Farm Bill

It’s another big week as Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins grapples with a threat to livestock, senators work on a farm bill, and President Donald Trump says he’s focused on ending war with Iran and lowering costs for ag producers and other Americans. A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction barring the Agriculture Department from withholding funding from a group of states through a terms and conditions framework that seeks to comply with Trump administration policies on gender, immigration and diversity.

SNAP cost-structure changes threaten to derail the farm bill, but Sen. Amy Klobuchar, ranking member of the Agriculture Committee, says she has an "excellent working relationship" with Chair John Boozman. 

President Donald Trump says he doesn’t care if negotiations with Iran over the U.S.-Israeli war on the country are over. Sixty-five national and state commodity groups on Monday asked the Commerce Department to remove countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizer imports. 

A flurry of high-profile events are on tap this week as Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks on Capitol Hill, U.S. officials talk trade in India and Senate work on a new farm bill kicks into high gear. 

Georgia Congressman Austin Scott is positioning himself to become the next Republican leader of the House Agriculture Committee, arguing that his ties to the Trump administration, vision for enhancing farm profitability, and focus on protecting American agriculture from foreign adversaries make him the right leader to guide the panel through the prolonged downturn in the ag economy.

Leaders of the House and Senate Ag committees and GOP leadership have called for $15-$20 billion in farm aid, but details remain unclear. 

The U.S. ethanol industry's big moment is here, as the U.S. House prepares to vote on legislation to allow higher blends of the corn-based fuel, better known as E15. 

Lawmakers return to Washington and President Donald Trump travels to Beijing as snarled trade flows dim the outlook for worldwide energy and food supplies. The Senate Agriculture Committee examines elevated fertilizer prices on Tuesday, while the House is expected to vote on a bill to allow year-round E15.

Food retailers will have to offer more varieties of staple foods in four categories – protein, grains, dairy, and fruits and vegetables – in order to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, under a new rule made public today.

Transatlantic trade relations are fraying once more after President Donald Trump on Friday accused the European Union of failing to live up to last year’s deal and vowed to impose higher car tariffs.