Policy Updates

ARA Applauds House Passage of Year-Round E15

Thu, 14 May 2026 17:57:53 GMT

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) today praised the U.S. House of Representatives for passing legislation that would allow year-round sales of E15 gasoline in all 50 states, permanently eliminating the annual regulatory uncertainty that has long hampered agricultural retailers, fuel retailers, and the farmers they serve.

“This is a victory for rural America,” said ARA President & CEO Daren Coppock. “Year-round E15 is a market-driven, no-cost solution that strengthens farm income, lowers prices at the pump, and reinforces America’s energy independence. We commend the House for acting, and we urge the Senate to move swiftly.”

H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, would make permanent what emergency EPA waivers have only temporarily provided: the ability to sell E15 year-round without disruption. Ethanol consumes 5.6 billion bushels of U.S. corn annually, and broader E15 adoption could generate demand for an additional 2.4 billion bushels each year — critical market support for farmers facing weakening commodity prices and rising input costs. Consumers would also benefit, saving 10 to 30 cents per gallon compared to conventional gasoline.

ARA believes ethanol and biodiesel fuels, including soy-based renewable diesel, are critical to strengthening America’s energy independence. While the House action on year-round E15 is an important step forward, we encourage Congress to continue advancing policies that strengthen all domestic biodiesel and renewable fuel pathways.

Year-Round E15 Faces Vote In The House This Week

Mon, 11 May 2026 19:21:27 GMT

This week, the House is expected to take a vote on legislation to allow year-round E-15.

In the latest schedule published by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, HR 1356, Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 (Sponsored by Rep. Smith (NE) / Energy and Commerce Committee) is on the calendar for Wednesday. This may be the last hurdle to enable more widespread sales of the fuel blend that includes 15% ethanol, which is compatible for use in 96% of cars on the road today.

Temporary Waivers Have Been A Band Aid

The legislation could bring clarity and predictability to issue that has been dealt with piecemeal solutions. There’s been the “summertime ban” on E15, which is typically restricted from June 1 to September 15 due to outdated volatility regulations under the Clean Air Act. Proponents argued that the Farm Bill was a natural home for the policy to support corn growers and lower fuel prices.

Earlier this year, the EPA issued an emergency waiver allowing for summer sales of E15. While it gave some certainty of E15 availability for the time being, the temporary waivers didn’t meet the threshold of industry advocates.

Then, more recently, year-round E15 was included in the Farm Bill but was stripped out before vote. The goal was to provide a permanent legislative fix, which has iterated to become the pending action on legislation this week.

Standalone Legislation

H.R. 1356 has industry and farm group support. The American Farm Bureau Federation highlights:

E15—also sold as Unleaded 88—can save drivers 10–30¢ per gallon while supporting rural jobs and retain energy dollars in the U.S.
Expanding access to E15 could increase corn demand by up to 2.4 billion bushels annually.

Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, announced now more than 5,000 retail locations sell E15. This milestone comes after a 15% to 24% increase annually in the number of stores selling E15 since 2020.

“An important part of this legislation is to finalize the rule making that clears the air on infrastructure,” says Emily Skor CEO of Growth Energy. “It would kind of grandfather in some of the underground storage so that it’s easier for a retailer to just simply say ‘I want to start offering this’ and not have to change our infrastructure or invest in infrastructure.”

Fuel retailers sold nearly 2.5 billion gallons of E15 in 2025. Skor adds her group expects to see 1,200 more locations add E15 in 2026, and if Congress allows year-round sales, that number will be “exponential growth.”

According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, which has initiated a member alert for grassroots action, “This is a critical moment for farmers and rural communities. Year-round E15 is a market-driven, no-cost solution that increases demand for U.S. corn, strengthens farm income, lowers gas prices, and improves America’s energy independence.”

Will it Get Passed?

Skor says the issue has been punted twice, but unlike previous efforts the standalone bill is proceeding differently because it’s the first time the House has got to vote on just this issue.

“There’s mounting pressure to get something done and take action,” Skor says. “My attitude is one step at a time. If we get a successful–I’ll say when we get a successful House vote–it will help us, because it will signal to the Senate the House does support it and it can be done.”

She adds, “Our opposition is small, but they’re spreading a false narrative. So we really have to get in there and educate people. At the end of the day, for those people if they may not be swayed by the importance of this to the farm economy, they’ve got to be swayed by the price savings at a time when gas prices are at a four year high.”

From Compliance to Liability: How Court Decisions Threaten America’s Agricultural Supply Chain

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:34:26 GMT

By Daren Coppock, Agricultural Retailers Association President & CEO

Pesticide labels are not suggestions. Under federal law, they are binding rules.

For decades, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) has governed the review, labeling, and use of pesticides in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) develops and approves pesticide labels. Once approved, those labels dictate how products may be sold, handled, and applied nationwide. Deviating from them is illegal, and the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) strongly supports following labeling requirements.

A case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, Monsanto v. Durnell, threatens to unravel that system. If state tort claims are allowed to impose additional warning requirements beyond those approved by EPA, businesses that comply fully with federal law could still be held liable under state law. The result would be immediate disruption across the agricultural supply chain—higher costs, reduced access to vital tools, and increased uncertainty for the farmers who depend on them.

Why Uniform Labels Matter

FIFRA does not just regulate manufacturers; it imposes strict legal requirements throughout the supply chain. Agricultural retailers are prohibited from altering or supplementing pesticide labels, and professional applicators must apply products exactly as directed by the label. Any violation can bring substantial civil penalties.

Uniform labeling makes compliance possible; without it, federal law becomes a guessing game.

National uniformity is needed because retailers serve customers across multiple states. Insurers underwrite coverage based on predictable compliance rules, and farmers rely on timely access to lawfully labeled products during narrow planting and pest-control windows.

An Impossible Legal Conflict

State-law “failure to warn” claims argue that an EPA-approved label should have included additional warnings. But this contradicts FIFRA, which states that pesticide labels cannot be changed unilaterally.

Allowing state tort claims to impose different warning requirements creates an impossible bind: obey federal law and face state liability, or attempt to satisfy state law by breaking federal law. Congress did not intend for compliance itself to become grounds for punishment.

If national uniformity were to end, insurance premiums could increase, coverage could become harder to secure, and products farmers need could be pulled from shelves, even though they remain fully approved by the EPA. Costs would likely increase as service capacity decreased, and that pressure would flow directly down the supply chain to the farm gate.

Science Versus Jury Verdicts

FIFRA assigns responsibility for evaluating pesticide safety to the EPA, not to state courts. The agency makes those determinations through scientific review, public input, and a weighing of risks and benefits.

Tort litigation bypasses that process and asks juries to second-guess EPA’s scientific judgments years later, without access to the full regulatory record and without the agency itself as a party. If those verdicts can override FIFRA and federal approval, the result is a patchwork system in which legal obligations vary by state and evolve retroactively—requirements that retailers and applicators cannot comply with without violating federal law.

Why Glyphosate Matters Beyond One Case

The Supreme Court case centers on glyphosate, one of the most widely used and reviewed herbicides in American agriculture. EPA has repeatedly concluded that glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic when used as directed and has approved its labeling accordingly.

Glyphosate is affordable, effective, and integral to modern farming practices that reduce soil erosion, conserve fuel, and maintain yields. Retailers, applicators, and farmers rely on EPA’s determinations for every pesticide they sell, apply, or use.

If a product that has cleared decades of federal review can still be deemed unlawfully labeled under state law, no product is truly secure.

What’s at Stake

Congress designed FIFRA so pesticide safety decisions would be made prospectively, scientifically, and consistently. Undermining that framework turns compliance into liability—and jeopardizes farmer access to lawful, essential tools.

The Supreme Court’s decision may very well determine whether pesticide regulation remains grounded in science and federal law, or becomes a moving target shaped by courtroom verdicts. For American agriculture, the consequences would be immediate and real.

Preserving uniform federal labeling protects everyone who depends on the food system—and that means all of us.

ARA Vice Chair Mike Twining Advocates for Ag Retailers at Congressional Roundtable

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:06:39 GMT

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) Board of Directors Vice Chair, Mike Twining of Willard Agri-Services, represented ag retailers at a roundtable hosted by House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and U.S. Representatives Rob Wittman (R-Va.) and Steve Womack (R-Ark.), to discuss how the Working Families Tax Cuts (WFTC) are delivering relief for families and workers as we conclude the 2025 tax season.

“When farmers struggle, independent ag retailers like our business feel it immediately. Fortunately, provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill, and particularly the Working Families Tax Cuts, have been a huge risk mitigator for our business and our customers. These expensing and investment incentives have lowered the upfront cost of investing in durable machinery, production facilities, and other necessary equipment,” Mike Twining shared.

“This roundtable was a great reminder of who Republicans are fighting for,” Chairwoman McClain said. “We heard directly from hardworking Americans, parents, and small business owners who are seeing real relief because House Republicans fought for the Working Families Tax Cuts. We delivered bigger refunds, bigger paychecks, and more breathing room for the people who work hard every day and deserve to keep more of what they earn.”

Several provisions from the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) and WFTC outlined below provide tangible relief to ag retailers:

100% Immediate Expensing (Bonus Depreciation): This provides immediate write-offs for major investments like custom application rigs, blending towers, or fleet vehicles, freeing up cash for innovation and growth.

