Latest News From POLICY

With the government funding in place for now, work on a new farm bill can continue, with the same questions (timing, funding, Title 1 reform, etc.) still being unanswered. 

In total, $1.4 billion will go toward 70 projects in 35 states.

When the House and Senate returns on Tuesday, lawmakers will have just five days left to avoid a shutdown, which would impact several USDA services, including key reports. 

As brent crude futures soar toward $100, it's creating a new battle in the Federal Reserve's effort to fight inflation. One money manager warns another rate hike is likely. 

Members of Congress are currently in disagreement over how long it will take to get a new farm bill finished, which is why one ag economist fears it could take two years to finally see a new Farm Bill.

There are just over two weeks for Congress to pass 12 spending bills to avoid a total government shutdown. If time runs out, one analyst says that could mean no USDA report in October and no yield cuts, which are likely.

Matt Griggs faces a government ban on chicken litter: “What about my right to farm?”

It’s game time says Soy Transportation Coalition executive director Mike Steenhoek, and key waterway infrastructure systems are not ready. 

The proposal from the STB would provide a streamlined path for rail customers to obtain a reciprocal switching order.

Mizzou's Ben Brown says the 81.2 million bushels new crop export sale marks the largest week of sales for the 2023/24 marketing year to date and double the previous record weekly volume for the year set last week.

Waters of the U.S. rules have evolved many times in the past 50 years. EPA announced another round of changes on Tuesday, following a May Supreme Court ruling that required EPA to revise the definition.

USDA on Thursday lowered expectations for both ag exports and imports in FY 2023. The export decline is linked to corn and wheat, while the import decline is correlated with easing prices.

Brazil briefly wore the global corn export crown in 2012 because of the U.S. drought. With the ability to churn out three corn crops per year and a supply deal with China, Brazil might be set to maintain that title.

If this test voyage is successful, Cargill aims to add 10 more vessels to be wind-powered.

The 2018 Farm Bill is set to expire at the end of September. When Congress resumes, their top two priorities will have to be met before the Farm Bill becomes a priority.

Agricultural R&D can help developing countries address their own unique challenges and shore up local food systems to better withstand shocks. This blog summarizes a research paper on this topic.

“We want some regulatory certainty. Our members are not opposed to regulations in general, but they need to make sense. This is one of the programs that has worked," says ARA's Richard Gupton of recently expired CFATS

China’s economic woes continue to mount with continued data pointing toward a recession. What does this mean for U.S. ag exports?

After record low water levels on many of the major rivers used for export movement in 2022, agriculture could see a repeat this fall.

“Mexico’s decree, which runs counter to scientific findings and is in direct violation of USMCA, is negatively impacting American corn growers,” said Tom Haag, NCGA president.

“These tax credits, which encourage the use of more eco-friendly fuels, could make or break the prospects of corn ethanol as a sustainable aviation fuel," says Jim Wiesemeyer, ProFarmer policy analyst.

Drought is impacting operations along the Panama Canal, one of the largest shipping channels in the world, with restrictions now placed on both the number of ships, as well as the amount of cargo they can carry.

State regulations, insists Steven Slonaker, can be more burdensome than federal oversight to farmers and private landowners.

“There’s no question of the law, science or anything. They’re simply not doing their job,” says Monte Shaw, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association executive director.

I provide an update on the current status of the next farm bill, which looks highly unlikely to pass before the 2018 farm bill formally expires.

John Phipps says there are signs that water is the new oil as water rights turn into water fights across the western U.S. He thinks it's a battle that could only heat up in the coming years.

John Phipps says the rapid reduction in farmer numbers is a result of government efforts to raise money, since the government owns the land, and achieve modest economies of scale for added productivity.

Sens. Chuck Grassley and Sherrod Brown have introduced the Farm Program Integrity Act. It would create a cap of $250,000 in commodity support for a single farm operation and, potentially, some undesirable side effects.

The ag port addition is expected to increase exports of DDGS, corn and soybeans by 400,000 metric tons each year.

“Producers looking to adopt precision ag technologies need network connectivity that extends far past their residences. They need to be able to make real-time decisions that increase yields," says Sen. Fischer (R-Neb.).

“This is an immense opportunity. For the first time, 45Z provides farmers and biofuel manufacturers a scoreboard with a transparent points system and a business model that rewards scoring points," says Mitchell Hora.

Roughly 37.6 million acres of U.S. ag land is foreign owned, according to USDA. However, select purchases of U.S. land could come to an end following a Senate vote this week.

House Republicans, particularly on the House Ag Committee, are debating changes to the Conservation Reserve Program as part of the upcoming farm bill reauthorization.

In Mexico, corn is much more than a food crop—it's a key part of the country's heritage, culture and traditions. Mexico argues glyphosate and GMOs are dangerous to human health, and seeks alternative practices.

EPA has been asked to exclude ditches from the definition of federal waters, include wetlands when they can't be distinguished from navigable waters, and erase the independent interstate waters and wetlands category.

Grain prices continue to rally as Russia ramped up attacks on Ukrainian ports on the River Danube. But agricultural economists and markets analysts point out the situation still hasn’t reached a worst-case scenario yet.

Roughly 1.4 million metric tons of herbicide was applied globally in 2020. EPA looks to reduce the U.S.’s contribution to global herbicide numbers via a new regulation proposed on Monday.

According to a new report by USDA, ag imports from Latin America and the Caribbean have increased over the past 12 years, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.9%.

The Farmland Security Act of 2023 seeks to further boost transparency in foreign ownership of U.S. farmland.

The 2023 farm bill may not be completed before it expires on September 30 but there is hope it could be done by year end.

Under the Clean Air Act, those affected by this decision have the right to request a judicial review with the US Court of Appeals within 60 days of the notice's Federal Register publication.

The July Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor showed several key changes from June including a bigger cut to corn and soybean yields, a drop in corn and soybean prices and more bullish cattle and hog prices.

The leaders also drafted a proposed legislation earlier this month that promises treaty-like benefits for businesses seeking cross-border investment opportunities via the tax code.

House Ag Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson, along with other members, is seeking additional funding sources for the bill, but that will likely be the biggest farm bill hurdle that may trip up lawmakers.

The majority of ag economists don’t expect a farm bill to be written by the upcoming deadline, but a few think it could happen by the end of the year, according to the most recent Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor.

EPA has a deadline from the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals to offer a progress report on the Waters of the U.S. rule by Sept. 15.

Legislators have until Wednesday to propose amendments to the fiscal 2024 Ag appropriations bill, which could lead to test votes on farm bill matters. The measure could begin debate next week.

The Kremlin said there was no link between the attack and suspending the deal, which lets Ukraine export grain through the Black Sea. Instead, it occurred over a failure to ease rules for food and fertilizer exports.

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) introduced an act to prevent foreign adversaries from exploiting U.S. land near security sites, and would push a review of current ownership in these areas.

State officials find these states serve as early examples of the challenges other places may face in response to the recent Sackett ruling on WOTUS.