News

U.S.-Canada trade war could hurt supply chains

olivia@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:11:00 -0400

The U.S.-Canada trade war initiated by President Donald Trump is likely to disrupt North American agriculture supply chains, experts warn.

Weather service says it's hiring, but where?

steve@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:09:00 -0400

The National Weather Service says it’s staffing up, but it’s not clear where, according to the union that represents NWS employees, which says the impacts of employee shortages are still being felt.

The Beef Bulk-Up: Health tradeoffs emerge as cattle get heavier

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:08:00 -0400

The second part of “The Beef Bulk‑Up” series examines rising cattle weights and why experts say bigger animals face higher risks of lameness, joint problems, heat stress and certain heart, lung and liver conditions.

Iowa ethanol plant at center of dispute in Iowa AG race

hguthoerl@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:07:00 -0400

POET has threatened legal action against Nate Willems, the Democrat challenging Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, for statements in his first televised campaign ad.

San Antonio to house nation's first pest biosecurity platform

hguthoerl@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:06:00 -0400

Flyttr announced plans on Sept. 8 to build a large-scale biosecurity research, development and countermeasures platform in San Antonio, Texas.

Ranchers to be paid for wolf kills, but there’s a catch

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:04:00 -0400

California lawmakers approved $2.5 million for a compensation fund for ranchers whose livestock was killed by wolves, but the ranchers must show they tried nonlethal deterrence methods to qualify for the funding.

California touts cannabis tax revenue a decade after legalization

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:03:00 -0400

A decade after California voters passed Proposition 64 legalizing nonmedical uses of marijuana, the state says the legal market has generated nearly $8.4 billion in taxes, exceeding expectations.

Legal fight over Oregon packaging law could affect California

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:02:00 -0400

The anticipated appeal of a federal judge’s ruling upholding an Oregon plastics recycling law could affect the lawsuit over California’s SB 54, which mandates sharp reductions in single-use plastic.

Table grape industry commits $1.7M to fight vine pest

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:01:00 -0400

It isn’t just wine grapes that are affected by the glassy-winged sharpshooter and the deadly vine disease it carries, Pierce’s disease. A special district in the San Joaquin Valley has passed emergency funding to help citrus growers treat for the pest to protect neighboring table grape farms.

Daybreak Sept. 8: WOTUS proposal praised, slammed

noah@agri-pulse.com — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 10:08:43 -0400

The Trump administration’s latest proposal in its ongoing effort to redefine what the Clean Water Act calls “waters of the United States” is getting divided reactions from farm and environmental groups.

Ag leaders, friends and family mourn loss of Ray Gaesser

sara@agri-pulse.com — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 14:13:00 -0400

Ray Gaesser, a beloved agricultural leader and conservationist who farmed near Corning, Iowa, died Saturday following a farm accident.

Trump signs beef executive orders focused on competition, MCOOL

noah@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:40:05 -0400

The Trump administration is seeking to advance mandatory country of original labeling for beef and bolster competition in the meatpacking industry through two new executive orders.

Daybreak Sept. 4: Congress heads home early

noah@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0400

House leadership canceled votes the week of Sept. 21 and 28, starting the election season recess early, according to Minnesota Republican Majority Whip Tom Emmer. The House is still expected to have votes the week of Sept. 14.

Judge clears way for USDA reorganization

steve@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 11:49:27 -0400

A federal judge is allowing USDA’s reorganization plan to move forward, denying a request from federal employee unions and other interested parties for an injunction to stop it.

EPA, Corps issue supplemental WOTUS proposal

steve@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 09:54:53 -0400

EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers are seeking additional comment on their proposed “waters of the U.S.” rule by proposing new definitions for critical terminology, including what constitutes “relatively permanent” waters and a “continuous surface water connection.”

Farm earnings outlook brightens, though expected profits remain below 2025

noah@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 16:27:24 -0400

The Agriculture Department has raised its forecast for farm earnings in 2026 from February, though it continues to expect producers to see profit declines compared to last year.

Daybreak Sept. 3: Canada trade war could threaten USMCA, Republicans say

olivia@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 13:30:12 -0400

Republicans in Congress say the next move in the U.S.-Canada trade negotiations is up to Ottawa.

Thompson seeks waiver to continue as House Ag GOP leader

olivia@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:24:28 -0400

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson has requested a waiver to remain the Republican leader for the panel during the 120th Congress.

Greer faces trade questions from Republicans

olivia@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:45:16 -0400

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday fielded questions from members of the Republican Study Committee about the administration's trade policies.

Daybreak Sept. 2: House sends CR to president’s desk with extension of Grain Standards Act

olivia@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:00:56 -0400

The House on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed, 370-48, a three-month continuing resolution to keep the government open through the election season and until Dec. 11. Without the extension, Congress would have faced a possible shutdown after Sept. 30.

Democrats eye ways to check Trump's trade authority

olivia@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 06:15:00 -0400

Democrats are eyeing ways to halt President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada and reassert congressional authority over trade with some shaky GOP support.

Congress must 'wake up' and follow California's lead on E15, group says

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 06:13:00 -0400

California's efforts to get E15 flowing in the state is underscoring ethanol-expansion attempts in Congress and the thorny fuel policy debate that's so far prevented year-round E15 nationwide.

The Beef Bulk‑Up: America’s cattle are getting bigger, bringing larger returns and new complications

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 06:12:00 -0400

This first installment of the “The Beef Bulk-Up” series examines the forces driving U.S. producers’ efforts to create heavier cattle, and what rising weights mean for the future of beef production.

Breakup of Colorado-based atmospheric science center faces court challenges

steve@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 06:10:00 -0400

The Trump administration’s plan to dismantle the leading climate research facility in the country is drawing opposition from universities, the state of Colorado, and now, the Environmental Defense Fund, which filed a lawsuit last month challenging efforts to break up the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

Technology as resilience: Ruggedize showcases AI power for ag tech

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 06:09:00 -0400

A new technical conference for AI and ag tech entrepreneurs, as well as investors, launched last week as 300 gathered for Ruggedize, a first of its kind meeting, at Reservoir Farms.

Are you ready for non-ultraprocessed food labels? California is

sara@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 06:08:00 -0400

California lawmakers think they have a way to make your food choices easier in a new bill which will allow agents to certify and companies to label foods that are deemed as non-ultraprocessed. Gov. Gavin Newsom has until Sept. 30 to sign.

Farmer sentiment up again from last month

grace@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 06:07:00 -0400

Farmer sentiment is on the upswing, rising for the second month in a row, according to Purdue University-CME Group’s Ag Economy Barometer released Tuesday.

Democrats call for investigation into Sysco acquisition

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

Four Democratic lawmakers have signed letters calling for a Federal Trade Commission investigation into an “anticompetitive” acquisition by Sysco of Jetro Restaurant Depot.

SNAP households’ purchases of sugary drinks fall in states with restrictions, study suggests

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 06:05:00 -0400

Restrictions on using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for sugary drinks cut retail purchases of covered beverages by 12.4% on average among SNAP households in the first 10 states to implement them, according to a new paper from the University of Chicago.

California’s legislative session closes to mixed reviews from ag

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 06:03:00 -0400

California lawmakers ended their 2025-2026 regular session on Aug. 31 by passing a flurry of bills, including ones favored by agriculture that would compensate ranchers for wolf depredations and a pair of California Cattlemen’s Association-sponsored wildfire resilience measures.