Section 199A Pass-Through Deduction: This lowers the effective tax rate for private, family-owned retail businesses, ensuring they remain competitive with large corporations and have the liquidity to fund growth, local research and trials, and reinvest in their local communities.

Elimination of Federal Tax on Overtime Pay: This makes “peak season” staffing significantly easier by providing a massive incentive for employees to take on the extra hours needed during planting and harvest.

Section 174 R&D Expensing: This lowers the financial risk of developing new biological and agronomic tools, precision software, or soil health testing protocols tailored to the local territory.
Increased Standard Deduction: This functions as a broad stabilizer of the rural economy, ensuring the community and customer base have a stronger financial foundation.
Enhanced Child Tax Credit (CTC): This improves the retention of a reliable, multi-generational workforce by making rural life more affordable for young families.
Expanded Section 179 Expensing: This provides a permanent, predictable planning tool for annual equipment needs, ensuring the business can maintain a modern fleet regardless of market cycles.

ARA Applauds EPA Action to Address DEF System Issues & RVO Ahead of Planting Season

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:35:02 GMT

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) today welcomed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) action to address diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) system failures, calling it a timely step to support farmers and agricultural retailers as spring planting gets underway.

DEF system malfunctions have caused costly equipment downtime and operational disruptions across agriculture. EPA’s action to remove the problematic sensor requirement will help keep equipment running and reduce unnecessary delays in the field.

“America’s agricultural retailers and growers continue to face high fuel costs and tight margins,” said ARA President & CEO Daren Coppock. “This commonsense relief will help them stay productive and profitable at a critical time of year.”

ARA emphasized that the timing of the announcement is especially important as farmers prepare for and begin spring planting. ARA’s Board of Directors recently ratified this issue as a policy priority for 2026.

“We thank President Trump and EPA Administrator Zeldin for their leadership and for listening to the needs of rural America,” Coppock added. “This action will make a real difference for farmers and the retailers who support them. ARA further commends the Administration on their new RVO rule, which is another win for American agriculture.”

The Scoop Podcast: A Voice For the Industry

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:18:36 GMT

During its annual fly-in, more than 120 Agricultural Retailers Association members visited 130 congressional offices to promote ARA’s policy priorities. ARA took its priorities to Capitol Hill to push for a Farm Bill finish line and fixes that affect retailers’ day-to-day operations—especially transportation rules, trade uncertainty, and biofuels policy.

“Being engaged, having a voice for the industry is critically important,” says Richard Gupton, ARA’s senior vice president of public policy.

Those policies span the Farm Bill, transportation, trade, labor and more.

The fly-in occurred on the same day of the scheduled markup session for the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 (the skinny Farm Bill). And Gupton joined The Scoop podcast to give a recap, a policy outlook, and more than a handful of reasons for retailers to stay engaged in advocacy.

Gupton is encouraged by the bipartisan support of the Farm Bill through the House Agriculture Committee, and he expects the senate version to be similar.

Regarding transportation, Gupton says retailers need drivers to help move products to farmer customers—a key service provided in their business. The seasonal CDL program was started in 1992, which provides the ability to hire drivers on a temporary basis during peak times of the year. However, updates are needed.

“Congressman Tracy Mann, a Republican of Kansas, and Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas, Republican, have introduced identical bills to address issues with the heavier trucks, heavier pickup trucks and trailers,” Gupton says. “The technology over time has gotten actually better and safer to haul these products. But the weight of those trailers and truck combinations has also gotten over 26,000 pounds and that makes it potentially considered a Class A vehicle, where you need a Class A CDL. The seasonal ag CDL was set up for only for what they call Class B drivers. And so, for decades, it hadn’t been an issue until these heavier trailers and trucks hauling the same amount of products.”

Gupton says the bills will provide for regulatory clarity and update the language to modern equipment and needs.

Other policy highlights from the conversation include:

Trade, tariffs and supply chain
MAHA
Energy and year-round E15
The Executive Order on domestic glyphosate production

At the end of the fly-in, ARA’s Board of Directors met with six Trump Administration senior officials:

Justin Schwab, the General Counsel for the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
Ambassador Julie Callahan, the Ambassador to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and Chief Agricultural Negotiator of the United States
Courtney Knupp, the Senior Advisor to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary and the Senior Policy Advisor to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins for Trade and Food Safety
Kelsey Barnes, the Senior Advisor to the USDA Secretary for Rural Development, Biofuels, and Research, Education, and Economics
Kyle Kunkler, the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Calley Means, the Senior Advisor to U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy

“We covered a lot of ground in a few hours at the White House meeting. But it was a productive discussion, a frank discussion, let’s put it that way, to make sure that our members and the ag retailers’ voices are heard,” Gupton says.

Advocacy Is Ongoing

“You can take action on the Farm Bill; we urgently need support, and our members and industry to weigh in with their lawmakers,” Gupton says. “The MAHA movement is certainly weighing in, so we need to weigh on that. Weigh in on the E15 year-round legislation and Congressman Mann’s and Senator Moran’s seasonal CDL bill.”

Strengthen U.S. Agriculture, Support Innovation, and Advance Supply Chain Resilience: ARA's Policy Priorities

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:05:31 GMT

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) today announced their 2026 Public Policy Priorities, outlining a comprehensive agenda designed to support America’s agricultural retailers, strengthen the nation’s food and input supply chains, and promote science-based, practical policy solutions that keep U.S. agriculture globally competitive.

“ARA’s 2026 policy priorities are built to safeguard the tools, technologies, and regulatory certainty that agricultural retailers and their farmer customers rely on every single day,” said Richard Gupton, ARA’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy. “From a modernized Farm Bill to science-driven pesticide oversight, resilient transportation networks, and a competitive rural economy, these are practical, forward-looking solutions that strengthen American agriculture. ARA will continue working with Congress, federal agencies, and industry partners to ensure ag retailers can operate with freedom and confidence.”

The 2026 priorities reflect the needs of ag retailers and their farmer customers across eight key policy areas: the Farm Bill, modern agricultural technologies, stewardship and sustainability, economic growth, energy, transportation and infrastructure, labor and OSHA, and homeland security.

ARA’s policy platform emphasizes preserving essential farm safety nets, protecting science‑based pesticide regulations, expanding access to modern crop technologies, strengthening conservation and climate‑smart programs, supporting rural workforce growth, and bolstering the infrastructure and energy systems that underpin the nation’s agricultural economy.

Read ARA’s 2026 Public Priorities here.

ARA Honors Senator Crapo with Legislator of the Year Award

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 20:12:49 GMT

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) honored U.S. Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) with the 2025 Legislator of the Year award for his support of agricultural retailers by working tirelessly to promote our industry and protect their freedom and license to operate.

“Chairman Crapo’s leadership, including his work to extend critical Farm Bill provisions, provided much-needed stability and continuity for farmers and the broader agricultural supply chain,” said ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “This recognition reflects his sustained record of leadership in Congress and longstanding engagement on issues important to America’s agricultural industry. Through his official work, he has contributed to policies that help agricultural retailers modernize operations, support farmers as they manage risk and invest in their businesses, and strengthen rural communities. ARA is pleased to recognize Chairman Crapo for his service and commitment to agriculture.”

Each year, ARA recognizes legislators who have championed issues important to agriculture and agricultural suppliers.

“Idaho agriculture’s fundamental role in our communities is clear, with agribusiness accounting for the largest share of Idaho’s economy. It is an honor to receive ARA’s Legislator of the Year Award as I continue pressing for sensible solutions that ensure long-term stability of federal policy affecting farm communities. Their success is vital for feeding our nation, building our communities and growing our economy,” said Senator Crapo.

ARA unites its members and their interests to advocate and educate on their behalf, provide services to improve their businesses, and preserve their freedom to operate and innovate, ensuring a safe and plentiful food supply for all.

Reciprocity and Balance: The New Blueprint for U.S. Agricultural Trade Agreements

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 21:01:55 GMT

Ambassador Julie Callahan is the chief ag negotiator at the U.S. Trade Representative, and she reports positive momentum toward rebuilding trade agreements equating to a positive U.S. ag trade balance.

“We came into a situation in January 2025 where the US ag trade deficit was ballooning in a really unsustainable manner,” she says.

At the beginning of 2025, USDA forecasted a $50 billion deficit for U.S. agricultral trade.

“Compare that to an agricultural trade surplus in 2020 when President Trump left office, of a $6 billion surplus. So we were $56 billion in the hole, you might say, at the beginning of the administration, but through the efforts of the president ensuring trading partners understand they need to treat U.S. farmers and ranchers right, we are seeing real shifts in our trade balance and chipping away at the deficit toward a surplus.”

Trade Wins Highlighted by Government Officials

Callahan points to eight signed trade agreements with: Malaysia, Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Argentina, Bangladesh, Taiwan and Indonesia. She says these are binding agreements, where the foreign governments are:

lowering tariffs for U.S. ag products
removing unfair trade practices
and lifting regulatory barriers

“These are serious binding trade agreements that will deliver real value for U.S. farmers and ranchers,” Callahan says. And when asked if Congressional action to codify agreements is necessary, Callahan says that action would be supported but should not be necessary.

“These foreign governments have made binding commitments in terms of adjusting tariff schedules, they are also making regulatory changes. USTR will be enforcing these agreements. They are enforceable.”

