Ag Policy Blog

Six Republican senators and 12 GOP House members wrote to the secretaries of the departments of Homeland Security, Labor and State urging administrative actions to deal with growing problems with the H-2A visa program used by farmers around the country.

Four House Republicans have withdrawn or pledged to withdraw support for the Securing America's Workforce Act as conservative opposition over its immigration provisions threatens the agricultural labor bill's momentum.

The U.S. Trade Representative is pursuing separate agreements with Canada and Mexico while broader USMCA negotiations remain uncertain.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the agency supports restoring the prevented-plant buy-up option under federal crop insurance.

House Republicans approved a budget blueprint authorizing up to $12 billion in farm aid, sending spending instructions to the House Agriculture Committee as the measure heads toward a House floor vote next week.

Senate Republicans and Democrats are negotiating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cost-sharing changes while aiming for a farm bill markup before August recess.

White House officials and House GOP leaders backed away from a proposed $20 billion farm aid package Tuesday evening, returning to President Donald Trump's original $11.1 billion supplemental request.

House Republicans might advance a budget reconciliation plan that could provide an increased $20 billion in farm aid in reconciliation 3.0.

Longtime South Carolina Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham died Sunday

USDA finalized remaining OBBB farm safety-net changes, expanding livestock disaster assistance, increasing predator loss payments and updating cotton, sugar and specialty crop programs.

USDA accepted more than 2.2 million acres into the Conservation Reserve Program for fiscal year 2026 after producers offered nearly 2.5 million acres.

USDA is providing $500 million to independent beef processors to boost competition and offset rising cattle procurement costs amid historically tight supplies.

Jake Zajkowski joins the DTN/Progressive Farmer in Washington, D.C., writing in the Ag Policy Blog about the diverse opinions and coalitions shaping farm policy across farm country.

The Senate farm bill includes a range of provisions that could directly affect farmers and ranchers. Among them are expanded USDA financing for precision agriculture equipment and fertilizer storage, new flexibility to use virtual fencing after disasters, changes affecting...

USDA on Wednesday announced orders to move more agency staffs out of the Washington, D.C., area and into regional offices. Reorganization announcements have affected most USDA agencies, including the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Agricultural Marketing Service and Rural...

Farm labor groups welcomed new DHS guidance clarifying that dairy operations may qualify for H-2A workers when they can demonstrate a temporary or seasonal labor need under existing law. The policy arrives as House lawmakers prepare broader legislation that would permanently...

The group Farm Action is releasing a white paper advocating for some policy changes the group says would help rebuild the cattle herd and expand domestic meat processing at the same time.

More reports have come out over the past week about specific orders to USDA employees and relocation announcements. A lot of staff at USDA are only now learning they need to decide within weeks if they are going to relocate or look for another job.

In a surprise on Tuesday night, Rep. Randy Feenstra lost the Iowa Republican gubernatorial primary to first-time candidate Zach Lahn, a businessman and farmer. Feenstra had the backing of President Donald Trump, but Feenstra also failed to engage his opponents, which drew...

OMAHA (DTN) -- Farm groups are continuing to press Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to drop the 16.8% countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizer imports.