Articles Tagged with ''House Agriculture Committee''

Tight labor supplies and President Donald Trump’s shifting tariff policies are increasing financial pressure on producers of a wide range of specialty crops, producers say.

Senate Republicans are set to break a logjam on President Donald Trump’s nominees this week that could benefit at least three of his picks for USDA. The House GOP is expected to move a stopgap spending bill this week to keep the government funded after the new fiscal year starts Oct. 1, but Senate Democrats are insisting that expiring health care subsidies be included.

The House is set to pass a five-year reauthorization of USDA’s grain inspection program this week, and the Make America Healthy Again Commission’s recommendations will be released on Tuesday.

Opponents of California’s Proposition 12 used a House Agriculture Committee hearing Wednesday to voice their concerns about the impacts on the nation’s pork producers of the animal welfare law, which was narrowly upheld by the Supreme Court last year.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson wants to move legislation this fall to address farm and nutrition programs left out of the budget reconciliation bill.

Republicans in the House and Senate are closely aligned on the farm bill provisions in their budget reconciliation bill, although the Senate version is more favorable to corn and soybean growers who dominate Midwest farming.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins defended her record at a wide-ranging hearing that touched on trade, personnel reductions at USDA, and cuts to nutrition programs. She argued USDA had become bloated during the Biden administration but is now "adequately staffed."

Counties that include about one-third of all SNAP recipients in the country are warning that proposed cuts to the feeding program would hinder their ability to reduce food insecurity.

Jamison Cruce left his position as vice president of government relations at USA Rice to launch his own firm, Cruce Capitol Consulting. Jake Westlin, former vice president at the National Association of Wheat Growers, will succeed Cruce at USA Rice. The Senate Ag Committee Republicans hired Carlye Winfrey as a legislative aide. Growth Energy hired Jared Henderson and Emma Keiser as directors of government affairs. 

Martha Smith was promoted to vice president of North America agricultural affairs and license to operate at Bayer Crop Science. The National Pork Producers Council hired Shannon McMurtrey-Belson as senior director of international affairs and Dillon Davidson as director of state policy. Jeremy Witte was sworn in as deputy under secretary of marketing and regulatory programs at USDA.

The leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees said they are “troubled” by the recent Make America Healthy Again Commission report because of its potential consequences for farmers.