Examples of enforceable commitments include:

Indonesia removes its import licensing requirements
Malaysia accepts facilities on their registration list as long as FSIS has them on their list

The Future of the U.S./China Trade Relationship

At the 2026 Top Producer Summit, Lyu Jiang, minister for economic and commercial affairs at the Chinese Embassy in the U.S., characterized the U.S. and Chinese relationship being a phase of stabilization.

When prompted to react, Callahan agreed saying, “We very much want a stable, predictable, transactional relationship with our Chinese counterparts. We do want to normalize, bring reciprocity and balance back to our trade relationship and ensure that U.S. farmers, and ranchers can benefit from the Chinese market again.”

She says her office is balancing the agricultural stakeholders wanting access to the large-scale Chinese market with a strategy to also diversify trade partnerships as to not be too reliant on a single country.

“We are working through the agreement on reciprocal trade to diversify our markets so we don’t overly rely on China,” she says. “We are looking to address that very serious situation where China may see agriculture as a pain point for the United States.”

With the upcoming meeting of President Trump and President Xi in April, Callahan says her team and the larger U.S. trade team is working to prepare and set the stage for a positive outcome. Callahan points to specific issues to be worked through and market focuses spanning crops and livestock.

“Both sides want the meetings to be a success,” she says. “Certainly, in the meetings leading up to the president level discussion, we will be having open and frank conversations with China where we need to see areas of improvement. That’s not limited to soybeans to sorghum. Our beef producers don’t have access to China due to China’s unfortunate actions that are not renewing facility registrations.”

The Review of USMCA

With a goal of “reciprocity and balance across north America” the trade team is working on its review of the North American trade deal.

“We absolutely understand the importance of USMCA for U.S. farmers and ranchers,” Callahan says.

Describing this as a “comprehensive review” she says that spans:

Look at what is working
Maintain what is working
Improve on areas not be delivering the benefits U.S. farmers and ranchers expect

She brings up the overall trade balance with Canada and specifically, Canadian dairy.

“With Canada, we went from a $3 billion deficit in 2020 and now we have an $11 billion ag trade deficit. So there are certainly areas for improvement, and we’re taking all of our stakeholders’ comments into consideration,” Callahan says.

ARA Applauds House Ag Committee Passage of the Farm Bill

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:04:35 GMT

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) applauds the House Agriculture Committee’s passage of the Farm Food & National Security Act of 2026 (Farm Bill), which passed by a bipartisan vote of 34-17.

“Chairman G.T. Thompson’s Farm, Food, and National Security Act supports the agricultural industry while maintaining farmer access to modern agricultural technologies, including critical pesticides and other crop protection tools,” said ARA’s President & CEO, Daren Coppock. “ARA looks forward to continuing our work with Congress to advance this legislation, which strengthens the farm economy and ensures a safe, abundant, and affordable food supply for American consumers and global markets.”

This legislation includes provisions that strengthen the farm safety net and risk management tools, invest in conservation and research, and promote trade and rural development, all of which help ensure that retailers and their supplier partners can continue to make long-term investments that support farmer success.

Following Chairman Thompson’s introduction of the bill, ARA’s President & CEO, Daren Coppock, sent a letter expressing ARA’s strong and enthusiastic support of the legislation. Read the letter here .

The full text of the Farm Bill can be found here .

ARA Commends the Release of the Farm Bill Text

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:18:14 GMT

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) President and CEO Daren Coppock released the following statement in response to the introduction of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 by House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.):

“ARA commends Chairman G.T. Thompson for his leadership in advancing the 2026 Farm Bill and for his commitment to providing long term certainty for America’s farmers, ranchers, and agricultural supply chain partners,” said ARA President & CEO, Daren Coppock. “Agricultural producers continue to face significant challenges, including volatile markets, extreme weather, global trade instability, labor shortages, and rising input costs. A strong, forward looking Farm Bill is essential to maintaining a reliable safety net that supports our nation’s food, energy, and fiber supply, while also investing in conservation, research, rural development, crop protection, trade promotion, and nutrition programs.”

Protecting farmers’ continued access to modern agricultural technologies, including pesticides, is also critical for ARA members. These tools play an essential role in managing risk, improving productivity, and helping farmers produce more with fewer resources—supporting both the economic viability of farm operations and the environmental sustainability of American agriculture through science based policies.

While some Farm Bill provisions were addressed in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in 2025, many of ARA’s priorities were not included due to the limitations of the budget reconciliation process, which generally excludes discretionary programs.

ARA appreciates Chairman Thompson and the House Agriculture Committee for their work on this critical legislation and looks forward to working with Congress to advance a Farm Bill that strengthens the farm economy and ensures a safe, abundant, and affordable food supply for American consumers and global markets.

No Pulled Punches: Mike Tyson, Federal Leaders Target Processed Food in New Dietary Guidelines

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 14:28:10 GMT

At a Feb. 11 press conference about the implementation of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins framed the new guidance around a simple directive: Eat real food.

With speakers ranging from physicians and chefs to military leaders, prison officials and former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, the event positions fresh, minimally processed foods — including fruits, vegetables, seafood and whole proteins — as central to reversing what Kennedy calls “the defining health crisis of our time.”

A Shift Toward Whole Foods

Calley Means, a senior adviser to Kennedy, opened the event by criticizing decades of federal policy that he says steered dollars toward highly processed foods through programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and school meals.

“We must get to whole food,” he says, arguing that chronic disease and rising health care costs are tied to the modern American diet.

Joe Gebbia, U.S. chief design officer, says the new food pyramid flips the script, placing “high-quality protein, dairy, healthy fats, vibrant vegetables and fruits” at the forefront, with whole grains as the foundation and “highly processed junk” clearly identified.

That message was echoed repeatedly: Nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods, such as fresh produce, are no longer peripheral recommendations but rather are central to federal guidance.

Pictured is American Medical Association President Bobby Mukkamala.

(Screenshot via Dietary Guidelines for Americans press conference)

‘Food Is Medicine’

American Medical Association President Bobby Mukkamala connects the new guidelines directly to prevention.

“Choosing protein-rich whole foods while limiting heavily processed foods that are high in sodium and added sugar can help slow or reverse our nation’s growing chronic disease burden,” he says.

He calls the guidelines “a conversation starter and a call to action” and emphasizes the growing movement within medicine to recognize that “food is medicine.”

For the produce industry, the remarks reinforce an expanding role for fruits and vegetables not just in dietary advice but also in clinical conversations, public health strategy and federal procurement.

Pictured is chef Andrew Gruel.

(Screenshot via Dietary Guidelines for Americans press conference)

Chefs Champion Accessibility and American Agriculture

Chef Andrew Gruel underscored that real food is not only healthier but also affordable and widely available. He described a full day of meals built around eggs, fruit, vegetables, seafood and whole cuts of meat that he says could be prepared for $15 to $20 per day.

“Real food is wholesome food. Food is nutritious food. It’s also sustainable food,” he says, adding that the U.S. food supply chain — including produce, ranching and seafood — is “the best of any other country in the world.”

His comments place farmers, ranchers and produce providers at the center of the health conversation.

Mike Tyson speaks at the Dietary Guidelines for Americans press conference.

(Screenshot via Dietary Guidelines for Americans press conference)

Boxing Legend’s Personal Testimony

Tyson provided one of the event’s most emotional moments, speaking candidly about his past struggles with obesity and self-image.

“I was so fat and nasty, I would eat anything. I was like 345 pounds — a quart of ice cream every hour. I had so much self-hate when I was like that, I just wanted to kill myself,” he says.

Tyson connects his transformation to dietary change and sharply criticizes the role of processed foods in the U.S. food system.

“We’re the most powerful country in the world, and we have the most obese, fudgy people,” he says. “Something has to be done about processed food in this country.”

Tyson’s appearance, along with a campaign that aired during the Super Bowl , “Processed food kills. Eat Real Food,” was positioned as a cultural push to normalize fresh, whole ingredients over packaged, ultraprocessed products.

Federal Procurement as a Market Driver

Rollins emphasizes that USDA’s scale gives it leverage to shift demand.

“Every day, the U.S. Department of Agriculture spends almost $400 million on our 16 nutrition programs,” she says, calling that spending “a market mover.”

She points to 18 approved state SNAP waivers removing soda and junk food from eligibility and says updated stocking standards will require retailers accepting SNAP benefits to expand healthy offerings.

Rollins also announced new guidance encouraging child nutrition program leaders to incorporate the updated dietary recommendations, with a proposed school meals rule expected this spring.

Kennedy says the administration is “redirecting government procurement dollars toward American farmers and not junk food manufacturers,” adding that the guidelines will influence food served in schools, the military, prisons and other federal institutions.

Beyond Schools: Military and Prisons

Military and correctional facility leaders shared how nutrition changes are already underway.

Army Undersecretary Mike Obadal says the military branch is increasing access to “lean proteins and complex carbohydrates” and streamlining procurement of “local unprocessed foods” and “fresh American seafoods and produce.”

Bureau of Prisons Director William Marshall says dietary reform aligns with safety and rehabilitation goals, citing research linking improved diet quality to reductions in aggression and disciplinary infractions.

For produce suppliers, these institutional shifts represent potential long-term demand growth across large-volume federal channels.

Cultural Reset

Kennedy frames the guidelines as a turning point.

“For the first time in our nation’s history, the federal government put real food at the center of the American diet and protein in the center of the American plate,” he says.

Rollins distills the message further: “Eat real food.”

