Lydia Johnson

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dubbed modern soil health practices “unsustainable” during the first Make America Healthy Again roundtable on Capitol Hill. Speakers called for increasing use of precision agriculture technology and expanding public-private partnerships to boost usage of conservation practices. 

Senate Republicans face a critical test of their loyalty to President Donald Trump as they head toward debate on a $9.4 billion package of funding cuts to foreign assistance and public broadcasting that the White House is asking Congress to affirm. Also this week, the Trump administration could clear the way for new duties on Mexican tomatoes. 

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins wants USDA to prioritize U.S. companies and people in the spending of taxpayer dollars.

President Donald Trump is facing a backlash from some of his base over his promises to shield farmworkers from mass deportations. So, Trump and Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins stressed at separate events Tuesday that there will be “no amnesty” for farmworkers.

Producers who suffered losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can begin applying for disaster aid payments Thursday under a year-end funding package Congress passed in December. 

The California Fresh Fruit Association hired Clayton Smith as director of government relations. The Bureau of Land Management is moving California state office executive Joe Stout to the agency’s top career position in Washington. Longtime California Citrus Mutual president Joel Nelsen died unexpectedly July 1. 

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation hired Anna Nicholson as alumni engagement and event manager. Gino Dicaro has departed from the Wine Institute to join the Golden State Water Company as public policy and government relations manager. John Harris, one of California agriculture’s most influential leaders, passed away on July 3. 

The American Soybean Association hired Mariah Wollweber as senior director of marketing and communications. Justin Ransom was appointed administrator of the Food Safety Inspection Service. The Keystone Policy Center hired USDA alumnus Alyssa Charney as senior director of the agricultural technical assistance program. 

The National Wheat Foundation appointed Anne Osborne as the next executive director. Peter Laudeman joined USDA as a senior policy adviser for trade and foreign agricultural affairs. The U.S. Wheat Associates hired Julia Debes as director of communications and stakeholder outreach.

Western Growers promoted Bryan Nickerson to director of membership. Mike Bittner was promoted to western regional director at Atticus. Kyle Kunkler is now the Environmental Protection Agency’s top pesticide officer. 

Progressive Produce named Andy Webb vice president of business development. Veg-Land Inc./JBJ Distributing and Fresh Cut Inc. hired Todd Linsky to join the leadership team. Rudy Placencia was named vice president of sales at Fowler Packing. 

Kyle Kunkler is now the Environmental Protection Agency’s top pesticide officer. The Agricultural Retailers Association hired Alex Enlow as director of communications and member experience. Dow Chemical promoted Colleen Litkenhaus to global director of public policy. 

Trey Elizondo was promoted to senior manager of global policy and strategy at Cargill. The America First policy Institute hired Oliver McPherson-Smith as vice chair for energy and environment. Steve Mercer retired from the U.S. Wheat Associates. 

Most states are going to get hit with a bill for SNAP benefits unless they can get their error rates down quickly. Under a provision in the Senate’s massive budget reconciliation bill only eight states would be exempt from sharing some SNAP benefit costs, based on the FY24 error rates.