Administration officials tease impending beef announcement
There’s a plan to unveil a package to rebuild U.S. beef herds, Trump administration officials say.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told CNBC on Tuesday that a “pretty big” beef package will be coming “very, very soon.” She hinted it could be released as early as this week.
She said the administration will “open up new lands to make it easier to become a rancher.”
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett also teased a forthcoming announcement on a Fox Business interview.
Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., told Agri-Pulse the announcement could come today.
Take note: In her interview, Rollins said the Trump administration is interested in importing beef from Argentina but said “it would not be very much.”
"We’re going to ensure our livestock industry is protected,” Rollins said, but added, “this is a very nuanced, very complex market.”
But, but, but: The president’s comments were still on senators’ minds during a lunchtime event at the White House on Tuesday. Multiple senators, including John Hoeven, R-N.D., told Agri-Pulse they’re concerned by the comments and hoped that the administration clears up its import plans.
Later in the day, Hoeven seemed reassured.
“My sense is they're going to address it in a way that's going to be fine,” Hoeven said. “They get it.”
USDA will restart commodity program payments
Rollins says the administration will make commodity program payments due to farmers this month and resume “core operations” of the Farm Service Agency, despite the ongoing shutdown.
“President Trump will not let the radical left Democrat shutdown impact critical USDA services while harvest is underway across the country,” she said in a post to X.
“Thursday, USDA will resume Farm Service Agency core operations, including critical services for farm loan processing, ARC/PLC payments, and other programs,” she added.
Bill to reauthorize pipeline safety agency advances
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee has advanced a bill reauthorizing the federal pipeline safety program for five years.
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The bipartisan bill includes measures to boost pipeline-related safety and “inspections and enforcement efforts,” according to a committee news release.
Industry groups including the American Gas Association and American Petroleum Institute support the legislation.
Food & Water Watch, a carbon dioxide pipelines opponent argued that the bill lacks “basic safety standards” to protect communities.
“Communities across the country are calling for common-sense measures such as public impact area mapping, operator-funded support for first responders, enforceable engineering standards, and meaningful local input in siting decisions,” the group said in a release.
A panel speaks at the “U.S. Agriculture and Food Systems” on the Global Stage forum hosted by Agri-Pulse and JBS. Left to right are Dan Christensen, vice president of global public policy at PepsiCo; Adam Kiel, managing director of the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund; Pallin Turner, farmer from Clarinda, Iowa; and Ryan Vavroch, farmer from Elberon, Iowa.
Bacon: Two-to-one odds on farm bill before end of yearNebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon says he gives the skinny farm bill a two-to-one chance of passing before year’s end.
“When I talk to my colleagues across the aisle on a lot of these particular issues, I think they're very negotiable,” Bacon said, speaking of agriculture provisions in a skinny farm bill.
“We can find common ground.”
Bacon was speaking virtually at a forum, "U.S. Agriculture and Food Systems on the Global Stage," hosted by Agri-Pulse and JBS Tuesday,
Bacon said he recognizes Democrats “anger directed at the president” over the government shutdown and provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill passed in July.
The underlying political tension, Bacon said, will make passing legislation challenging.
Why it matters: The current farm bill expired Sept. 30. Authorization for the Conservation Reserve Program and other farm bill programs not included in this summer’s budget reconciliation bill have lapsed amid the shift to a new fiscal year.
Innovations in genetics, good management credited with boosting sustainability
Also at the forum, producers and industry leaders highlighted progress cutting emissions, improving grazing practices, and protecting water and soil health while maintaining a focus on profitability.
U.S. cattle producers have increased beef output by 25% since 1970 with 6% fewer cattle, said Brandon Reeves, executive director of the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association.
Shenandoah Valley producer Dave Thomas credited the adoption of artificial insemination in his herd and across the industry to advancing more productive genetics. “The breeds in our industry have been able to collect data and use that data to convey back to producers and educate us on decisions that we need to make that would allow us to capture more value and create more quality animals that perform more efficiently,” Thomas said.
National Grazing Lands Coalition Executive Director Ashley McDonald focused on the importance of technical assistance and flexible conservation programs to accommodate the unique needs of each operation.
Greer testimony postponed over shutdown
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer’s appearance before Senate appropriators on Tuesday was postponed. He was scheduled to testify before the Commerce, Justice, science and related agencies subcommittee. A USTR spokesperson told Agri-Pulse the ongoing government shutdown was to blame.
A committee spokesperson did not respond immediately to a question about whether a new date has been set.
Take note: Subcommittee Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., told reporters that he spoke to Greer on Tuesday. The USTR suggested that there could be trade pacts announced during an upcoming European trip.
Final Word:
“This short-term bridge that we’re building to get us to the next phase – all of these trade deals that the president has struck, every one of them, will really begin to move into effect beginning next year.” – Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaking on CNBC.
Lydia Johnson, Oliver Ward and Noah Wicks contributed to today’s Daybreak.
