Articles by Lydia Johnson

Top GOP ag committee senators who have spoken with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., say he is willing to attach more farm aid to any bill to fund war in Iran.

Regulations for the new 45Z biofuel tax incentive need to account for cover crops, precision fertilizer applications and other regenerative agriculture practices to ensure that farmers fully benefit from the subsidy, farm-state Republican lawmakers say in a letter to the Trump administration. 

The California Retailers Association made staff promotions for Sarah Pollo Moo and Ryan Allain. Alexa Fox, who worked for Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., for the past nearly 10 years, joined Monument Advocacy as vice president on the food and agriculture team. Kristin Heidelbach is now vice president of government and public affairs at cannabis retail company, Embarc. Jenica Maldonado, a labor and employment attorney in California, rejoined Hanson Bridgett LLP as a partner in the employer services section. Longtime Sierra Club leader Michael Brune launched a climate change-focused investment and philanthropy fund called Clean Break. Audra Weeks, who was deputy chief of staff for policy at the Agriculture Department, departed USDA.

Alexa Fox joined Monument Advocacy as vice president on the food and agriculture team. Audra Weeks, who was deputy chief of staff for policy at the Agriculture Department, departed USDA. Barbara O’Brien, president and CEO of Dairy Management Inc., announced that she will retire this fall. Caroline Rydell is leaving the Farm Credit Bank of Texas to begin a role with Texas A&M AgriLife Office of Federal Relations. 

The Center for American Food Power, a nonpartisan strategic think tank, launched Tuesday to advance a comprehensive domestic agrifood strategy aligned with national security priorities. 

Farm and food industry leaders make the case on Capitol Hill for buying American products, and the Department of Agriculture puts out new crop forecasts as extreme conflict in the Middle East disrupts global ag supply chains.

President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the Navy could escort ships through the Persian Gulf has done little to stem the rise of fertilizer prices caused by the widening Middle East conflict.

Republicans moved their farm bill out of the House Agriculture Committee early today after a marathon, highly partisan debate.

Republicans advanced a farm bill through the House Agriculture Committee early Thursday, picking up significant Democratic support despite partisan clashes over food assistance cuts, ethanol policy and other issues. 

House Ag Committee Democrats sought to use a farm bill to advance a provision authorizing year-round use of E15, but the panel's Republicans stuck together to uphold a point of order against the biofuel amendment.