Ag Policy Blog

The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee introduced a bill Friday that would increase the premium subsidy for cattle producers who market 100 or fewer cattle per year, making it easier for them to buy into the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) protection program.

Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced the "Farmland Security Act," to require more disclosure by foreign entities about the purchase of U.S. farmland. The bill would require USDA to increase reporting on foreign investments in the U.S., including the...

As western states are being forced to cut water use out of the Colorado River basin, residents in California and other states have been writing letters to the editor and opinion columns suggesting the feasibility of diverting water from the Mississippi River through a canal or...

Ron Gibson, president of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, said he's spoken at a couple of press conferences in recent weeks about the drive to reform H-2A and pass an agricultural labor bill. He stressed the need for reform, given that Congress hasn't passed an agricultural...

Citing the need for agricultural labor, and the benefits of bringing in more foreign workers, a group of House Republicans held a press conference with farm groups earlier this week. The need for ag-labor reform runs counter to the politics surrounding the southern...

The chairman and ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee on Monday announced an on-line form for people to submit their comments on the next farm bill. The committee also continues to hold hearings on the next farm bill as well.

While the Senate Agriculture Committee has not announced any hearings, the committee is under pressure to hold confirmation hearings on Biden's nominations of Jose Emilio Esteban to be Agriculture undersecretary for food safety, Alexis Taylor to be undersecretary for trade...

So far, reference prices have become a focal point in the growing number of field hearings and listening sessions that members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committee continue to hold. Another option would be to consider cutting programs throughout USDA.

USDA mailed out pre-filled applications in late May to producers with crop insurance who suffered losses due to natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. The deadline to complete those applications is July 22.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and the Biden administration highlight the need for global food aid and opening up the Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea. Still, a report over the weekend indicates the bulk of U.S. aid money passed by Congress won't be used until later this...

Farm groups testifying before Senate Agriculture Committee leaders at a hearing in Arkansas stressed they want more funding for commodity programs in the next farm bill.

The Senate Agriculture Committee will take up a pair of livestock market bills that have been debated in Congress over the past year. The main bill would require USDA to set up certain levels of negotiated cash trade for cattle in different regions of the country.

The House voted 369-42 on Monday evening to approve the Senate version of the bill, which gives the Federal Maritime Commission more teeth to oversee ocean shipping companies. President Joe Biden wants to sign the bill immediately and pressed last week for final passage. He...

At a congressional hearing on Thursday, an economist from Texas A&M highlighted concerns that two-thirds of rice farmers are facing losses in 2022 because of high input prices and relatively stagnant rice prices compared to other commodities. Looking at the next farm bill...

Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, spoke with President Joe Biden about shipping problems and other supply chain issues on Wednesday. Duvall also lobbied for passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. Reports out of Washington state the House of...

Gas prices have hit a new average record of $4.92 a gallon. That might prompt people to tout the idea that they drive an EV, but not if you are a U.S. senator at a time of record inflation.

The two agriculture committees in Congress both have multiple subcommittee hearings set for this week. The Senate will look at western water challenges and agricultural trade. The House will look at SNAP issues and crop insurance in separate hearings.

Farm groups, especially those in organic or sustainable agriculture, had praise for USDA's plan to invest in certain areas of agriculture. Republican lawmakers were more critical, questioning the focus on organics and saying USDA's plans do not address current challenges.