Fight for our small farmers by getting exemptions for Tier IV diesel engines

**BILL FOR LEGISLATION: AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY AND FAIR PRACTICES ACT**

**Section 1: Short Title**
This Act may be cited as the "Agricultural Sustainability and Fair Practices Act."

**Section 2: Findings and Purpose**

1. Findings: The Congress recognizes that Tier IV engines, lauded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the cleanest diesel engines, require additional considerations due to their impact on fuel consumption and operational requirements.
2. Purpose: The purpose of this Act is to provide waivers for Tier IV engines for farmers operating on less than 750 acres and to empower local farming communities to set prices for farm products within their region, promoting agricultural sustainability and fairness.

**Section 3: Tier IV Engine Waivers for Smaller Farms**

1. Waivers: The EPA shall grant waivers to farmers operating on less than 750 acres from certain requirements related to Tier IV engines, considering the unique operational challenges faced by smaller farms.
2. Eligibility: Farmers seeking waivers shall submit applications to the EPA, detailing their acreage and operational characteristics. Waivers shall be approved for those meeting the eligibility criteria.
3. Implementation Deadline: The EPA shall implement the waivers for Tier IV engines by January 1, 2030.

**Section 4: Empowerment of Local Farming Communities**

1. Regional Pricing Authority: Farmers within a local farming community shall be empowered to collectively set prices for milk and other farm products sold within their region.
2. Competitive Local Markets: This provision aims to enable local farmers to effectively compete in their local markets by determining prices that reflect their costs of production and economic conditions.
3. National and International Markets: Products sold outside the state or country shall remain subject to existing pooling practices and regulatory requirements.

**Section 5: Reporting and Oversight**

1. Reporting: The EPA shall submit an annual report to Congress detailing the number of waivers granted under Section 3 and the progress of their implementation.
2. Oversight: The Congress shall conduct periodic oversight of the implementation of this Act to ensure its objectives are being met and to make any necessary adjustments.

**Section 6: Severability**
If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of the Act, or the application of such provisions to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

**Section 7: Effective Date**
This Act shall take effect on the first day of the fiscal year following its enactment.

**Section 8: Congressional Support and Promotion**
The Congress shall actively support and promote initiatives that advance agricultural sustainability, fair practices, and the economic well-being of farmers across the nation.

[Note: This proposed bill is a fictional version and should be reviewed, modified, and refined by legal experts and lawmakers before actual consideration.]