Policy Update
Farmers and ranchers already dealing with tight margins may soon face another financial hit: a steep jump in health insurance premiums. The expanded Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits that have kept many farm families’ monthly costs manageable are set to expire at the end of the year unless Congress extends them.
In a rare public admission, the department warned that aggressive immigration enforcement — including drastic reductions in the flow of undocumented migrant workers — is already squeezing the farm labor pool and putting pressure on food supply and prices.
A coalition of family farmers and meat companies launched the American Meat Producers Association (AMPA) to defend state animal welfare laws, complicating efforts to include federal preemption in an upcoming farm bill.
With no end in sight, the government shutdown is putting more strain on farmers already squeezed by high input costs and volatile markets.
On Friday, President Trump unveiled plans to levy 100% tariffs on all Chinese imports beginning November 1 and tighten export controls on advanced software.
Thanks to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, vital agricultural reports and export data have been suspended — leaving farmers and markets flying blind during harvest season.
Yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that bans ultra-processed foods from the public school system, making California the first state to do so.
New international shipping regulations aimed at reducing carbon emissions are opening doors for U.S. farmers by increasing demand for bio-based fuels like biodiesel and renewable diesel.
With farm incomes already under pressure from rising input costs and falling crop prices, the impact of losing China as a top customer is hitting especially hard. A new government aid package is expected soon, though details remain uncertain.
The shutdown that began October 1 has forced the USDA to suspend key services, halting farm program payments, disaster aid processing, and new loan applications amid a growing crisis in farm country.
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a new rule updating how the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) is set for H-2A agricultural guest workers, which applies to all 50 states and Puerto Rico.