USDA faces credibility questions after big revision to corn acreage estimates (Reuters): The U.S. Department of Agriculture has run into scrutiny from farmers, traders and economists after significantly revising its estimate of U.S. corn acreage for the 2025 crop year. In its January update, the agency said harvested corn acres were much higher than initially projected in June, a swing that was unusually large compared with historical revisions and drove corn futures prices down more than 5%. The unexpected adjustment has raised concerns about the accuracy of USDA data, which markets and producers rely on for planning and pricing.
Critics point to deep staffing cuts across USDA divisions like the National Agricultural Statistics Service and the Farm Service Agency as a key factor behind the flawed early projections. With fewer personnel available to collect and process survey responses, and lower participation from farmers themselves, analysts say the quality and timeliness of official crop data has weakened. In response, USDA has launched an internal review of its acreage estimation methods and is exploring ways to improve the process, though changes to surveying practices are not expected soon.
EPA reapproves herbicide amid ongoing health, farm, and environmental concerns (Civil Eats): The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has renewed approval for the widely used herbicide dicamba for over-the-top application on genetically engineered soybeans and cotton, despite longstanding worries about its tendency to drift and damage neighboring crops, gardens, and natural areas. The agency’s decision includes a suite of new label restrictions—such as tighter application limits and conditions designed to reduce off-target movement—and asserts that, if these guidelines are followed, the chemical poses no “unreasonable risk” to human health or the environment. Supporters, including some farm groups, welcomed the clarity and certainty the reapproval provides for growers heading into the next planting seasons.
However, critics from environmental and health advocacy organizations argue the updated measures fall short of meaningful protection. They note that dicamba’s history of drifting onto non-tolerant crops and wild plants has damaged millions of acres in past years, and they question whether the new restrictions will prevent similar harms. Some activists have also raised concerns about the EPA’s regulatory process and past court decisions that vacated prior approvals due to inadequate assessments of risks. These groups emphasize that unresolved health and ecological questions remain, especially given dicamba’s documented volatility and previous legal setbacks.
California packaging rules stir alarm over fresh produce supply chain (Agri-Pulse): Growers in California are warning that the state’s evolving Senate Bill 54 plastic packaging regulations could significantly disrupt the fresh produce supply chain by raising costs and limiting viable packaging options. The latest draft rules from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) update earlier versions growers believed were feasible, and critics now say compliance could be infeasible for many perishable products. The law aims to cut single-use plastic by 25 % by 2032 and put extended producer responsibility requirements — including reporting, recycling fees, and reduction targets — on thousands of packaging producers. Grower groups argue that key exemptions they had relied on were weakened in the newest language, potentially forcing some fresh-cut and delicate produce off grocery shelves if safe, cost-effective alternatives aren’t available.
Industry representatives stress that plastic packaging plays a critical role in protecting freshness, preventing spoilage, and maintaining food safety throughout distribution, and that switching to fiber or compostable materials could raise retail prices and complicate supply chain logistics. They also note broader debates over how the rules interact with federal food safety standards, and caution that unrealistic timelines and limited material options could strain smaller producers. This battle over implementation follows more than a year of contentious negotiations since SB 54’s enactment, reflecting deep tensions between environmental goals and agricultural practicalities.