WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives of groups with interests in agriculture are monitoring legislation at the federal level that may impact the industry.

In addition to keeping track of various bills, it’s also important for those representatives to explain to members of Congress how specific legislation might affect agriculture, said Dale Moore, executive director of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).

“When we have a new Congress, some who may have a good working knowledge of agriculture may not know much about the production side,” he noted. “We meet with them. It’s an opportunity to tell our story.”

A bill introduced in the House (HR 1147) would require employers to verify the employment status of prospective workers. Under the legislation, employers would be required to record the person’s Social Security number and obtain documents establishing their identity and employment authorization.

“We’re opposed to an E-Verify system,” Moore said. “(The bill) puts farmers and ranchers in the enforcement business. If I’m hiring, I have to verify the (potential) workers have the right documents. If I’m unsure about a worker and say no, it could put my operation in jeopardy.”

The Legal Workforce Act was approved by the House Judiciary Committee in early March by a vote of 20-13.

A bill that would establish a federal labeling standard for GMO (genetically modified, or biotech) ingredients was introduced in late March by Reps. Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas) and G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.). The measure would give authority to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require labeling on foods if they are found to be unsafe or materially different from foods produced without GMO ingredients, Pompeo said.

With many states attempting to require warning labels on food products containing GMO ingredients, he said The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 (HR 1599) would keep the government focused only on its core tasks.

A federal labeling standard would simplify shopping for consumers, said Wade Cowan, president of the American Soybean Assoc.

“Consumers who want to choose non-GMO foods have to contend with an increasingly confused landscape of different labeling schemes with different requirements,” he said. “This bill would end confusion for consumers over which food products do not contain biotech ingredients, by establishing a national standard for non-GMO labels.”

The bill was referred to the House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research April 8.

The fiscal year 2016 budget approved last month by the House instructed its agriculture committee to find $1 billion in reductions in mandatory programs over 10 years.

“I’m not sure that number will stick,” Moore said. “We’re going to work with the committee. But given the $23 billion cut in the farm bill, we have that ‘gave at the office’ feeling. The programs can maybe take a 3 to 5 percent hit but over several years in a row, you’re taking all the feathers out of the pillow.”

Agriculture groups are working with the Federal Aviation Administration on rules regarding drones for commercial purposes, he added. The agency monitors airspace at 400 feet and above, but many crop dusters with which a drone’s flight path could interfere fly below that level.

“A lot of farmers have an interest in the technology,” he explained. “The question is how do we allow the commercial use of drones and protect the safety of manned aircrafts.”