Noah Wicks

Farm groups are poring through the recommendations of a special House committee that’s proposing to raise tariffs on China.

Bipartisan recommendations issued by a special House committee call for raising tariffs on Chinese exports and taking steps to protect U.S. farmers from the trade retaliation that would likely result.

Montana Democrat Jon Tester has managed to use his agriculture background and down-home image to maintain his lock on a seat representing a largely conservative constituency. But with his spot up for grabs in a rigorous-looking race that could determine which party controls the senate, the organic grain farmer will have to fight to reclaim it.

Farm groups are warning Congress that revoking China’s trade status could set off a new trade war that would have serious repercussions for the ag economy.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack pronounced himself pleased with U.S. efforts at the COP28 climate change meeting in Dubai, citing, in particular, a declaration signed by 152 countries outlining “the steps that need to be taken in order to ensure that we can produce the food necessary to meet the nutritional needs of the world now, and in the future, in light of a changing climate.”

Lawmakers are keeping the heat on USDA over the rules for the latest ad hoc disaster aid program.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, hasn’t given up on his years-long effort to tighten payment limits for farm bill commodity programs.

A slate of actions aimed at preparing the Pacific Northwest for a scenario in which four dams on the Lower Snake River are breached appears to be under consideration as the Biden Administration looks to resolve a 22-year-long legal dispute over declining salmon populations, according to a draft settlement document circulated by four House lawmakers.