PDF at www.aqha.com/aqha-rulebook. The printed rulebook can be purchased for $10 at www.aqha.com/rulebook-request-form. 

Disclaimer: Because the online version of the AQHA Rulebook can be updated throughout the year, it should be considered the most-current version of the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations.

REVISIONS TO HORSE PROTECTION ACT

October 16: The Horse Protection Act is a Federal law that prohibits any person to show, exhibit, sell, or transport sore horses – or to use prohibited equipment or substances in these activities.

Attention Event Managers: Effective February 1, 2025: Event managers of all horse shows, horse exhibitions, horse sales, and horse auctions will be required to: 

1. Provide notice to APHIS at least 30 days in advance of the event via mail or email.  

2. Provide any event updates 15 days in advance of the event  

3. Report any violations of the Horse Protection Act within five days post-event 

Licensed veterinarians or individuals with extensive equine experience who train with a governmental agency will be the individuals (Designated Qualified Person) performing inspections at events. All event managers should be prepared for potential USDA inspectors on site. It is important to note that horse show managers are liable for any HPA violations found at their show if they choose not to hire an inspector. 

Individuals with questions regarding revisions to the HPA are encouraged to email horseprotection@usda.gov and info@horsecouncil.orgwith the subject line “HPA Question”.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/hpa
https://horsecouncil.org/project/revisions-to-horse-protection-act-effective-february-1-2025/
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/bro-horse-protection-act.pdf

2024 RECORD INVESTMENT IN PRIVATE LANDS CONSERVATION 

December 4: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) supported more than 23,000 climate-focused conservation contracts funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. These investments cover over 11 million acres in fiscal year 2024, contributing to the highest total investment in farms, ranches, and forest conservation in any year in the history of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).  In Montana, there were 343 contracts for 622,536 acres with a total obligation of $50,423,656.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/biden-harris-administration-sets-record-investment-in-private-lands-conservation-in-2024?utmcampaign=120424recordinvestmentconserv

USDA TO ENHANCE SUPPORT FOR FARMERS WITH INCREASED REPLANT PAYMENTS

December 5: The USDA announced an increase in replant payments for most producers beginning with the 2026 crop year, providing financial assistance to farmers who need to replant insured crops damaged by early insurable causes of loss. RMA plans to announce the new replant payments with additional crop insurance improvements in the summer of 2025.  
https://www.rma.usda.gov/news-events/news/2024/washington-dc/usda-enhance-support-farmers-increased-replant-payments

CBP OFFICERS INTERCEPT AND SEIZE DEADLY FENTANYL PILLS

December 2: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry conducting K-9 operations discovered 215.11 pounds of fentanyl pills concealed throughout the vehicle. 

USDA EXPANDS REVENUE PROTECTION TO FLAX PRODUCERS

November 27: USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) has expanded Small Grains Crop Provisions to now offer revenue protection for flax for the 2025 crop year, which is already offered for barley, rye, wheat and oats. 
https://www.rma.usda.gov/news-events/news/2024/washington-dc/usda-expands-revenue-protection-flax-producers-expands-options

FSIS ISSUES PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT FOR INELIGIBLE BEEF TALLOW PRODUCTS 

November 22:  The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for beef tallow products that were illegally imported from Mexico and are ineligible for entry into the United States. The products were not certified for export to the U.S. by the government of Mexico as being produced under equivalent inspection, they do not identify a certified establishment number on their packaging, and they were not presented to FSIS for import re-inspection as required. FSIS is continuing to investigate how these products entered the country.

The products are subject to the public health alert are the 1-kg or 500-g bag packages containing “INCA GRASA COMESTIBLE DE SEBO BOVINO” (edible fat from beef tallow). These items were shipped to distribution and retail locations in Arizona. 
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ineligible-beef-tallow-products-imported-mexico

YU SHANG FOOD INC RECALLS READY-TO-EAT MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS

November 21: Yu Shang Food, Inc., a Spartanburg, SC, establishment, is recalling approximately 72,240 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). All ready-to-eat products produced prior to October 28, 2024, are subject to recall. The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-46684” or “EST. M46684” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide and available for purchase online.
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/yu-shang-food-inc--recalls-ready-eat-meat-and-poultry-products-due-possible-0

CBP FIELD OPS INTERCEPTS RARE FRUIT FLY LARVAE 

November 21: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at Detroit Metropolitan Airport intercepted live larvae from a rare and potentially destructive fruit fly (caper fruit fly) earlier this year.  The larvae were discovered among fresh caper flowers in June, after an arriving traveler from Italy refused to answer agriculture questions and was referred for a baggage examination. The caper fruit fly was only previously intercepted on one occasion 20 years ago in Tampa, Florida.
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-field-ops-intercepts-rare-fruit-fly-larvae-detroit-metro-airport

USDA NIFA INVESTS $14M TO FURTHER FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH

November 20: The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced a $14 million investment to support food safety research, outreach and workforce training. The investment will fund research and efforts to strengthen the safety of our nation’s food supply.  

FROM GOVERNOR GIANFORTE’S OFFICE

· November 27 - BLM Ends New Federal Coal Leases in the Powder River: Gov. Gianforte responds, “While Montana supports an 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy, …this rule will destroy coal jobs and defund public education in Montana. It's a disaster. …I will continue to stand up against this federal power grab that will harm Montana, our economy, and our students.” 

· November 8 – DNRC Approves $26M for St. Mary Canal Repair: Governor Greg Gianforte today announced the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) recently entered into a $26 million loan agreement with the Milk River Joint Board of Control (MRJBOC) to support needed repairs on the St. Mary Canal. On June 17, a catastrophic failure of the St. Mary siphons led to concerns about potential impacts to drinking water for 14,000 Montanans and irrigation for over 18,000 water users. The lack of water provided by the St. Mary Canal has significantly impacted over 121,000 acres of irrigable land.

· October 30 – Value-Add Ag at Oxbow Cattle Co.: On their ranch on the edge of a Missoula residential neighborhood, Bart and Wendy Morris have used regenerative practices since purchasing the property in 2014 to maintain healthy soils and raise over 300 head of grass-fed, grass-finished cattle. What makes Oxbow unique is its farm-to-market (f2m) store open every day from six in the morning to nine in the evening that runs on the honor system for Missoulians to purchase their beef cuts and a variety of other products from Montana producers. Operating since 2019, the f2m carries eggs and lamb from Wild Rye Livestock Co. in Deer Lodge, pork from Lyon Ranch in Drummond, chicken raised on Living River Farms in Stevensville, beauty products made from the tallow from Oxbow cattle, and other made in Montana goods.