Congressional leaders, Trump meet as shutdown looms
President Donald Trump will meet this afternoon with House and Senate leaders about avoiding a government shutdown.
The government will partially shut down Wednesday unless there’s agreement on a short-term continuing resolution. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told NBC’s Meet the Press that he requested the meeting. But Schumer cautioned that “the meeting is a first step, but only a first step. We need a serious negotiation.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., continues to rule out compromising with Democrats on extending expiring health insurance subsidies. “This is simply about keeping that appropriations process going. I don't know what we're supposed to be negotiating,” Thune said.
Take note: Thune doesn’t see any quick resolution on the China trade standoff that is weighing on commodity markets, including in his home state.
“I'm hopeful that the administration, as a function of their trade policy, tariff policy, can get China back to the table, get them buying agricultural products. They certainly did that in the first Trump term,” he said.
Rollins touts new food aid purchases as Supreme Court greenlights further freezes
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins last week touted new purchases of U.S. ag commodities for foreign assistance programs. But just days later, the Supreme Court paved the way for further aid freezes.
“I'm proud to announce that USDA will purchase 417,000 metric tons of commodities from American farmers immediately,” Rollins said at Agri-Pulse’s Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City. She said the buy is equal to more than 16 million bushels of row crops.
So far this financial year, the administration has spent 36% of its congressionally appropriated Food for Peace dollars and 6% of the funds in the McGovern-Dole child nutrition program.
“This is exciting news,” said Kim Cooper, who leads government affairs at the North American Millers’ Association. Cooper said USDA’s commitment to these programs is “exactly why we believe it is the natural home for Food for Peace.”
U.S. Wheat Associates also praised the announcement, which includes 204,000 metric tons, or 7.5 million bushels, of wheat for Africa.
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“We are beyond pleased to see today’s announcement from USDA,” said Dalton Henry, USW vice president of policy and communications. “America’s wheat farmers grow the most reliable supply of high-quality wheat in the world. Programs like Food for Progress offer an opportunity to introduce our product into markets, provide assistance to those in need and support USW’s customers of tomorrow.”
But, but, but: The Supreme Court ruled Friday that the administration could withhold food aid spending. The court ruled that presidential foreign policy flexibility outweighed “the potential harm” to aid recipients.
Agri-Pulse Founder Sara Wyant moderated a policy discussion with former Ag Secretaries Dan Glickman and Mike Johanns at the inaugural Flinchbaugh Forum in Manhattan, Kansas, on Friday. The event honored former Kansas State Economist Barry Flinchbaugh, who was known for engaging with students and government officials. (Photo: Flinchbaugh Center)
Former ag secretaries encourage longer view of farm policy
All ag secretaries spend some time in farm country. It’s important to get out of D.C. and hear what folks think U.S. agriculture should look like in the future.
That was the word from former ag secretaries Dan Glickman and Mike Johanns at the inaugural Flinchbaugh Forum on Friday.
They both called for convening farmers and policy experts, like the Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture chaired by renowned Kansas State Ag Economist Barry Flinchbaugh and established in the 1996 Farm Bill.
The commission released its final report in 2001 and was widely credited with a big focus on risk management.
Johanns encouraged Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins to lead a similar effort and ask questions like: “What do we want agriculture to look like in 20 or 25 years? How are we going to compete? What brings that new day for agriculture? How do we keep young people on the farm and on the ranch?”
Glickman said such an effort is “desperately needed long term because we're very short term now,” citing a possible government shutdown this week. “I think most farm programs will continue, but I don't know if any of the employees at USDA will continue, at least for a while. It's going to be very disruptive.”
Glickman served as secretary from 1995-2001 under President Bill Clinton, when much of the report was being developed. Johanns served from 2005-2007 under President George W. Bush.
EU farmers warn of ‘mother of all battles’ over ag subsidies
European farmers are rallying against the European Commission’s proposals for new European Union ag policy.
Industry groups COPA-COGECA warned on Friday of the “mother of all battles” over ag policy.
“We cannot accept what we believe to be unacceptable,” COPA President Massimiliano Giansanti warned.
Brussels plans Common Agricultural Policy funding cuts of more than 20% for the next spending period. But officials say more funding for rural communities will be available through other programs.
Why it matters: In addition to lambasting the cuts to agricultural support, Giansanti said the groups have been pressing officials to take a firmer line on ag imports.
“We want to have the right guarantees that products imported in the European… have the same food safety guarantees that our farmers can guarantee,” Giansanti said.
COPA-COGECA representatives have recently met with EU officials to discuss foreign livestock transportation practices and how the EU can apply domestic standards to imported products.
EPA approves new Varroa mite treatment
The Environmental Protection Agency has approved a new treatment for Varroa mites, which are bee parasites that have devastated U.S. colonies in recent years.
EPA approved registration for one technical and two end-use products containing the active ingredient Vadescana, which “prevents the expression of a specific gene that the Varroa mite needs to survive,” according to a press release from treatment developer GreenLight Biosciences.
Take note: The press release says Vadescana does not affect humans, bees or other non-target organisms. The product, Norroa, is the first RNA-based treatment targeting Varroa mites.
Final Word:
“President Trump is desperately trying to find a way out of the mess he’s made with his trade war against the world. Trump’s tariffs hurt farmers, but they also hurt small businesses, manufacturers and working families by making everything cost more. The solution is simple: stop the trade wars, stop pushing our largest trading partners into the arms of our competitors, stop the chaos in farm country.” – House Ag Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig, D-Minn., responding to Trump’s suggestion he will use some tariff receipts to assist farmers.
Philip Brasher, Oliver Ward, Noah Wicks and Sara Wyant contributed to today’s Daybreak.
