Ag Policy Blog

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.

The Renewable Fuels Association says FDA has created confusion with questions about the purity of alcohol from ethanol plants, hindering the industry's ability to help produce hand sanitizer even as the country begins to open up and demand for such products could soar...

The Renewable Fuels Association says FDA has created confusion with questions about the purity of alcohol from ethanol plants, hindering the industry's ability to help produce hand sanitizer even as the country begins to open up and demand for such products could soar...

Just six states have gotten approval from USDA since 2011 to allow their packing plants to sell across state lines. With the packing plant challenges from COVID-19, some state officials and lawmakers want to USDA to make it easier for state-inspected plants to sell...

In a letter sent Friday, a bipartisan group of 15 Midwest House members asked President Trump to provide guidance on how FEMA could help livestock producers following the closure of meatpacking plants due to coronavirus outbreaks and worker safety concerns.

Live cattle futures and feeder cattle prices jumped on Thursday, a day after President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that he had asked the Department of Justice to look into livestock prices.

A group of five Republican Illinois congressmen have written the state's Democratic governor calling on him to ask the Federal Emergency Management Agency for funds to help pork producers in the state.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced on Monday that USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service will spend $470 million to buy a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy and seafood products. USDA also announced the department intends to make available $100...

A group of 27 U.S. senators wrote USDA on Thursday asking the department to target COVID-19 relief provisions to reach local farmers in the new Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Meanwhile, American Farmland Trust was able to send some aid to 1,000 farmers.

The chairman of agricultural appropriations in the U.S. Senate sees growing support for another round of agricultural aid in the next stimulus bill passed by Congress.

Citing that livestock producers are facing an "unprecedented emergency" with meat processing, USDA on late Friday announced it is leading a federal effort to help livestock producers, especially to ensure operations remain open or return to production quickly.