Environment

Trump administration finalizes rule narrowing Endangered Species Act protection

noah@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:38:23 -0400

The Trump Administration on Friday finalized a rule narrowing the prohibition against "taking" endangered species by removing regulatory language allowing federal wildlife agencies to consider how species are harmed by habitat destruction.

Proposed EPA rule seeks to end DEF deratements

noah@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 17:23:50 -0400

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to stop requiring that diesel trucks automatically reduce power when their emissions exceed certain limits under a proposed rule that would also do away with a Biden-era plan to increase how long manufacturers must provide warranties for emissions equipment.

Daybreak July 8: CRP is 2.2 million acres in 2026

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 09:11:03 -0400

The Agriculture Department has agreed to enroll 2.2 million acres in the Conservation Reserve Program this year out of the 2.5 million acres offered by landowners under all three program signups. The National Corn Growers Association is calling for heightened transparency from agricultural input companies as it releases a new study that shows U.S. farmers paying substantially more for seeds and pesticides than their counterparts in Brazil.

High-stakes 45Z rules stoke hopes for farm economy revival

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:11:00 -0400

The stakes for farmers in the pending 45Z tax credit rules are high as financially struggling crop growers seek to tap expanding low-carbon fuel markets.

Coexistence bill offers ranchers a framework, but no new money

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:04:00 -0400

SB 1135 would establish a permanent framework for wildlife coexistence and wolf compensation, but ranchers are still waiting for the state funding needed to make the programs work.

Progress made toward voluntary nitrogen reductions

grace@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 06:05:00 -0400

Progress is being made toward voluntary goals to reduce nitrogen loads into the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico, but the “dead zone” in the Gulf is projected to be larger than average this year.

USDA unveils rule aimed at boosting farmers through biofuels

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 07:42:09 -0400

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced long-awaited regenerative ag rules aimed at helping farmers fully benefit from biofuel markets.

Daybreak June 24: E15 discussions intensify

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 08:43:48 -0400

Discussion on the potential for Senate passage of an E15 bill swirled on Capitol Hill Tuesday after the release of a draft farm bill that doesn’t include the pro-ethanol measure. A bill to expedite Emergency Conservation Program payments to producers whose land has been damaged by wildfires cleared the House Tuesday with a 386-19 vote. It now heads to the president’s desk for his signature.

California Farm Bureau warns legal ruling could chill nonprofit advocacy

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 07:03:00 -0400

California Farm Bureau is backing CropLife’s bid for state Supreme Court review, warning a ruling exposing nonprofit intervenors to major attorney’s fees could chill advocacy in public law cases.

Oversubscription in EQIP, CSP increased in fiscal 2025, analysis finds

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 06:03:00 -0400

Two of the agriculture department's most popular conservation programs have struggled historically to keep pace with producer demand despite their billion-dollar budgets. But last year, the percentage of applications that won funding fell even further, according to a new analysis of Agriculture Department data by the Institute for Agricultural and Trade Policy, a think tank.

Center for Biological Diversity sues USDA to get glyphosate EO info

grace@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 06:02:00 -0400

The Center for Biological Diversity has sued USDA to release records about potential behind-the-scenes interests of President Donald Trump’s executive order to increase production of glyphosate.

Water board order puts ag communities at center of nitrate cleanup

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:03:00 -0400

The Central Valley water board’s first nitrate management zone order starts a decades-long cleanup effort around Modesto, promising continued drinking water help for rural households while giving farms, dairies and cities time to reduce groundwater contamination.

Water board drafts new dairy order as industry warns of farm losses

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:01:00 -0400

California water regulators are drafting a new dairy order that would tighten nitrate rules in the Central Valley. Dairy groups warn the proposal could add costly mandates for family-owned farms already under pressure.

Daybreak June 10: Ag labor draft bill would expand H-2A

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:51:52 -0400

House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., is calling to broaden a U.S. temporary agricultural worker program under an early draft of a proposed ag labor bill.

Winemaking weather woes muddle vineyard economics, study shows

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 06:05:00 -0400

A new Cornell University study examines the tradeoffs involved for wine grape growers when trying to adapt to more extreme weather versus completely changing grape varieties or picking up and moving elsewhere.