For the fresh produce industry, the rollout signals more than a revised pyramid. It suggests an alignment of federal policy, medical advocacy, cultural messaging and procurement dollars around whole fruits, vegetables and minimally processed foods — positioning fresh as foundational to national health strategy through 2030 and beyond.

In The Bull's-Eye For USDA: Foreign-Owned Land, Breaking Up Anti-Competitive Practices and More

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 22:18:36 GMT

USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden outlined a list of priority topics for the agency in 2026 during a recent webinar hosted by the National Ag Law Center. Vaden leads the department’s operations and implements policies that support America’s food and farm systems.

Included in his remarks:

Antitrust and Competition. Vaden says antitrust laws exist for a reason: when an industry gets too concentrated, certain actions undermine free enterprise.

“There are signs that that may be happening in American agriculture. That’s why President Trump has signed at least two executive orders asking USDA to work with the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate these antitrust concerns,” he says.

He shares three examples — two in farm equipment and one in crop inputs.

“This administration thinks farmers should be able to repair their own equipment, and the industry’s efforts to prevent them from doing so are illegal,” he says. “That’s why this administration’s Federal Trade Commission is currently suing John Deere and some of the fellow equipment manufacturers to stand up for American farmers’ rights to repair their own equipment and to not to have to suffer under a system where, when their equipment breaks down in the field, they have to call a John Deere dealer, for example, and wait for them to send out someone to fix a simple issue that the farmer can repair him or herself — costing them time, productivity and money.”

He also says the administration is looking into how manufacturers distribute and sell their equipment. Specifically, the geography assignment and trade territories of dealers are being questioned in light of any price differences.

“If you should happen to pick any other dealer than the one they designate as your local dealer, they’ll charge you more for the same piece of equipment — the exact same piece equipment. There’s a financial penalty, which is prohibitive to you exercising choice over which dealer you use to buy your equipment — eliminating the ability to compete on the basis of price,” Vaden says.

He adds the exclusive use of OEM parts at the dealership adds costs to farmers.

“So, all of these three things, when added together, limiting your choice of where you can buy, and then when you have purchased a piece of equipment, preventing you from repairing it, and preventing you from using anybody else’s other than their own parts, give them more pricing power and allow them to drive up the cost of not only purchasing the equipment, but of ownership and operating the equipment — all which goes directly to their bottom line,” Vaden says.

John Deere provided Farm Journal with the following statement from Deanna Kovar, President, Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division for Production & Precision Agriculture:

“For nearly 190 years, John Deere has been committed to providing best-in-class support for farmers and ranchers, and we know just how important our network of more than 1,600 Agriculture & Turf dealer locations supported by more than 50,000 dealer employees across the U.S. are to that commitment. Importantly, because dealer trade areas are not exclusive, our customers can choose to work with any John Deere Agriculture & Turf dealer in the U.S. and John Deere does not penalize customers or dealers for doing business outside of a dealer’s assigned area of responsibility.

At the same time, we wholeheartedly agree that farmers should be able to repair their own equipment, and that’s why John Deere offers an industry-leading self-repair tool like John Deere Operations Center PRO Service. Our approach is simple - whether you want to work with your trusted John Deere dealer, a local service provider, or do the work yourself, we empower you to choose how your equipment is maintained, diagnosed, and repaired. For more on our commitment, customers are encouraged to visit www.JohnDeere.com/RunItYourWay.”

Vaden directed his farm input comments to the fertilizer sector.

“The duopoly that is Mosaic and Nutrien and their successful efforts over the past several years to constrain fertilizer supply in this country and drive up the costs that farmers are paying,” he says. “This administration is going to do everything it can to ensure that farmers have the fertilizer they need, at a price that they can pay, and a price it allows food to be purchased at the price the consumer can pay.”

He says a new company, BHP, will enter the mining sector for potash in Saskatchewan, Canada, with a $13 billion investment in a mine that should be operational by mid-2027, with exports coming into the U.S.

“We’re not going allow these two companies to do anything to undermine this or any other new market participant that wants to come in, provide new fertilizer supply and break up the cute little game that Mosaic and Nutrien have been playing for the last several years,” Vaden says.

Farm Journal reached out to Mosaic and Nutrien for comment, but they did not respond.

In a previous role, Vaden served on the U.S. Court for International Trade and oversaw the case regarding countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate.

Foreign Land Ownership. USDA recently unveiled a new online portal to report foreign-owned agricultural land transactions. Vaden previewed this new tool as a modernized way to help USDA enforce regulations that have been on the books since 1978.

“AFITA, the Agriculture Foreign Investment Disclosure Act, has required any time a foreign person comes in possession of farmland here in the United States, they are required to register with USDA. Now in all honesty, over the past nearly 50 years, that statute has probably been ignored more often than it has been followed,” Vaden says.

Biofuels Policy. “We need a proper biofuels policy to open up domestic demand. The Secretary has endorsed E-15,” Vaden says. “We need Congress to pass that. That’s going to instantly result in at least 50% more corn usage for ethanol, meaning millions of more bushels will need to be purchased from American farmers to meet that increased biofuel demand.”

Vaden credits EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and his team for their RVO rule, which sets ‘aggressive’ targets.

“The targets that they have set are aggressive. Some of the most aggressive that have ever been set,” Vaden says. “But what’s equally critical is that, for the first time, the EPA is proposing to make those targeted numbers — which make the headlines, real. Because they’re proposing, for the first time ever, to reallocate volumes that have been waived through the small refinery waiver exemption.”

He adds: “For the first time ever, that top line number — which gets so much attention as to how many gallons of biofuels we need to blend — it’ll be true. And that’s saying something. That will make a difference.”

Pesticide Regulation. Late last week, it was announced the Supreme Court would take up the Durnell case, which is related to Roundup litigation.

“I’m glad the Supreme Court saw that. I’m glad that they took the Solicitor General’s suggestion that they hear this case. And I hope they’ll listen very carefully to what Solicitor General Sauer and his team have to say as this case is briefed and argued. Because this really could make the difference in between whether America is able to retain its status as the innovation leader in agriculture or whether we potentially have a threat to lose that crown because we’re going to let juries second guess PhD experts who’ve spent decades at this work,” Vaden says.

In favor of federal preemption, Vaden goes on to detail the years of paperwork, approval and regulatory steps EPA regulates every commercially available chemical under.

“We have the EPA relying on decades and decades of scientific study, which shows the label they have approved is sufficient to tell farmers how to use the product without harming themselves or the environment, or anyone else,” Vaden says. “And we have that being second-guessed by juries located in jurisdictions specially selected by trial lawyers who know where there is a jury pool that is more than willing to engage in jackpot justice, listen to them weave their tale and then write incredibly large numbers down on the verdict floor. And those two things cannot coexist in a world where the statute is clear that it is EPA that regulates these chemicals.”

USDA Reorganization. Vaden says the agency is being transparent, thoughtful and strategic in its announced reorganization.

“We have a footprint in D.C. that calling it ‘underused’ is diplomatic. The south building can seat 7,500 employees. On its busiest day — we require everyone to come into the office — that building hasn’t reached 40% occupancy,” he says. “As a business manager or managing tax payer money, it makes no sense to keep up facilities that are largely empty.”

Vaden says it’s time to make the department footprint match its needs. Regular updates are being posted to USDA.gov/reorg, but the under secretary says implementation is going on right now with forthcoming announcements on locations for its new hub model.

“I signed a memorandum, USDA can start to enter into leases. They are already government owned or leased. But they are newer, tech adept and ready for us to move into,” he says. “This is at no additional cost to the taxpayer, but at less cost, because they don’t have the $2.2 billion in backlog maintenance. As we go forward this year, you’ll see leases, you’ll see notices to employees who we request to move to the hub. And taking into account employees have kids in school, the move will take place after the end of this school year. So they are able to move during the summer and are settled before the school year begins.”

5 Key Ag Policy Changes Farmers Should Watch in 2026

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 21:03:30 GMT

Jim Wiesemeyer, a Washington, D.C.-based policy analyst, says this past year has brought renewed turbulence in trade and farm support, and for the year ahead, farmers can expect more of the same in terms of how policies interact within disciplines and in an accelerated fashion.

“You can’t just look at ‘ag’ or ‘farm policy’ any longer,” he says. “It’s interrelated.”

He points to examples in animal health and border policy, as well as biofuels and tax credits.

That’s one big takeaway from the past year in how agricultural policy (and politics) have evolved. Here are a handful more from Wiesemeyer’s recent appearance on “AgriTalk” with Chip Flory:

1. Domestic Ag Policy Expands Into Geopolitical Issues

“Look at when Treasury Secretary [Scott] Bessent announced the bond swap with Argentina. It zapped soybeans and affected the timing of Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans,” Wiesemeyer says. “That was almost an off-the-cuff statement, and it had major implications.”

Regarding trade, he says while international outreach has to continue, the disconnect in U.S.-China trade relations will continue to unfold with repercussions.

“With U.S. and China trade, it’s a truce. I tell farmers don’t think this won’t linger for multiple years. We are in a geopolitical war with China,” he says.

The impact will be twofold:

First, U.S. officials need to continue to do market development to expand market share in other countries, and this includes ag goods beyond soybeans.
Second, it increases even more in the need for domestic utilization. That includes food policy and ag energy policy, but Wiesemeyer adds he doesn’t expect to see renewable fuels mandates announced until late next year.

