Policy Updates
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.
Released yesterday, Virginia Tech’s 2025 Global Agricultural Productivity Report reveals concerning trends in agricultural productivity, especially in the United States.
For the first time since 2019, the federal government has shutdown, immediately hitting farm operations by halting key USDA payments and services across the country.
In a new memorandum of understanding, the Department’s antitrust division will work with USDA to investigate rising costs of farm inputs such as fertilizer, seed, fuel, and equipment
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced yesterday that the U.S. will provide financial assistance to Argentina in an effort to stabilize its struggling economy, a move that has sparked anger among American soybean farmers who see Argentina as a major rival.
Yesterday, farmers from across the country sent a letter urging USDA to release funding for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Normally announced in March, this year’s call for proposals wasn’t issued until September 11, leaving host institutions little time to process applications before the fiscal year ends.