Steve Davies

A former chief economist for USDA, Joe Glauber, warned recently that the billions of dollars in payments to farmers to offset trade wars and COVID-19 impacts would “attract attention” on an international level. And that’s exactly what’s happening.

Republicans and Democrats clashed over legislation that would give states a larger role in recovering endangered species at a hearing before the Environment and Public Works Committee Wednesday.

Rural Democrats are expressing relief at a deal House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reached with Republicans to ensure USDA can continue making farm payments in the coming months. A stopgap funding bill that includes a provision to replenish USDA’s Commodity Credit Corp. account passed the House easily Tuesday evening, 359-57.

The hemp industry has sued the Drug Enforcement Administration, saying it exceeded its authority in a rule published last month that says “cannabis-derived material” cannot contain more than 0.3% of THC by dry weight.

The effects of moving USDA's Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture to the Midwest, which resulted in the loss of personnel, are showing.

The United States needs to change the way it thinks about responding to food emergencies in order to quickly get assistance to those who need it, well-known chef José Andrés said at Monday's Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit.

The nation’s attention will be riveted this week by the Supreme Court vacancy left by the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. But Congress still faces a looming deadline for keeping the government funded after the new fiscal year starts Oct. 1

The Environmental Protection Agency has issued interim registration decisions for atrazine, simazine and propazine that would allow the herbicides to continue to be used on corn and other crops with some added restrictions.

The wait is over. USDA is expected to release the rules this morning for the second round of coronavirus relief payments.