Ag Policy Blog

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee passed its $21.7 billion discretionary budget for USDA for FY 2026. Senators had discussions about Food for Peace, hemp and overall funding issues with USDA and FDA.

USDA published a final rule Thursday in the Federal Register announcing the end of preferences for race or gender. The rule is effective immediately.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said there will be no legal amnesty for undocumented farmworkers. Instead, Rollins suggested unemployed people on Medicaid could fill those jobs that can't be done by automation.

The New York Times on Monday spotlighted how Kansas farmers came up with the idea for Food for Peace. The Iowa Capital Dispatch last week also reported on plans to scrap USDA's Climate Hubs. The House appropriations bill zeros out the funding for USDA's 11 climate hubs.

President Donald Trump spoke for more than an hour before a crowd of thousands as he highlighted a historic win with the passage of the legislation and he dismissed criticisms from Democrats and others who oppose the bill and his administration's policies. He recounted his...

After years of facing a declining safety net under the 2018 farm bill, the 2025 budget reconciliation package boosts spending for farm programs. The bill also includes a mix of tax provisions that farmers and other small businesses can use to invest in equipment, pass on their...

Farm organizations had varying levels of praise supporting the Senate vote and calling for the House to follow suit. Groups highlighted some of the tax provisions and improvements to the farmer safety net. Other groups criticized the cuts to Medicaid and food programs.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, proposed an amendment to the budget reconciliation bill that would require more management or labor to qualify for farm programs. Nearly 50 farm groups representing most major commodities and the American Farm Bureau Federation and the...

The Senate is pushing to pass its budget-reconciliation bill and get it to President Trump's desk by July 4. The legislation is projected to add $3.3 trillion to the national debt over 10 years. Biofuel groups highlighted the bill makes some positive changes to the 45Z Clean Fuels...

The Senate held a prolonged procedural vote late Saturday evening that eventually ended 51-49 to advance the bill. The legislation is projected to add $3.3 trillion to the national debt over ten years. Biofuel groups also highlighted the bill makes some positive changes to the 45Z...

In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump said the U.S. was ending trade talks with Canada. He pointed to issues with dairy tariffs, but his main issue was the tax on digital services. Trump stated in his post that the U.S. government will inform Canada of its new tariffs...

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., explained to DTN in an interview that she remains optimistic a bill can get through Congress even if leaders in key House committees continue to be roadblocks. But after the House passed legislation twice since 2019, the Senate will need to take a lead...

The bill is directed heavily at land ownership from Chinese companies, as well as countries such as Iran, North Korea and Russia. USDA shows Chinese companies reported owning 277,336 acres of land as of Dec. 23, 2023. The bill also permanently puts the Agriculture secretary on a...

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the 2001 "Roadless Rule" prohibits the Forest Service from responsibly thinning and maintaining the nation's forests. Speaking to the Western Governors Association, Rollins said the rule is misguided and creates more risk of fires as well...

Shifting a percentage of SNAP spending to states was a major move under the budget reconciliation plan. Those cost savings were expected to help offset more than $67 billion in proposed spending for commodity programs and crop insurance expansion in the budget reconciliation...

After the Senate Finance Committee released its tax provisions for the massive budget reconciliation package, groups such as the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) sounded the alarm. Medical groups and some GOP senators have raised concerns that some Medicaid cuts could...

The House budget reconciliation bill ends some 45Z tax-credit abuse by blocking most foreign feedstocks from qualifying for the credit. The Senate Finance Committee package released on Monday would continue to allow refiners to receive up to 80% of the 45Z tax credit for...

In a press conference, President Donald Trump suggested he would issue an order about farmers and their workers, as well as the hotel industry. The comments came as his administration has begun increasing enforcement actions on farms and food processors.

Lawmakers have raised concerns about closing Agricultural Research Service (ARS) laboratories in California, Delaware and Illinois. The Illinois lab includes programs focusing on soybean germplasm and corn genetics. Separately, Mexican officials also are asking the U.S. government to...

USDA canceled roughly $900 million nationally in contracts under the Local Food Purchasing Program. Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, announced a lawsuit against USDA for canceling the state's contract.