A bipartisan farm bill that would protect crop insurance and commodity programs as well as nutrition assistance from cuts passed the Senate by an overwhelming margin, 86-11, clearing the way for negotiations to begin next month with the House. 

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has repeatedly downplayed the importance of the North American Free Trade Agreement to the U.S. and that’s prompted farm-state senators to try to persuade him otherwise.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2017 – Two Democratic senators have called on President Donald Trump to withdraw the nomination of Sam Clovis to be a USDA undersecretary, saying he has expressed “extremist views” and is “wildly unqualified for the position.”

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 9, 2017 – The top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee told an audience of sugar producers and processors Wednesday that the biggest problem facing congressional farm bill negotiators, beyond plain old financing, is going to be what to do with SNAP, the federal nutrition program that used to be called food stamps.

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2017 - Senate appropriators have agreed to provide significant new assistance to cotton and dairy producers, potentially resolving a major challenge facing lawmakers as they consider writing a new farm bill.

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2017 - House Republicans look to roll out a fiscal 2018 budget blue-print this week that could cut farm bill spending to help offset the cost of increased defense spending or tax cuts.

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2017 – U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told lawmakers today he expects a speedy conclusion to the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, but he would not commit to a deadline.