2. There Are Question Marks Around Additional Farmer Aid

Wiesemeyer says legislators have said they are talking about more financial assistance programs for farmers, however, he doesn’t see a frictionless discussion surrounding the topic.

“Because not only of Republicans, but also a number of Democrats who say there are other issues to resolve before we sign off on this. But the verdict is out if they’ll succeed,” he says.

3. Consumer Pricing Directs a Lot of Dialogue

From the president’s comments about beef prices being too high to the repetitive use of “affordability” around food prices, Wiesemeyer sees the subject of consumer pricing continuing to garner attention.

4. The Brouhaha About MAHA

Wiesemeyer has a bit of a warning about the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. While the latest report showed a more “practical” approach to the use of pesticides and modern ag technologies, he says there is more to come from a policy standpoint.

“We’re going to get the first serious definition of ultra-processed food. We’ve had legal cases in California, where some companies are being challenged on the impacts of ultra-processed food in children. The next commission report will be important,” he says.

5. Will Government Deregulation Equal Economic Growth?

“Federal government deregulation will hit overdrive in 2026,” Wiesemeyer says.

He says Trump’s approach to simplifying permitting processes, led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, could bring lower energy prices — a continuation of the trend in gasoline prices plus the promise of lowering or tempering the run-up in electricity prices.

“That combination plus the One Big Beautiful Bill being implemented in ’26, I think we’re going to have a good economy and GDP,” he says.

The Scoop Podcast: What the Government Shut Down and Trade Updates Mean for Ag Retailers

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 22:39:53 GMT

Hunter Carpenter from ARA’s public policy team joins The Scoop Podcast to discuss the bill reopening the federal government, and what’s included for ag. He also gives an update on trade including USMCA, China, and the critical minerals listing.

Federal Government Reopening

After 43 days, the federal government is open with the senate and house passing a funding bill which the President signed.

The funding bill included full-year appropriations for USDA.

“For agriculture specifically, this package would reauthorize major ag programs, through all of fiscal year 2026, which helps ensure continuity for crop insurance, risk management tools, and also pluses up and restores the Commodity Credit Corporation’s funding, which is obviously very important if the administration plans to use CCC funds to pay for some sort of market facilitation program like they did in the first Trump administration,” Carpenter says.

You can join the ag retail industry as it gathers from the annual ARA Conference and Expo in Salt Lake City. Learn more at aradc.org.

Carpenter says the latest bill in conjunction with the “One Big Beautiful Bill” have patched together many of ARA’s policy priorities—but they aren’t a replacement for a comprehensive Farm Bill.

“Much of the budgetary portions of the Farm Bill were included in the One Big Beautiful bill that passed back in July. Now, a lot of the policy goals that we try to get achieved within the Farm Bill were set aside, and now, with these ag appropriations bills, which are different than a farm bill, those approps bills have to be passed every year,” Carpenter says.

He points out the last five-year Farm Bill was passed in 2018. We’ve had one-year extensions every year since.

Critical Mineral Listing

Another policy issues ARA has been working on the inclusion of potash and phosphate as a critical mineral for the Department of Interior.

“Potash and phosphate are both essential for agriculture production, as both primary nutrients that crops need to grow alongside nitrogen. They’re fundamental to plant health and yield and quality. The U.S. imports a lot of the potash that we receive, largely from Canada. And then significant amounts of phosphate as well from other countries. That makes this supply chain vulnerable to trade disputes, geopolitical instability, transportation bottlenecks,” he says.

He points out the phosphate listing isn’t limited to just phosphate rock but also ammoniated phosphate, which is used for manufacturing of glyphosate.

“If we’re not producing the most popular herbicide on the market, who fills that void? It’s likely going to be China. Then what happens to the prices of that input, when you’re reliant on another country for all of that production?” Carpenter says.

He says when minerals are added to the listing is given recognition to their importance, encourage domestic investment, build supply chain resilience and support research.

“There are going to be benefits to ag retailers here, reliability of access, and maybe, hopefully, some price stability. Also, some regulatory and policy support, and maybe, hopefully, some confidence. So, we think that food security is national security, and adding these products to the list will strengthen national food security,” Carpenter says.

Trade

ARA also contributed comments to two trade fronts—both supporting USMCA and a 16-year agreement and talking about Section 301 tariffs and their effect on farmers and ag retailers being able to plan for their businesses with confidence.

Potential Rail Merger

Since July, the industry has been watching Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern who filed a formal notice of intent with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) of their intent to merge.

“They’re expected to submit their full merger application in January of 2026, so just in a couple of months. Once that application’s filed and deemed complete, STB begins the formal procedural review schedule. This would likely take about 12 to 18 months, which means the decision could come early to mid-2027,” Carpenter says. “It might seem like a long way away, but with supply chain issues, these things still have consequences. So, during this ongoing review period, stakeholders like ARA, other shippers, labor unions, competitors can all submit comments and raise concerns about competition, service reliability and some of the impacts that could be seen in supply chains.”

Carpenter spotlights a letter signed 18 senators—9 Democrats and 9 Republicans—showing Congress’ interest in the STB following its rigorous and comprehensive evaluations in this progress reviewing the merger.

“The letter highlights their key concerns, which would be this network between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would control over 40% of the U.S. freight rail traffic. And this would span roughly 50,000 route miles across 43 states. So, this could significantly affect agricultural producers who depend on competitive rail service,” Carpenter says.

Trump Expands Critical Minerals List to Copper, Met Coal, Uranium

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:00:00 GMT

The Trump administration on Thursday added 10 minerals to a list it deems essential for the U.S. economy and national security, including copper, vital to electric vehicles, power grids, and data centers, and metallurgical coal, used to make coke fuel for steel production.

The Interior Department’s critical minerals list guides federal investments and permitting decisions and helps shape the government’s broader minerals strategy.

The administration is expanding the list amid efforts to boost domestic mining and cut reliance on imports, particularly from economic rival China.

LIST GUIDES FEDERAL INCENTIVES

The list serves as a blueprint for Washington’s push to secure supplies of materials needed for defense, manufacturing, and clean energy technologies. It determines which projects qualify for federal incentives, informs national stockpiling and research priorities, and signals to private investors where the government sees long-term strategic value.

Officials and industry leaders say strengthening domestic production could help insulate the U.S. from potential supply shocks or export restrictions imposed by competitors like China, which dominates global refining of many critical minerals.

Doug Burgum, the interior secretary, said the expanded list “provides a clear, data-driven road map to reduce our dependence on foreign adversaries, expand domestic production and unleash American innovation.”

The new list also includes uranium, which is enriched to fuel nuclear reactors, boron, lead, phosphate, potash, rhenium, silicon, and silver.

Environmentalists slammed the move. Cameron Walkup, of Earthjustice Action, said the administration was ignoring economics, violating the law and opening the door for agencies to rubber-stamp projects with insufficient protections for communities from pollution. “Instead of prioritizing corporate profits, we should focus on real solutions to meet our mineral supply chain needs by rapidly scaling up reuse and responsible recycling of critical minerals and updating our mining laws.”

Potash and phosphate are used as fertilizers to grow crops around the world. “These are two minerals where stable supplies are absolutely necessary to fill our plates and feed our communities,” said Corey Rosenbusch, CEO of The Fertilizer Institute.

Potash was on an original 2018 list, but neither phosphate nor potash was included when it was updated in 2022, the institute said.

U.S. COPPER OUTPUT LESS PROFITABLE

Copper is used widely across the global economy in power generation, electronics and construction.

Freeport-McMoRan FCX.N, the largest U.S. copper producer with seven mines and controls of one of the country’s two smelters, said this year it could generate more than $500 million annually in tax credits tied to the 2022 U.S. Inflation Reduction Act if the red metal were declared critical. The Phoenix-based company was not immediately available to comment on Thursday.

The average grade, or percentage of copper in rock deposits, in Freeport’s U.S. mines is lower than elsewhere, boosting costs and making the U.S. the company’s least profitable region. That fact largely explains why Freeport pushed for the designation.

“We’re not looking for handouts, but if the government is trying to incentivize domestic (copper) production, it’s important to recognize that the U.S. doesn’t have the same grades that we have internationally,” Freeport CEO Kathleen Quirk told Reuters in March.

Rio Tinto RIO.AX, which operates the other U.S. copper smelter, send the new list “sends a clear signal that America is committed to building resilient supply chains for the technologies that will define our future.”

Putting met coal on the list aligns with President Donald Trump ‘s support of fossil fuels. Some U.S. met coal mines have shut in recent months amid ample supply and a reduction in exports to China, which put an additional 15% tariff on imports of U.S. coal this year.

Rich Nolan, president and CEO of the National Mining Association, said it will continue to seek the expansion of the list to “ensure that the U.S. has the abundant domestic resources it needs, when it needs them.”

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw, Ernest Scheyder and Timothy Gardner; additional reporting by Tom Polansek in Chicago; Editing by Paul Simao, Rod Nickel)

ARA Applauds the Department of the Interior on Potash and Phosphate Critical Minerals List Inclusion

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 19:40:36 GMT

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) today thanks the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and DOI Secretary Doug Burgum for recognizing the importance of potash and phosphate by adding both to the nation’s Critical Minerals List.

