Ag Policy Blog

Several House members on Wednesday reintroduced their Farm Workforce Modernization Act (FWMA), a bill that aims to provide a compromise solution to reform the H-2A agricultural guest-worker program and creates a first-of-its-kind, merit-based visa program specifically designed...

Twenty four senators signed on to a bipartisan letter on Tuesday, led by Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and John Thune, R-S.D. The senators on both the Senate Commerce and Agriculture committees, wrote the Federal Maritime Commission to continue investigating reports against...

The Biden administration on Monday announced that Dewayne Goldmon has been appointed senior adviser for racial equity to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and that Andy Green has been appointed Vilsack's senior adviser for fair and competitive markets.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall on Wednesday also asked Vilsack to extend the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).

Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and ranking member John Hoeven, R-N.D., on Tuesday introduced the Feed Emergency Enhancement During Disasters with Cover Crops (FEEDD) Act, bipartisan legislation to provide farmers and ranchers...

Monday began with the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) announcing the group had expanded its tent of membership to more than 40 organizations. FACA also expanded its original eight-member organizations have added 14 more new groups to the steering committee. On...

Democrats in Congress introduced another bill to attempt to reform immigration. The bill marks another attempt to accomplish what Congress has been unable to do since 1986, the last time an immigration bill passed that offered legalization. That bill, signed by President Ronald...

Every now and then the inbox fills up with multiple studies or press releases that are both separate and interconnected. Today the theme was soil and regenerative agriculture.

The Senate could vote to confirm Tom Vilsack as USDA secretary on February 23. The House Agriculture Committee also has set that day for a hearing on climate change as well. President Biden's nominee for top trade negotiator, Katherine Tai, may not receive a confirmation...

The governors of Iowa and Minnesota are moving along parallel tracks to push for higher blend requirements in their respective states for ethanol and biodiesel blends.

Three different groups released parallel reports on agriculture and climate change highlighting policy recommendations, the need for research and potential opportunities for farmers, livestock producers and foresters.

The bill includes $3.6 billion for USDA continue to help the food and agricultural sector supply chains. This could include providing assistance to processors, non-profits such as food banks, or farmers for equipment or other supplies, and ensure more worker-protection aid in...

Legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate would boost infrastructure for selling biofuels and also change EPA labeling demands for E15. A bill in the Iowa Statehouse would also boost E15 sales in that state as well.

A top USDA advisor noted on a virtual event Thursday that President Biden's executive order on climate change said the administration wants to develop climate-smart agriculture, and said it is important to find a way to “de-risk” investments related to climate...

The Senate rejected a proposed amendment to a budget bill by Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that would have capped the price of renewable identification numbers, or RINs, at 10 cents.

Senate leadership has announced new members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, which will be evenly split with 11 Democrats and 11 Republicans.

The relationship between the U.S. and China is "complex" but despite the competition on the economy, President Biden's nominee for Agriculture Secretary said the two countries need to work together on several key issues. Vilsack's confirmation hearing is set for Tuesday morning...

Citing a White House memo freezing decisions made late in the Trump administration for regulatory review, USDA has announced it has suspended the processing and payments under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).

USDA on Wednesday announced it will temporarily suspend past-due debt collection and foreclosures for distressed farmer-borrowers under its Farm Storage Facility Loan and its Direct Farm Loan programs run by the Farm Service Agency.

The National Council of Farm Cooperatives said the executive order President Biden signed Monday to enforce and strengthen “Buy American” provisions should lead to oversight of USDA school meals purchases.