Oliver Ward

Treasury Secretary-designate Scott Bessent told lawmakers in his confirmation hearing that he would protect U.S. farmers from any tariff retaliation by pushing China to live up to its purchasing commitments under the phase one deal.

More Senate confirmation hearings are on tap today. President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head EPA, former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, will appear before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, selected to be interior secretary, will testify before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. 

A fractured clean air plan * Flows-only path hurts housing * Zeldin, Burgum face Senate hearings today

In his confirmation hearing Wednesday, Sen. Marco Rubio discussed trade frictions with Mexico, the U.S.-China strategic rivalry and the president-elect's concerns over Chinese actions around the Panama Canal. 

EPA has released a draft risk assessment that says using PFAS-contaminated sewage sludge on farms may expose growers and those eating affected agricultural products to health risks.

CA abandons diesel truck ban, train rules * Wonderful Co. reacts to water hoarding conspiracy * FDA’s packaging proposal

Beijing recently approved a tranche of new gene-edited and genetically modified crop varieties and said it will accelerate breeding to boost yields – the latest chapter in a long-running drive for greater food self-sufficiency. 

If Congress doesn’t extend or codify the 2017 tax cuts, the U.S. ag industry could shed close to 50,000 jobs amid reduced economic output, a new report says.

The Biden administration is putting the finishing touches on its regulatory agenda ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. USDA is finalizing a rule barring poultry integrators from paying producers reduced rates in tournament ranking systems. The rule, being announced today, still allows for competitive bonuses.

Sites captures more fiscal runoff * Warren peppers Bessent with questions * More opposition to RFK