“These designations are a major step forward for American agriculture and supply chain resilience,” said ARA President & CEO Daren Coppock. “Potash and phosphate are essential crop nutrients that support food production across the country. Recognizing their critical importance will help strengthen domestic production and encourage investment.”

ARA has long advocated for greater attention to the security and reliability of fertilizer and crop protection inputs. Potash and phosphate are foundational to the agricultural supply chain, and today’s action by the DOI underscores their vital role in maintaining global food security and U.S. economic stability. Additionally, ARA thanks USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, DOI, and the members of Congress who pushed for these inclusions. ARA also expresses appreciation to the White House Office of Public Liaison for meeting earlier this summer with ARA, its members, and The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) to discuss the importance of fertilizer supply chain security. Their engagement helped elevate the urgency of this issue within the administration.

There were bipartisan and bicameral efforts led by Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Representatives Kat Cammack (R-FL) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), which surely assisted in the final decision.

ARA is thankful to the DOI for adding potash and phosphate to the Critical Minerals List, acknowledging their critical role in food production and farm stability.

ARA looks forward to working with the Administration and Congress to ensure policies and programs that enhance the availability and affordability of these critical minerals for America’s farmers and agricultural retailers.

Grassley Urges Trump To Prioritize A Trade Deal With China

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 20:12:03 GMT

As the government shutdown continues through day 21, there is little to no hint that a resolution to the ongoing stalemate between Republicans and Democrats is about to end.

The latest setback: On Monday night, Senate Democrats rejected a Republican-led stopgap funding bill for the 11^th time with a 50-43 vote. The resolution needed 60 votes to pass, according to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

He says more Democrats are needed to step up and vote in cooperation with Republicans to get the government reopened.

“If we can get four more Democrat votes, the government will be opened up,” Grassley contends.

In the meantime, county Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices remain closed, keeping services like new loans, farm program sign-ups, and disaster assistance from being addressed. Market data that helps set commodity prices is also not being released.

Trump has mentioned taking action to reopen the county offices, but Grassley is unsure whether he can accomplish that.

“I don’t know that he has that authority, but he surely had it with about $8 or $10 billion in the defense budget – to shift it from one activity in the Defense Department to paying the soldiers and the military people,” he told AgriTalk Host Chip Flory on Tuesday.

So far, Trump administration officials say there are no plans to shift dollars around for agriculture like they’ve done with troop pay and other priorities.

President Trump ‘Has To’ Get Trade Resumed With China
Grassley was adamant that Trump needs to make progress in pressing China for a new trade deal.

“He has to [get that done},” Grassley says. “I’d say the president needs to spend a massive amount of time, even some of his personal time, on dealing with China. I know it’s necessary to have lower-level people begin those discussions, but it’s got to be a top priority.”

The U.S. and China exchanged barbs last week, with the U.S. threatening to raise tariffs to 157% if no new deal is reached by Nov. 1. President Trump is supposed to travel to Asia later this week to renew discussions with China.

During his conversation with Flory, Grassley weighed in with his perspective on consolidation in the fertilizer, seed, equipment, the pesticide industries and how that relates to the development of potential monopolies.

“I’m going to wait until the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission gets done with their investigations before I make a decision on it,” Grassley says. “I don’t think we have to pass any laws. The antitrust laws that have been in existence for 130 or 140 years ... just use those laws as they’ve been used for the last 100 years. They’re pretty effective laws.

“It just takes the government enforced to get it done. There’s certain guidelines that have to be met and protocols be met before you actually can break up a monopoly. But the free-market system dictates you don’t have monopolies,” he adds.

Grassley also weighed in on needing year-round nationwide availability of E15, noting that he wishes the president would be more proactive in getting the product readily available on a permanent basis.

“We got legislation that would make it permanent without a presidential waiver. It ought to be easy for the president to promote that. He’s going to have a bailout for farmers because of low prices now, and he ought to connect with that – getting E15 through the Congress of the United States and have it permanent. Because until we get the law passed, we’ll never get the investment by retailers to put in the expensive pumps that it takes to get E15 out.”

Hear the complete discussion between Grassley and Flory on AgriTalk here:

Trump Urges China to Quadruple Soybean Orders

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 14:14:43 GMT

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday urged China to quadruple its soybean purchases ahead of a key tariff truce deadline, sending Chicago soybean prices higher, though analysts were quick to question the feasibility of any such deal.

In a late night post on Truth Social, Trump said China was worried about a shortage of soybeans and he hoped it would quickly quadruple its soybean orders from the U.S.

“Rapid service will be provided. Thank you President XI,” Trump said in his post.

China is worried about its shortage of soybeans. Our great farmers produce the most robust soybeans. I hope China will quickly quadruple its soybean orders. This is also a way of substantially reducing China’s Trade Deficit with the USA. Rapid service will be provided. Thank you…
— Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) August 11, 2025

The most active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) Sv1 jumped 2.38% to $10.11 a bushel at 0637 GMT on Monday after Trump’s post. The contract was steady earlier.

China, the world’s largest soybean buyer, imported roughly 105 million metric tons last year, just under a quarter coming from the U.S. and most of the remainder from Brazil. Quadrupling shipments would require China to import the bulk of its soybeans from the U.S.

“It’s highly unlikely that China would ever buy four times its usual volume of soybeans from the U.S.,” said Johnny Xiang, founder of Beijing-based AgRadar Consulting.

While I appreciate the enthusiasm of Pres Trump wanting to quadruple US #soy exports to #China, we are currently expecting to grow a 4.3 bil bu crop & we export 1.7 bil bu (approx half of that slated for China already). Quadrupling our exports to them would consume most our crop. pic.twitter.com/XeiKg2cljJ
— Naomi Blohm (@naomiblohm) August 11, 2025

A tariff truce between Beijing and Washington is set to expire on August 12, but the Trump administration has hinted that the deadline may be extended. It is unclear if securing China’s agreement to buy more U.S. soybeans is a condition for extending the truce as Trump looks to reduce China’s trade surplus with the U.S.

China’s soymeal futures DSMcv1 fell 0.65% to 3,068 yuan per metric ton on expectations U.S. imports could increase supply.

China’s Ministry of Commerce did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Under the Phase One trade deal signed during Trump’s first term, China agreed to boost purchases of U.S. agricultural products, including soybeans. However, Beijing fell far short of meeting those targets.

This year, amid Washington–Beijing trade tensions, it has yet to buy any fourth quarter U.S. beans, fuelling concerns as the U.S. harvest export season approaches.

“On Beijing’s side, there have been quite a few signals that China is prepared to forego U.S. soybeans altogether this year, including booking those test cargoes of soymeal from Argentina,” said Even Rogers Pay, an agricultural analyst at Trivium China.

Reuters previously reported that Chinese feedmakers have purchased three Argentine soymeal cargoes as they aim to secure cheaper South American supplies amid concerns about a possible soybean supply disruption in the fourth quarter.

U.S. soybean industry has been seeking alternative buyers, but no other country matches China’s scale. Last year, China imported 22.13 million tons of soybeans from the U.S., and 74.65 million tons from Brazil.

(Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru and Ella Cao in Beijing; Additional reporting by Kevin Yao; Editing by Jamie Freed, Jacqueline Wong and Sonali Paul)

USDA Ends Consideration of Race, Gender in Many Farm Programs

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 18:14:31 GMT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an about face on Thursday with regard to how it will consider farmer applications for loans and programs, moving forward.

Specifically, the agency says it will no longer consider a farmer’s gender or race in the decision-making process for how dollars in such programs will be awarded.

The decision ends a longstanding effort by the agency and the Trump administration to address bias and discrimination.

“Moving forward, USDA will no longer apply race- or sex-based criteria in its decision-making processes, ensuring that its programs are administered in a manner that upholds the principles of meritocracy, fairness, and equal opportunity for all participants,” said acting General Counsel Ralph Linden.

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, roughly 4.5% of farmers are considered persons of color or of mixed race.

The New Rule Is In Effect

While many rules are posted as a draft first for public comment, agency officials posted this rule in its finalized form without soliciting input. The rule went into effect immediately, July 10.

“These actions collectively support the conclusion that past discrimination has been sufficiently addressed and that further race- and sex-based remedies are no longer necessary or legally justified under current circumstances,” a consortium wrote in the Federal Register.

The groups weighing in included: Office of the Secretary, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, Commodity Credit Corporation, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

Trump Administration Dismantles DEI Policies

The new rule is part of the Trump administration’s directives to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion policies across the federal government.

In a prepared statement, USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins reprimanded former President Joe Biden and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, respectively, for looking at “any way possible to give taxpayer dollars to anyone they could based on the color of their skin, not based on merit or need.”

Rollins added, as long as she is Secretary of Agriculture, “when we find leftover Biden discrimination in our programs, we will hold those persons who have committed these insidious acts accountable and take swift action to correct these illegal actions.”

Previous Lawsuits Played A Role

In making the new rule, USDA referenced various lawsuits over its prioritization of racial groups.

Black farmers and other groups in agriculture have long alleged discrimination in the agency’s lending and farm programs. As recently as 2024, the USDA made payments to tens of thousands of farmers who experienced past bias.

In addition, white farmers, some backed by prominent Republicans, have sued the agency, claiming discrimination.

Your next read: Is This The Starting Point for A New Farm Bill?

