Policy Updates
Farmers and rural organizations across the country are reporting growing difficulties accessing USDA services following a major reduction in the department’s workforce.
This week, President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Heidi Overton to serve as the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but she faces criticism due to involvement in executive orders and lack of management experience.
The Senate Agriculture Committee failed to advance its Farm Bill after a 10-11 vote yesterday, with disagreements over Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cost-sharing preventing the measure from moving forward before Congress’s August recess.
New state restrictions and a proposed AFIDA overhaul could reshape land deals, reporting, and due diligence for farmers.
Federal antitrust regulators reached settlements in two closely watched agriculture cases that could have significant implications for farmers and consumers.
This afternoon, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman released a draft that aims to strengthen farm safety-net programs and rural development initiatives while avoiding the most controversial ag policy issues.
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.