P. Scott Shearer

Vice President
Bockorny Group, Inc.

Scott Shearer is vice president of the Bockorny Group, Inc., a leading bipartisan government affairs consulting firm in Washington, DC. With over 30 years experience in government and corporate relations in state and national arenas, he is recognized as a leader in agricultural trade issues, having served as co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for U.S.-China Trade and co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). Scott was instrumental in the passage of China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) and TPA. He is past chairman of the USDA-USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products and was a member of the USAID Food Security Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the Bockorny Group, Scott served as director of national relations for Farmland Industries, Inc., as well as USDA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (1993-1996), serving as liaison for the Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA to Congress.

Articles by P. Scott Shearer
Farm Bill 10-Year Baseline Released
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its February baseline on agricultural program costs over 10 years (FY 2014-FY-2023).
$4 Billion in Agricultural Exports Preserved
USDA announced that dozens of export issues were resolved in 2012, freeing up an estimated $4 billion in agricultural exports.
EU to Accept Live Swine Exports
The European Union (EU) will begin accepting U.S. exports of live swine on Feb. 25.
Senators Urge COOL Compliance with WTO Ruling
Twenty-eight senators have asked USDA and the U.S. Trade Representative to ensure that consumers know where their meat is produced when developing rules to come into compliance with the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) ruling last year on country-of-origin labeling (COOL).
Agriculture Census Deadline Extended
USDA has announced the deadline for producers to complete the 2012 Census of Agriculture is being extended. Currently, over 1.4 million census forms have been returned.
Russia Bans U.S. Beef and Pork Over Ractopamine
Russia has announced that effective Feb. 11, it will initiate a ban on all imports of U.S. beef and pork chilled and frozen products if the animals received the feed additive ractopamine.
Japan Opens Market Further for U.S. Beef
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that the United States and Japan have agreed on terms and conditions that will expand U.S. beef exports to Japan.
Produce Cause of Most Foodborne Illness
According to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most foodborne illnesses can be attributed to produce.
Iowa Senator Announces Retirement
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced that he will be retiring from the U.S. Senate at the end of his term in 2014.
Senate-Passed Farm Bill Reintroduced
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has introduced last year’s Senate-passed farm bill, a sign that the farm bill is a priority of the Democratic leadership this Congress.
Sign-Up Period for Direct Payments, ACRE and MILC Announced
USDA has announced that the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended the authorization of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill) for many Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) commodity, disaster and conservation programs through 2013.
Short-Term Debt Ceiling Extended 1
The House of Representatives in a bipartisan vote extended the debt limit through May 18.
House Agriculture Committee Ranking Members Named
Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN), ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, announced the ranking members of the House Agriculture Subcommittees.They are:
Partisanship Prompts Retirement
Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) have already announced that they will not run for reelection in 2014. Senator Chambliss is a former chairman and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Federal Court Upholds E-15 Decision
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied a request by food and oil groups to reconsider an earlier decision upholding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to allow for the gasoline blend of E-15.

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