250-Plus Ag Groups Ask Trump Administration To ‘Correct’ MAHA Commission’s ‘Activities’

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 21:01:22 GMT

Four weeks have passed since the Make Our Children Healthy Again: Assessment (MAHA report) was released. Since that time, the report has drawn criticism from farmers and various state and national agricultural groups that are focused on crop and livestock production.

One overarching concern the various groups and farmers cite, is what actions and practices will the MAHA Commission recommend in their follow-up report, which is due for release by Aug. 12, 2025.

Ag Groups Ask For A Course Correction

Concern about the MAHA report led 250-plus agriculture groups to ask the Trump administration to “correct” the direction of its Make America Healthy Again goals, in a letter dated June 13. The letter was addressed to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.’

Groups signing the letter included: American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association and the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.

In the letter, the groups criticized the MAHA Commission’s “lack of transparency” in creating the report, adding it also did not allow any opportunity for public engagement.

“As a result, the report contained numerous errors and distortions that have created unfounded fears about the safety of our food supply,” the letter says. “Your leadership is greatly needed to correct the Commission’s activities, as well as create processes for greater transparency and input.”

In an article published by NOTUS, a digital news outlet, reporters noted the MAHA report contained a number of citation errors and “false claims” that could have been avoided with better industry input ahead of the commission’s report release.

Farmers Say ‘Use Some Common Sense’

The MAHA report, with regard to the use of crop protection products, specifically calls out atrazine, chlorpyrifos and glyphosate.

Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, executive director of Modern Ag Alliance, says the commission’s decision to call out specific chemistries, while no surprise, is concerning nonetheless.

“I think that’s something that every farmer, regardless of what part of agriculture you’re involved in, should be concerned about,” she told AgriTalk Host Chip Flory on Thursday.

Albert Lea, Minn., farmer, Brad Nelson, says he is concerned about the future of crop protection products but hopes “common sense” will prevail. He describes the finger-pointing at glyphosate, in particular, as bogus.

“We have used Roundup in the Midwest, myself personally, for 40-some years, and the retailers around me have done the same. And you know what, there’s no cancer,” Nelson says. “If it was a problem, it would be rampant. Hopefully common sense will rule the day, and the studies that have gone on for years and years and years will finally get believed.”

Burns-Thompson says she wonders whether the people involved in developing the MAHA report action plan understand how the chemistries in question have helped modernize farming practices – in some cases even helping reduce farmers’ reliance on pesticides and contributing to conservation farming efforts.

Her recommendation to other farmers at this point: talk with your local, state and federal government officials. Educate them on how the targeted chemistries support food production and consumers’ well-being.

“It’s important that we are reaching out to these individuals all the way up and down the political hierarchy, and inviting them out to our farms, talking to them about why we do things, and making it very practical, so that they understand not only the what, but the why and the how,” she says.

Where To From Here?

The 250 ag groups, in the June 13 letter to Kennedy, Rollins and Zeldin, have asked the Commission to hold a public comment period for all of its future reports and activities.

“… We urge the administration to formally include farmers, ranchers, and food producers in a collaborative stakeholder process throughout all future work of the Commission. We also advise the administration to create the opportunity for public comment on all future reports and activities of the Commission.”

For her part, Burns-Thompson wants more farmers at the table, able to share their perspective on what kind of practices the action plan should detail.

“What’s the voice of the farmer in all this? It needs to be part of this, right? It’s one thing to have the Department of Agriculture at the table, but I think there’s no such thing as too many farmer voices,” she says.

Catch the AgriTalk discussion with Burns-Thompson here:

Your next read: Is Food Inflation Heating Up July 4th Grills?

Quiet Crisis, Unfolding Rapidly: Big Questions Remain For Next Gen Farmers

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 20:14:59 GMT

Florida fresh produce grower Jim Alderman says one thing is his biggest worry.

“Who is coming behind us? That’s the part that keeps me up at night. It’s not just about growing crops, it also passing down knowledge, discipline and our way of life,” he said during a recent congressional hearing on the aging workforce in agriculture.

Earlier this year, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) spearheaded a special committee report on America’s Aging Farm Workforce.

Four drivers were highlighted:

Aging demographics
Declining farm numbers
Barriers for new farmers
Regulatory and economic pressures

As a follow up, on June 4, the senate special committee he oversees had a hearing “America’s Vanishing Family Farms.”

“Unfortunately, the farming and agricultural workforce is aging and nearing retirement, and fewer and fewer young people are looking to take over their family’s farms or enter the agriculture industry,” Sen. Scott said. “We face significant challenges to agricultural production, rural community sustainability, and U.S. food security. Here’s why this matters: U.S. food security is national security.”

Recent stats he points to include:

1/3 of farmers and ranchers are over the age of 65
This same group owns more than 40% of U.S. farmland
More than 80% of farmers work a second job
Since 2007, 200,000 farms have disappeared
The 2022 census showed the loss of over 140,000 farms in 5 years. That’s an average of 77 farms per day. 
Since 2007, more than 40 million acres of farmland is now used for commercial, residential or industrial purposes
Farmland prices have increased 7% in three years

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) is ranking member on the special committee for aging and said, “To encourage younger generation to returning to Farmer we farming, we must invest in our rural communities.”

Witnesses shared testimony highlighting the pain points, overall trends and discussed potential policy solutions.

“As I travel the country and see farms across our great country, I see a lot of gray hair, and while the wisdom of older generations is critical, we must ensure that we make a way for young and beginning farmers to fill our boots,” said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

What are those policy provisions that could assist with the farm labor issues?

1. The Farm Bill
In his testimony, Duvall shared a getting a farm bill passed by congress is critical to signal stability and predictability in agriculture.

“We need a modernized 5 year farm bill,” he said. “Rising interest rates, higher energy prices, supply costs that have gone unchecked, farmers will plant the most expensive crop ever planted this year, and many have faced a tough decision of whether or not to even plant that crop. This is why the farm bill and its Title One safety net is so critical.”

2. Estate tax provisions

Duvall also highlighted the importance of the estate tax exemption for farmers for transitioning the farm business from one generation to the next. He applauded the House for its consideration of in the One Big Beautiful Bill it recently passed, and encouraged the senate to follow.

3. Farm worker programs, specifically H-2A

“It’s time to modernize our outdated system, and only Congress can meaningfully do that,” Duvall said.

Alderman uses H-2A labor and says reform is a must.

“We are now dependent on H-2A labor from Mexico,” he said. “Without them, we can’t harvest our crops.”

For Alderman in Florida, whereas minimum wage is $12.50/hour, H-2A labor is compensated at $26/hour plus the expense of housing, transportation and visas.

Duvall adds the federal government needs to revisit its wage structure for H-2A labor, citing the wage rates were set by a study done 60 years ago intended to calculate on-farm employment totals, not compensation.

“We’re going to price ourselves out of farming,” he says. Duvall is advocating for an updated program and one that includes year-round provisions for dairy farmers, and other parts of the industry that need full-time labor not just seasonal help.

“How can a young farmer come back to the farm and bring his expertise that he learned in college, expand that farm without having a labor force to do that. It’s one of the biggest limiting factors we have,” Duvall says.

4. Economic stability, risk management and trade.

“The incentive to make a profit isn’t there,” Alderman says. “If the farmer isn’t going to make money, he’s not able to expand his operation.”

Aaron Locker, Managing Director, Kincannon & Reed calls this a quietly unfolding crisis that is rapidly cutting across the agriculture.

“And the consequences for our food supply, our rural communities, and our national security are serious,” he said. “The 1980s farm crisis didn’t just damage balance sheets. It’s changed the interest of being involved in agriculture. That gap is being realized today in board rooms, field office, agronomy teams and more.”

The witnesses answered questions about President Trump’s trade policy and tariffs, with Duvall saying farmers have supported the president’s long-term vision to bring a “level playing field,” but he also says this fall will be a critical time for some progress when farmers are slated to harvest and sell commodities at low prices with high input costs.

5. Regulatory considerations.

Alderman says there are areas of his fresh produce business being over-regulated, which has put extra financial pressure when competing with imported crops. As an example, he points to multiple food safety inspections which could be replaced with a one-time inspection.

And in conjunction with the regulation on his business, he has seen how a lapse in regulatory authority over imported produce inspected at the borders has negatively effected the industry.

“For example, the citrus industry with citrus greening, it’s devastated the cirtrus industry. We have gone from 240 million boxes of oranges in production to around 40 million boxes today,” he said, and added Florida produce growers are introduced with a new thirp or weevil every growing season, which takes months to contain and identify proper controls.

6. Provide mental health resources

Christopher A. Wolf, Ph.D. from Cornell University says its New York FarmNet receives 700 calls a year. Financial stress include price uncertainty, labor cost and availability, capital costs, land access, and estate and succession planning. Family-related farm stressors include health insurance, childcare, eldercare, and drug and alcohol abuse.

“Male farmers have a suicide rate 3.5 times higher than the national,” he said. “Financial stress is one of the primary contributors to the depression and suicide rate. Additionally, mental health stigma and lack of access to care are major barriers.”

How Relationships Can Shape The Success of Regulation

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

By Daniel Fowler, NAICC President

Since 2005, NAICC has jointly sponsored multiple winter “Focus on” workshops. These two-day trainings have covered numerous topics focused on boots-on-the-ground implementation of sound agronomics with new technologies. Past cosponsoring organizations have included Info Ag, American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers, Wisconsin Association of Professional Agricultural Consultants, Iowa Independent Crop Consultants Association, and Minnesota Independent Crop Consultants Association. On March 4-6, this biannual event will be cohosted by North Carolina Agricultural Consultant Association and called “Focus on Ag.”

