The House is set to pass a five-year reauthorization of USDA’s grain inspection program, and the Make America Healthy Again Commission’s recommendations will be released this week.
The bipartisan United States Grain Standards Reauthorization Act that the House will consider includes some updates to the existing law, which expires Sept. 30, that are aimed in part at promoting new technology.
The bill would require USDA to “prioritize the adoption of improved grain grading technology” to enable the “efficient, accurate, and consistent grading of grain," and the legislation would exempt equipment and technology costs from a 30% cap on administrative and supervisory expenses that may be incurred under the law. The cap is intended to limit the overall cost of the program.
The president and CEO of the National Grain and Feed Association, Mike Seyfert, calls the legislation "a must-pass bill for the entire grain value chain."
The Senate Agriculture Committee has yet to take up a reauthorization bill although the committee held a hearing on the legislation in July.
An NGFA representative asked senators to allow the Federal Grain Inspection Service to issue waivers during natural disasters or other “force majeure” events. Both buyers and sellers would have to agree to the waivers.
Meanwhile, some states that run inspection programs under agreements with USDA have been urging Congress to provide a baseline level of program funding from the federal government outside of user fees to ensure a more stable budget. User fee revenue has fallen along with shipping volumes.
The MAHA Commission strategy was delivered to the White House in August, and a leaked draft was widely reported on in the media. A preliminary report released in May had cited possible health impacts of seed oils and the herbicides glyphosate and atrazine. The draft strategy sidestepped those issues, although it called for research into the impact of "cumulative exposure" to chemicals.
Calley Means, a senior adviser to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a harsh critic of the food industry and some conventional agricultural practices, suggested on Fox News “Fox and Friends” last week that the strategy would target “ultraprocessed” foods.
“The fact is, we don't know all the science of what this ultra processed food is doing to our body, but today in America, 70% of a child's diet is ultraprocessed Frankenfood, where in Europe it's only 15% … and you'll see this with the MAHA commission report next week,” Means said.
“This administration is evangelizing ranchers, evangelizing farmers, and working to put whole food on a child's plate.”
Also this week, the House Agriculture Committee will hold a pair of hearings, one on state options with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the other on forestry issues.
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The SNAP hearing comes as the Trump administration is pushing states to request waivers allowing them to restrict the types of foods and beverages that can be purchased with SNAP benefits. States and counties also face increased costs because of SNAP cuts included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the domestic policy law enacted in July.
Chloe Green, manager of food and nutrition services for the American Public Human Services, will testify at Tuesday’s hearing along with representatives of Franklin County, Ohio, and the state of Wyoming.
Here is a list of agriculture or rural-related events scheduled for this week in Washington and elsewhere (all times EDT):
Monday, Sept. 8
National Farmers Union legislative fly in through Wednesday.
Agriculture Future of America Policy Institute through Tuesday, The Westin Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia.
4 p.m. – USDA releases Crop Progress report.
Tuesday, Sept. 9
National Pork Producers Council's Fall Legislative Action Conference through Thursday, Washington.
The Meat Institute hosts the Meat Industry Food Safety Conference, Kansas City.
American Feed Industry Association hosts Liquid Feed Symposium, Fort Worth, Texas.
10 a.m. – House Agriculture subcommittee hearing, "Exploring State Options in SNAP," 1300 Longworth.
3 p.m. – U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action webinar, “Energy and Energy Use Efficiency.”
Wednesday, Sept. 10
10 a.m. – House Agriculture subcommittee hearing on forest management, 1300 Longworth.
10 a.m. – Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on a discussion draft of the of the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act, and S. 881, the Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act, 562 Dirksen.
Thursday, Sept. 11
8:30 a.m. – Bureau of Labor Statistics releases Consumer Price Index.
8:30 a.m. – USDA releases Weekly Export Sales report.
Friday, Sept. 12
Noon – USDA releases monthly Crop Production report and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
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