Lawsuit goes after grazing in Arizona conservation area

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 06:01:00 -0400

The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Bird Alliance are suing the Bureau of Land Management and the Fish and Wildlife Service over the impacts of cattle grazing in southern Arizona's Las Cienegas National Conservation Area.

Daybreak June 3: School meal proposals coming this year, Vaden says

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:06:37 -0400

The Agriculture Department will seek comment later this year on proposals aimed at aligning new federal dietary guidelines with school meal standards, Deputy Ag Secretary Stephen Vaden says. Rep. Randy Feenstra suffered a surprising defeat in Iowa’s GOP gubernatorial primary Tuesday, losing to businessman Zach Lahn despite a late endorsement from President Donald Trump.

Farm Journal releases report on dairy industry

grace@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 06:02:00 -0400

Farm Journal released its annual State of the Dairy Industry report, detailing both the challenges and triumphs of the past year for dairy operators.

On marine fuels and RFS, Zeldin says he’s open to discussion

lydia@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 29 May 2026 13:17:09 -0400

EPA chief Lee Zeldin says he's open to discussion on marine fuels and the RFS.

Daybreak May 29: Zeldin talks WOTUS on Newsmakers

noah@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 29 May 2026 09:20:41 -0400

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says he could rush out a final Waters of the U.S. rule — but it’s more important to get it right. U.S. and Indian officials will meet next week with the aim of finalizing details of an interim agreement and continue broader negotiations, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry says.

Rail regulator accepts revised Norfolk Southern-Union Pacific rail merger application

noah@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:41:53 -0400

The Surface Transportation Board on Thursday unanimously accepted Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s merger application for consideration after finding the rail companies’ second attempted application sufficient, kicking off a formal review of the proposed deal.

Zeldin vows ‘no bias’ in EPA’s safety review of glyphosate

lydia@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:11:26 -0400

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says his agency's review of glyphosate will reflect whatever the science says.

U.S. marine biofuel hopes build despite uncertain global market

Wed, 27 May 2026 06:04:00 -0400

U.S. marine fuel stakeholders eye global market opportunities while President Donald Trump is said to remain opposed to UN emissions-cutting efforts.

EPA announces funding to reduce PFAS in drinking water

grace@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 27 May 2026 06:01:00 -0400

EPA announced funding to reduce PFAS levels in drinking water while also proposing to drop regulation of some PFAS compounds.

Lower Colorado River basin states lay out proposal for water reductions through 2028

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 20 May 2026 06:04:00 -0400

Lower Colorado River water leaders are pitching a new plan to stave off the threat of low water levels at key Colorado River reservoirs for the next two years while state officials continue negotiations over the best way to manage the river’s supplies beyond 2026.

NRCS Chief Bettencourt resigns; Buckley becomes chief today

lydia@agri-pulse.com — Mon, 18 May 2026 14:28:03 -0400

Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Aubrey Bettencourt has resigned from the agency, according to a letter sent to staff and obtained by Agri-Pulse.

California moves to regulate pesticide-treated seeds

brad@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 15 May 2026 13:39:17 -0400

California pesticide regulators are proposing new reporting requirements for treated seeds, reviving a long-running fight over seed coatings, pollinator risks and how far the state should go beyond federal pesticide rules.

'It's complicated': Senate Ag chair says E15 bill needs changes

oliver@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 14 May 2026 17:09:11 -0400

Senate Agriculture Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., expresses concerns with the House-passed E15 bill.

Trump to sign executive orders to boost beef imports, cattle supply

oliver@agri-pulse.com — Mon, 11 May 2026 13:14:53 -0400

President Donald Trump is set sign a pair of executive orders Monday to expand beef imports and grow the domestic cattle herd, according to a White House official. Officials have briefed industry on the measure, which is set to suspend certain beef import quotas that allow a set volume of beef to enter the U.S. at a reduced tariff rate.

Europe revisits deforestation rule without recommending further simplification

oliver@agri-pulse.com — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:54:40 -0400

The European Commission Monday declined to recommend any further changes to the legal text of a forthcoming deforestation rule, although it will narrow the scope to exclude leather products. The U.S. timber industry is lamenting a missed opportunity to address its concerns.