House Ag Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson says Congress can use tariff revenue to provide a new round of emergency aid to farmers to compensate them for the uncertainty around exports. “We’re going to have to do something,” Thompson told Agri-Pulse.
He said the payments could be incorporated into the skinny farm bill his committee will be drafting.
“I actually think it should come from some of those tariff monies that were collected. Let’s leave the CCC intact,” Thompson said. “I don't know how many hundreds of billions of dollars we collected in the tariffs, and we wouldn't need that much. It would be a fraction of that.”
He also said that “part of the economic uncertainty is as a result of the trade negotiations, which I fully support.”
By the way: Commodity program payments on the 2025 crop could hit $15 billion due to changes Congress made in the One Big Beautiful Bill, according to ag accounting specialist Paul Neiffer. That figure includes the adjustment for 85% of base acres but doesn’t account for some farmers hitting the payment limit.
Farmers with corn base could qualify for up to $9 billion and wheat base about $3 billion before the 85% adjustment.
Keep in mind: Farmers won’t see those payments on their 2025 crops until October 2026.
Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson at the Puck event
Tuesday (Agri-Pulse photo)
Farm income forecast due out, farmers’ outlook sours
USDA is due today to release its first forecast for farm income since February. The report comes amid indications that row crop producers are increasingly concerned about their finances.
The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index fell 10 points in August to 125. The monthly survey found that many farmers expect to borrow more money to operate next year. Some 22% of the farmers surveyed in August said they expect their 2026 operating loan to be larger.
A summary of the survey says “financial stress appears to be noticeably higher than it was in January 2023, when just 5% of farms with larger operating loans attributed that to the need to carry over unpaid operating debt, or January 2024 when 17% of farms with large operating loans said it was because of the same reason.” Now, 23% say they expect to carry over operating debt.
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USTR to begin hearings in Brazil investigation
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative today will hear from stakeholders on Brazilian trade practices as part of a Section 301 investigation.
Representatives of the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, the National Corn Growers Association, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the National Pork Producers Association and the National Cotton Council have all asked to appear.
Take note: As part of the investigation, USTR is looking into both ethanol tariffs and Brazil’s enforcement of deforestation regulations.
For more on the deforestation issue, check out our weekly newsletter today. We also have reports on USDA’s reorganization plan, rural veterinarians, solar power and FAO funding.
BLM releases greater sage-grouse plan
The Bureau of Land Management is adjusting its plan for managing Greater sage-grouse habitat in eight central and western states.
In a Federal Register notice published today, BLM Acting Director Wiliam Groffy notes that the agency is changing how some sage-grouse areas are categorized to better allow for coordination with state agencies.
The changes apply to lands in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Hinson running to fill Ernst’s seat
Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson says she’s “all in” for next year’s Senate contest, announcing on social media that she will be competing for the seat being vacated by Sen. Joni Ernst.
“I’m running for the United States Senate to fight alongside President Trump and deliver on the America First agenda,” Hinson said Tuesday on X. “From securing our border and deporting illegal aliens, to keeping men out of girl’s sports and cutting taxes for working families, I will fight every day for Iowans and our conservative values.”
Iowa Democratic state lawmaker Josh Turek is in a crowded field of candidates running for their party’s nomination.
Texas cultivated meat ban challenged in court
A lawsuit filed today says a Texas law banning the sale of cultivated meat is unconstitutional.
The Institute for Justice, along with protein startups Wildtype and UPSIDE Foods, argue in their complaint that the law “is nothing more than unconstitutional economic protectionism,” according to a news release.
“Texas has always been a state with a ‘live-and-let-live’ mentality—especially when it comes to the kitchen,” Institute for Justice Senior Attorney Paul Sherman said. “No one is forcing Texans to eat anything they don’t want. But at the same time, the government shouldn’t prevent Texans from eating something they do want.”
States back federal employee unions, including FSIS and APHIS
A coalition of 20 state attorneys general is supporting the right of federal employee unions to engage in collective bargaining.
The states joined the American Federation of Government Employees in a lawsuit challenging an executive order from March that removed that right for agencies involved in national security issues. Included among them are the Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
“Protecting America’s national security is a core constitutional duty, and President Trump refuses to let union obstruction interfere with his efforts to protect Americans and our national interests,” the EO said.
AFGE’s lawsuit challenged the order as retaliation for constitutionally protected speech. After winning a preliminary injunction halting Trump’s move, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the injunction.
Final word
“The AVMA applauds the USDA for recognizing and working to address the immediate need to recruit and retain veterinarians in rural and underserved communities. Strengthening the nation’s animal health infrastructure and agricultural economy relies on the expertise of livestock and public health veterinarians. Through the Rural Veterinary Action Plan, animal and human welfare will be maintained, our food supply will be protected, and public health will be safeguarded. We look forward to working with the USDA on implementation of the Rural Veterinary Action Plan.” – Michael Bailey, President of the American Veterinary Medical Association. See out story in this week’s newsletter.
Noah Wicks contributed to today’s Daybreak
