Ag Policy Blog

The massive legislation contains $40 billion for agricultural conservation, credit, renewable energy and forestry programs. The bill also includes debt relief provisions for some farmers, though Black farmer groups say the bill reverses promises given to them in the American Rescue...

I'm clarifying a mistake in my reporting on the Inflation Reduction Act when it comes to debt relief for certain farmers. When I detailed some of the debt-relief provisions in the bill, I didn't realize I was looking at text that had not been updated.

Members of Congress have introduced a bill to extend the USDA Emergeny Relief Program (ERP) to cover 2022 disasters. The program right now was authorized to cover losses in 2020 and 2022.

The $739 billion bill focuses on spurring renewable energy and reducing emissions, but also allows Medicare to negotiate drug rates and it increases eligibility for the Affordable Care Act. The bill has provisions tied to climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy that would...

The $739 billion bill focuses on spurring renewable energy and reducing emissions, but also allows Medicare to negotiate drug rates and it increases eligibility for the Affordable Care Act. The bill has provisions tied to climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy that would...

After taking measurements last week, the dead zone was measured at about 3,275 square miles, one of the smaller areas mapped since they began tracking the size of the hypoxia area. Still, that translates into more than 2 million acres of the Gulf that is potentially...

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...