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The House Agriculture Committee is planning to mark up its portion of the GOP’s reconciliation bill on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, with opening statements beginning on Tuesday night and votes taking place Wednesday.

The top Republican on the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. Andy Harris, has long championed state pilots to restrict sweetened beverage purchases in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Now that states are filing waivers for these pilots, and the federal government appears open to granting them, Harris has set his sights on what he calls a “bigger and better” idea: Restricting SNAP benefits to U.S.-grown foods.

Next week is shaping up to be a big one for ag policy. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says she’ll release her plan next week for reorganizing and downsizing her department. But she told members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting on Tuesday the downsizing won’t be as “drastic” as some observers fear.

Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee appear confident they can hold a markup early next week on their portion of the budget reconciliation bill, despite remaining policy decisions. 

The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s new chief says the agency is trying to “go mobile” with aims to have staff complete more work during in-person visits to farms while also attempting to reduce the time it takes producers to fill out paperwork.

The U.S. is raising alarm about negotiations between London and Brussels that could leave the UK more closely aligned with EU standards and tie its hands in UK-U.S. trade talks.

Industry and environmentalists are generally pleased with a final strategy released by EPA last week that outlines how growers can address the impact of insecticide use on endangered species.

Some farm bill programs, including increased commodity program spending, may be rolled into the massive budget reconciliation Republicans are crafting, but a legislative fix for California’s Proposition 12 remains on hold until Congress can consider a standalone farm bill. 

Some food companies are beginning to phase out synthetic food dyes in reaction to the Trump administration’s goal of removing all color additives from the food supply by the end of 2026. 
However, the push is largely driven by state laws and the industry’s success in meeting these goals could hinge on the Food and Drug Administration efficiently evaluating and approving alternatives. Cuts to the agency could throw a wrench in this process. 

Farmer sentiment improved in April despite the continued uncertainty around President Donald Trump’s tariff plans and the stiff duties imposed on imports from China, according to the monthly Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.