Lydia Johnson

House Ag Committee Democrats told Agri-Pulse they plan to offer a farm bill amendment to allow year-round sales of E15, even though the proposal is likely to be ruled out of order. 

Casey Creamer has departed as president and CEO of California Citrus Mutual. In a release from the group, board of directors chair Julia Inestroza said, “I am writing to share that California Citrus Mutual and Casey Creamer have parted ways, effective February 11, 2026. We appreciate his service to our industry and wish him the best in his future endeavors. … Our day-to-day operations will continue under the direction of our experienced staff, and the Board has begun the process of identifying CCM's next leader.” 

The House Ag Committee kicked off debate on a GOP farm bill that faces a rocky path to passage in a narrowly divided chamber amid the mid-term election campaigns. Partisan jabs over tariffs, MAHA, ethanol and nutrition assistance marked the opening discussion. 

The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives announced staff changes. Lisa Van Doren, vice president and chief of staff, is leaving. Justin Darisse has been promoted to vice president of strategy and external affairs. Zach Gihorski was promoted to senior director of government affairs. The International Dairy Foods Association hired Adam Tarr as vice president of legislative affairs. Syngenta and American Seed Trade Association Chairman Dave Treinen, head of GreenLeaf Genetics at Syngenta, are leaving the organization.

The Trump administration is initiating the first stages of an effort to sell the South building, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Wednesday, by transferring control of the building to the General Services Administration (GSA).

California Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed John Reynolds as the new president of the California Public Utilities Commission. Reynolds will “build on the governor's agenda to deliver 100% clean electricity by 2045, combat energy costs, modernize our electricity delivery system, and protect families and businesses from the growing impacts of extreme heat and catastrophic wildfires,” according to the press release. He’s held numerous roles at the commission, most recently as commissioner and also as interim chief of staff to former Commissioner, Genevieve Shiroma.

Christy Puffenbarger was elected as chairwoman of the National Turkey Federation. The National Association of Conservation Districts board of directors elected Mark Masters of Georgia as the association’s president-elect. CropLife America hired Frank Plescia as director of state government relations. Emma Johnston joined the CFTC as a senior agriculture adviser. Kristina Aleksander joined the Association of Equipment Manufacturers as policy communications manager.

President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union message days after the Supreme Court struck down a cornerstone of his trade policy, and his controversial pick for U.S. surgeon general will get her long-delayed Senate confirmation hearing. The House Agriculture Committee was scheduled to begin debating a GOP farm bill on Monday, but due to weather the start of the markup was delayed.

U.S. agriculture groups responded to the Supreme Court striking down President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs by calling for increased certainty in trade policy and carveouts for ag inputs in any new tariffs.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ chief of staff, Kailee Tkacz Buller, left USDA Thursday and will be replaced by Tate Bennett, effective immediately.