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USDA officials are scrambling to put together a presentation on an assistance program to help mitigate the tens of billions of dollars in damage that’s expected to be done to farmers and ranchers as a result of the Trump administration’s multifront trade war with China, Mexico, Canada, the European Union and elsewhere.

The Senate plans to name its farm bill negotiators this week, clearing the way for the talks to begin before House members scatter for the August recess.

The Environmental Protection Agency relied on a faulty analysis by the Department of Energy when it rejected a West Virginia refinery’s request for an exemption from renewable fuel blending requirements, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

Sweeping proposals released by the Trump administration Thursday to change the way the government implements the Endangered Species Act provoked fairly predictable reactions – environmental groups blasted them, and industry groups welcomed them.

Farm group leaders and lawmakers railed against President Donald Trump’s trade policy and tariffs in a House Ways and Means subcommittee hearing today, bemoaning the effects on the ag sector as China, Mexico, Canada, the European Union, Turkey and others retaliate.

Free-range poultry and cage-free eggs may command higher prices in the supermarket but they offer consumers little or no demonstrable benefit in food safety or quality, animal health and welfare or healthful food, a panel of scientists concluded after a review of a battery of research papers they called "inconclusive and often contradictory."

The House took a step Wednesday toward beginning formal negotiations with the Senate over a new farm bill and overwhelmingly voted in favor of including permanent funding for USDA efforts to combat animal diseases.

The Renewable Fuels Association announced today that Bob Dinneen, who’s been the group’s president and CEO since 2001, will step aside in October to take up a senior advisory role. Executive Vice President Geoff Cooper will take over as president and chief executive.