Ag Policy Blog

USDA on Thursday expanded the agricultural commodities that can apply for aid under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). USDA also announced more than 1.2 million acres were enrolled into the Conservation Reserve Program for grasslands.

The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee on Monday approved the fiscal year 2021 Agriculture appropriations bill without amendments. Total discretionary funding in the legislation is $23.98 billion, an increase of $487 million above the fiscal year 2020 enacted level.

The U.S. Cattlemen's Association and National Farmers Union led a letter Wednesday to leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee, calling on them to hold a hearing on reauthorization of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting program.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz wrote EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on Monday calling on EPA to reject 52 petroleum refiner applications for retroactive small refinery exemptions from the Renewable Fuels Standard.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has launched the Rural Community Toolbox, an online clearinghouse created to connect rural leaders with funding, data, and information to combat drug addiction in rural America.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, wants the Senate Agriculture Committee to hold a hearing on his livestock marketing bill. The bill would require that 50% of a meat packer's weekly volume of beef slaughter be purchased on the spot market.

USDA has announced $1.6 billion in loans to electrical cooperatives and utilities to upgrade electrical-generation power infrastructure, fiber-optic cable and smart-grid technology in 21 states. The biggest project funded will go to construct a natural-gas power plant in Florida...

Congress has been mired in debates about how to advance and pay for massive infrastructure bills going back at least into the early days of the Obama administration. The House will take up a $760 billion package, but questions remain over whether it can garner bi-partisan...

USDA is providing more information on its website showing whether its service centers, including Farm Service Agency offices, are open and taking in-person appointments.

U.S. Trade Ambassador Robert Lighthizer defended the China trade deal before Congress on Wednesday, repeatedly telling lawmakers that China is on pace to meet commitments on agricultural purchases. Lighthizer also talked about USMCA and agricultural issues in negotiations with...

A bi-partisan group of senators and House members are asking USDA to again allow haying and grazing of cover crops on prevented-planting acres before Nov. 1.

Ethanol leaders are growing impatient with the Trump administration's management of issues related to the Renewable Fuels Standard. They have written a letter to the president and suggest the impact on farmers affect attitudes toward the president among farmers in Iowa and...

The American Farm Bureau on Wednesday cited USDA reports showing $60 billion in decline value for commodities as a reason more aid is needed for farmers. The National Corn Growers Association also broke down per-acre declines in value for corn crops as well.

The Agriculture Department’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) on Tuesday announced it has made changes to the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance program for feeder cattle, fed cattle and swine starting this summer with the 2021 crop year.

The American Farm Bureau Federation on Monday called on EPA to allow farmers who have already bought dicamba products to be allowed to use those existing stocks this crop season.

Iowa's secretary of Agriculture, as well as the Agricultural Retailers Association, have written EPA asking for guidance on how to proceed with the sales and use of three dicamba herbicides following a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals case that vacated their EPA registration. U.S...

In a unanimous voice vote, the Senate late Wednesday passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, which the House passed last week. The changes to the Small Business Administration loan program offer some benefits, including longer time to use the funds and a lower...

Iowa Rep. Steve King, formerly a member of the House Agriculture Committee, lost his primary on Tuesday seeking a tenth term after GOP leaders had turned their backs on him following incendiary comments King had made in 2019. King has served in Congress since 2003.

Some economists and other agricultural policy wonks offered immediate confusion over how USDA is calculating payments under CFAP. Some farmers also are upset because the aid program effectively punishes farmers who market their crop ahead of harvest rather than storing...

The Department of Justice informed the National Pork Producers Council on Friday that the department says it is OK for hog producers to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on euthanasia and disposal of animals.