During NAICC visits to Capitol Hill, the government affairs committee has strengthened and expanded our relationships with members of Congress and multiple agencies such as EPA, Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources Conservation Service, etc. During these conversations, it was suggested we could play a pivotal role at county and state level implementation of Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations.

A Unified Voice For Ag
This past summer, NAICC and Weed Science of America hosted local EPA, Fish and Wildlife and other regulatory groups at a farm tour in Wisconsin. Organizing opportunities like these to obtain one-on-one conversations and sharing our expertise is proving to be highly effective to communicate with government officials in the field.

As we try to communicate at the grower, county, state and national levels, there is a need for us to have an informed and unifying message. Each NAICC state affiliate will be given the opportunity to appoint a liaison to the NAICC government affairs committee in hopes this will strengthen our relationships and the flow of information. This subcommittee can be an outlet for each regional group to give their input on national issues as well as receive the latest information from NAICC contacts in Washington, D.C. Increased involvement, with a better exchange of information, can help us leverage our unique position as the independent voice between growers, government agencies and other stakeholders.

Implementation of ESA
Part of this year’s “Focus on Ag” will be the implementation of ESA at the farm level. This is a continuation of focusing on boots on the ground implementation, this time in a changing regulatory environment. It’s also part of a concerted effort to strengthen our relationships at the local level by providing educational opportunities for our members. We hope other state organizations will see the value in these efforts by participating in the new government affairs subcommittee and perhaps reach out to host an event in the future.

ARA Applauds Congress for Assisting Ag Producers in Dire Straits

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:01 GMT

Congress has cleared its Continuing Resolution , which will extend the farm bill, avoid a government shutdown and secure financial relief for ag. Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) president & CEO Daren Coppock released the following statement in response.

“ARA applauds efforts by Congress to pass a continuing resolution with economic assistance as well as a one-year extension to the farm bill to carry us into next year,” Coppock says. “However, the work on Capitol Hill is not finished. ARA and our members will continue to advocate for a 5-year farm bill that includes many of ARA’s priorities such as robust improvements to crop insurance, conservation programs and more. We need to secure a multi-year farm bill as early as possible in the next Congress to provide much-needed certainty for an ag industry reeling from economic hardships.”

To read more on the Continuing Resolution, click here.

Where Do Harris and Trump Stand On Ag Policy Issues?

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 21:57:55 GMT

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) released the unedited responses from Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump to its questionnaire on federal agricultural policy. This initiative allows Farm Bureau members to directly compare each candidate’s platform.

AFBF has been collecting and sharing responses from presidential candidates across parties for over 40 years to provide transparency on key agricultural issues.

Overview
Trump supports increasing commodity price supports, improving crop insurance, and focusing on innovation to keep ahead of China. He also pledged to lower energy bills and end Biden’s net-zero emissions policies.

Harris highlights the Biden administration’s initiatives to protect small farmers from unfair competition, citing Trump’s previous proposals for deep cuts to critical farming programs.

Farm policy and programs

Trump emphasized strengthening crop insurance and risk management programs, as well as supporting beginning farmers and ranchers. He highlighted his previous administration’s efforts, including signing a “massive Farm Bill” that improved agriculture programs and increased borrowing limits for farmers.
Harris focused on defending programs that allow farmers and ranchers to prosper, criticizing Trump’s proposed cuts to essential farming programs. She emphasized the importance of crop insurance and risk management tools.

Regulatory issues

Trump pledged to slash regulations that he believes stifle American agriculture and increase costs. He cited his previous administration’s efforts to cut regulations, claiming it saved farmers and taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Harris committed to reducing excessive red tape while maintaining necessary protections.

On labor, both were vague.

Trump said he supports merit-based immigration.
Harris advocates for immigration reform to benefit the economy and farmers.

Environmental issues

Trump emphasized increasing ethanol production and reducing EPA regulations. Trump promised to end Biden’s net-zero emissions policies.
Harris underscored the importance of clean water and conservation efforts.

Trade policy

Trump promised to fight barriers to agricultural exports and highlighted his previous administration’s trade deals, including the Phase 1 agreement with China.
Harris vowed to stand firm against unfair trade practices, especially from China. She criticized Trump’s previous trade war, citing the costs to farmers and taxpayers.

Endangered Species Act

Trump suggested focusing on incentive-based programs for species recovery, criticizing the current law’s effectiveness.
Harris emphasized the need for cooperative initiatives that consider all Americans, including farmers and ranch owners, in conservation efforts.

White House Reaches Tentative Accord to Avert National Rail Strike

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 06:18:25 GMT

In a statement, President Joe Biden said the White House has reached a tentative agreement to avert a national rail strike. He says the offer will guarantee “better pay, improved working conditions, and peace of mind around their health care costs” for the workers.

“The agreement is also a victory for railway companies who will be able to retain and recruit more workers for an industry that will continue to be part of the backbone of the American economy for decades to come,” Biden said in the statement.

A Department of Labor official confirmed that a deal “that balances the needs of workers, businesses, and our nation’s economy” was reached in the early hours of the morning on Thursday after 20 consecutive hours of negotiations between rail companies and union negotiators.

“Secretary Walsh and the Biden administration applaud all parties for reaching this hard-fought, mutually beneficial deal,” a labor official said. “Our rail system is integral to our supply chain, and a disruption would have had catastrophic impacts on industries, travelers and families across the country.”

Update:

Union members hold final say on us rail deal, or possible strike. Marathon talks led to a tentative agreement Thursday. What happens next depends on more than 100,000 workers represented by a several different unions, who’ll have to decide whether to ratify their leaders’ deals or reject them, setting the stage for a massive work stoppage.
The tentative deal, the text of which hasn’t been publicly released, included record wage increases and new protections but didn’t include paid sick days workers had sought, according to union leaders. The tentative freight-rail agreements include a 24% wage increase over five years, 2020 through 2024, including 14.1% effective immediately, as well as five annual $1,000 payments, the National Carriers’ Conference Committee said.
The cooling-off period in which work stoppages are prohibited has been extended to last several weeks past when workers vote to accept or reject its terms, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. A timeline for those votes has not been released.
The dilemma: Union members are likely to weigh the viability of pulling off a successful strike and the political impact it could have before the midterm elections, as well as how much the tentative deal does to address their core concerns, said Wilma Liebman, a former deputy director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and former chair of the National Labor Relations Board.
Another try: The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union says it is now working to get a new agreement after its members rejected a tentative deal that had been struck earlier.
Some agreement: The BLET, the International Association of Sheet Metal Air, Rail & Transportation Workers, and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen have all now agreed to the tentative pact, according to the National Carriers’ Conference Committee, which represents national freight railways in bargaining. Together, the three speak for about 60,000 workers, it said in a statement.
Feel the Bern? Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a statement: “Now it’s up to the rank-and-file union members to evaluate this deal and determine whether it works for them. These workers have not had a raise in three years and continue to work incredibly long hours under brutal working conditions. I will respect and support whatever decision they make.”
Freight railroads immediately restored services they had suspended earlier in the week. Union Pacific Corp. and Norfolk Southern Corp. said they are working to resume normal operations after halting some service in anticipation of a work stoppage.
Bottom line: The deal, if approved, could raise shipping costs as railroads try to recoup their added labor costs, analysts said. But it could improve service, which has suffered from capacity and labor shortages.

Deere, UAW Reach Tentative Agreement on New Contract

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 15:17:09 GMT

Union: New offer has modest modifications to offer voted down Nov. 2; Vote Wed.

Deere & Co. and the United Auto Workers (UAW) union reached a third tentative agreement on a contract in the latest bid to end a strike at the agricultural and construction equipment maker that started Oct. 14.

The UAW, which represents more than 10,000 Deere production and maintenance employees, said in a statement Friday night that the proposed contract “includes modest modifications” to the latest rejected proposal, which included immediate 10% raises. said the latest offer included “modest modifications” to a proposal that union members rejected Nov. 2 by a margin of 55% to 45%. Workers also turned down an offer on Oct. 10. The union described the new proposal as the company’s “last, best and final offer” in its statement ( link )

Deere, while confirming a new agreement had been reached, declined to comment further. Neither the union nor the company revealed details in advance of the union’s briefing of its members.

Union members will vote on the proposal on Wednesday. The contract would cover more than 10,000 Deere workers at 12 facilities in Iowa, Illinois and Kansas, who make the company’s iconic John Deere green tractors and other equipment.

Following rejection of the previous offer, Deere executives said the Moline, Ill.-based company wouldn’t raise it or bargain further on economic issues. The company’s prior offer included an immediate 10% increase in hourly pay, plus an $8,500 bonus for each worker. Additional 5% pay raises were proposed for 2023 and 2025, and lump sum bonuses in three other years. Deere had said that offer represented a $3.5 billion investment in compensation for the workers.

Deere has forecast about $5.8 billion in income for its full fiscal year, vs $2.8 billion in 2020 and $3.3 billion in 2019.

Deere executives previously said they are considering sourcing equipment and replacement parts from the company’s overseas plants as the strike drags on. The company has been shipping some equipment and parts that were stocked in warehouses. Supervisors and other nonunion employees have been finishing some machinery that was mostly assembled at the time of the walkout.