If you are an active member of a ginning association, you probably know that these organizations typically tend to deal more in the regulatory world than the policy world.
The past few months have been tough for many of us since the new administration has made keeping up with regulations much more difficult than in the past. Well, that’s not exactly right. The government’s law (Administrative Procedures Act) on making rules is exactly the same, but the pace (or lack thereof) at which the rules have come out has left many regulatory changes up in the air.
Electronic Reporting Rule
One example is the rule on electronic reporting of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration 300 Summary. This rule has been published for several months and has an effective date of July 2017. OSHA says the mechanism to report the Accident and Illness Summary would be in place by now, but we haven’t heard a peep.
The president’s first pick for secretary of labor was adamantly opposed to this as well as several other changes the Department of Labor had in store. Alexander Acosta, the second selection, has yet to be confirmed as of this writing so it may be some time before OSHA moves forward. The agency is likely waiting on whether the program may be scrapped completely.
New Rules Still On The Books
A number of executive orders have stopped government from moving on a lot of newer and some older regulations. While the president has a certain amount of power, one of the things people and businesses across the country had complained about was making rules and regulations bypassing the Administrative Procedures Act. Thus, these executive orders can slow the progression of many new rules but without formal repeal, they will still be on the books… hanging over our heads.
Although the Congressional Review Act has only been used a handful of times since its passing, this Congress has used it with vigor. This seems to be the fastest way to stop the newer rules from taking effect. OSHA has not been immune to the wrath of Congress and has taken at least one CRA hit in March.
Associations Dedicated To Members
These are some of the reasons you need to stay on top of the rules. The best way to do that is by continuing to support ginning associations. They are typically the first to let you know what technical change to a state or federal rule or regulation is happening or about to happen. We are dedicated to keeping our members up to date on the changes as soon as possible. And even better, we will let you know how they affect your business.
Yes, many cotton organizations are policy oriented and meet with members of Congress and their staff regularly. But where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, is how those changes to policy and law become the forms you have to fill out.
Dusty Findley of the Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association contributed this article. Contact him at 706-344-1212 or dusty@southern-southeastern.org.
Cotton’s Calendar
2017
- May 17: PCCA Board Meeting, Lubbock, Texas
- May 18: Calcot Ltd. Board of Directors Meeting, Phoenix, Ariz.
- June 13-15: Cotton Incorporated June Meeting, Dallas, Texas
- June 15: Calcot Ltd. Board of Directors Meeting, Phoenix, Ariz.
- June 21-24: CWAA Meeting, The Benson Hotel, Portland, Ore.
- June 21: Staplcotn/Stapldiscount Board Meeting, Greenwood, Miss.
- June 21: PCCA Board Meeting and Delegate Body Meeting, Lubbock, Texas
- June 29-30: Arizona Cotton Ginners and Growers Joint Meeting, Flagstaff, Ariz.
- July 10-12: Southern Southeastern Mid-Year Board Meeting, Marriott Grand Dunes, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
- July 10-12: SCGA Summer Meeting, DoubleTree by Hilton Lafayette, Lafayette, La.
- July 12: Plains Cotton Growers Inc. Board Meeting, Bayer Museum of Agriculture, Lubbock, Texas
- July 20: Calcot Ltd. Board of Directors Meeting, Phoenix, Ariz.
- Aug. 8-10: Cotton Board/Cotton Incorporated Joint Meeting, Durham, N.C.
- Aug. 16: PCCA Board Meeting and Delegate Body Meeting, Lubbock, Texas
- Aug. 17-18: 2017 American Cotton Producers/Cotton Foundation Joint Summer Meeting, Westin Buckhead Atlanta Hotel, Atlanta, Ga.
- Aug. 23-25: NCC Mid-Year Board Meeting, Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tenn.
- Sept. 20: PCCA Annual Meeting, Lubbock, Texas
- Sept. 20: PCCA Board Meeting, Lubbock, Texas
- Sept. 20: Staplcotn/Stapldiscount Annual Meeting, Greenwood, Miss.
- Sept. 25: Calcot Ltd. Board of Directors/Auditors Meeting, Phoenix, Ariz.
- Sept. 26: Calcot Ltd. Board of Directors Meeting/90th Annual Meeting, Phoenix, Ariz.
- Oct. 11: Plains Cotton Growers Inc. Board Meeting, Bayer Museum of Agriculture, Lubbock, Texas
- Oct. 18: PCCA Board Meeting and Delegate Body Meeting, Lubbock, Texas
- Nov. 15: PCCA Board Meeting, Lubbock, Texas
- Dec. 5-7: Cotton Board/Cotton Incorporated Joint Meeting, St. Petersburg, Fla.
- Dec. 20: PCCA Board Meeting and Delegate Body Meeting, Lubbock, Texas
2018
- Jan. 3-5: Beltwide Cotton Conferences, Marriott Rivercenter Hotel, San Antonio, Texas
- Feb. 9-11: NCC Annual Meeting, Omni Hotel, Fort Worth, Texas
- April 5-6: TCGA Annual Meeting and Trade Show, Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, Lubbock, Texas
- Aug. 20-22: NCC Mid-Year Board Meeting, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, Nashville, Tenn.