Policy Updates

The Trump administration announced a temporary reduction in tariffs on several categories of agricultural and industrial equipment, lowering the rate from 25% to 15% through the end of 2027.

The central foundation for those against the merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern is if the new entity would in fact enhance competition.

The proposed “Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act” would require major meatpackers to focus on a single protein sector — beef, pork, or poultry — rather than operating across multiple meat categories, with the goal to lower producer and consumer prices.

The White House announced China agreed to significantly increase purchases of U.S. agricultural products, to at least $17 billion, under a new trade arrangement.

A first-ever focused vote on E15 has eyes on The Hill. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says, “There’s mounting pressure to get something done and take action.”

On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed its latest version of the farm bill, removing a provision relating to ethanol, in a 224–200 vote after a long and contentious debate, sending the legislation to the Senate.

The USDA has now distributed nearly $9.6 billion in Farmer Bridge Assistance payments to crop producers, as weak commodity prices and high input costs continue to squeeze farm margins

The U.S. Department of Justice is intensifying scrutiny across agricultural markets as rising food prices and input costs put pressure on both consumers and producers

U.S. agricultural exporters are applauding a federal appeals court decision that reinforces the authority of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to regulate ocean shipping practices.

As federal regulators dig deeper into why fertilizer prices have remained elevated, farmers are asked to submit input. The request is part of a broader investigation alongside the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission into potential anti-competitive behavior in the fertilizer industry.