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Just before leaving for the G-20 Summit in Italy this week, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack told leaders from around the globe that agriculture will lead the way in creating climate solutions. 

A federal judge announced Friday a decision to halt payments in a USDA loan forgiveness program designed to help farmers of color. USDA has until Friday to respond to the court’s temporary restraining order. 

The EPA and Department of the Army announced a plan on Wednesday to initiate a new rulemaking process to restore the protections that were in place prior to the 2015 WOTUS implementation.

To build a more resilient supply chain, the White House just published a 250-page report with assessments and an expansive list of recommendations.

Just this week, reports showed Biden was willing to compromise with the GOP on his infrastructure plan by lowering the minimum corporate tax rate of 15%.

Farmers who insured their crops and planted cover crops will now be eligible for a financial bonus from USDA. Not all crops are included in the new program, and acres need to be reported by June 15th.

Brazil's worst water crisis in almost a century will impact river navigation and make transportation of goods more expensive in the world's largest exporter of commodities ranging from soybeans to coffee and sugar.

DC Signal To Noise: It's time to take a closer look at the U.S. China trade relationship and the clock is ticking on the infrastructure bill.

Demand for pork and grains is helping propel prices in 2021, and USDA is forecasting it to be a record year. 

The Biden administration is out with the fiscal year 2022 budget proposal, calling for more money within USDA to support climate research and racial injustice.

China will strengthen price controls on iron ore, copper, corn and other major commodities in its 14th five-year plan for 2021 to 2025 to address abnormal fluctuations in prices, the state planner said on Tuesday.

A Mexican federal judge ruled against a request by the National Farm Council to freeze a government plan to ban genetically modified (GMO) corn and the widely used herbicide glyphosate by 2024.

A report issued on Monday describes at least three ways EPA stumbled in its policies and practices.

This week Chip Flory and Jim Wiesemeyer discuss fast internet for rural America as Democrats could still “go alone” on infrastructure bill.

The U.S. Agriculture Department said on Friday it will start erasing an estimated $4 billion dollars in debt to minority farmers in June, as it seeks to address racial discrimination.

EPA's biofuel blending mandates for 2021 and 2022 are likely to be in line with those of 2020 as the agency accounts for weaker fuel demand since the onset of the pandemic, three sources familiar with the matter said.

The plan requires conserving 440 million acres.

Wall Street closed lower on Wednesday with the S&P suffering its biggest one-day percentage drop since February, as inflation data fueled concerns over whether interest rate hikes could happen sooner than anticipated.

USDA's first look at new crop in the May WASDE indicated higher crop prices could start to erode demand. However, USDA points out greater domestic use could help offset the idea of lower exports.

As soybean supply concerns continue to impact the market, USDA’s fresh look at 2020/2021 ending stocks in the May WASDE report paints a scenario where soybean supplies will remain extremely tight.

Administrator Regan said extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances exist. The decision will address gasoline needs in affected areas, a positive for agriculture and the biofuels industry.

Restaurants closing early. Sign after sign plastered along roadsides with businesses looking for help. The hiring issue is crippling everything from manufacturing to the restaurant industry today.

Here's what you need to know about Biden's $4 trillion dollar infrastructure plan. Plus, what's the deal with Liz Cheney and internal conflict in the Republican party? Get the details in this week's Signal to Noise.

The plan is now called "America the Beautiful," and is a 10 year, locally-led and voluntary nationwide effort to conserve, connect and restore 30% of the nation's lands and waters by the year 2030.

“We know rural areas are different from urban areas, people are more spread out, it's not always as easy to travel to one location that's close to everyone to get a vaccine," Dr. Murthy says.

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) says China’s buying increased to 48.3 million gallons in March, which is the second largest monthly export total ever on record, just missing the high set in April 2016.

A Farm Journal Pulse Poll reveals what farmers think about Biden’s goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030.

Ryan Yates, managing director of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), says while the plan sounds simple, there are still a lot more questions than answers regarding what the plan truly means.

USDA will open CRP enrollment with higher payment rates, new incentives and a more targeted focus on the program’s role in climate change mitigation.

President Biden continues to affirm the administration's focus on climate. A key USDA nomination this week showcased just how important of a role agriculture will play when it comes to the environment.

Some agricultural groups would like the newly-installed U.S. Trade Representative to reconsider some previous trade deals. That includes joining what was formerly known as the Trans Pacific Partnership. 

Details of a U.S. land and water related executive order could be unveiled soon. Known as the ’30 by 30’ plan, it would place 30% of U.S. lands and 30% of U.S. waters under federal jurisdiction by 2030.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's statistics division is conducting a "deep dive" review of how it conducts its quarterly U.S. grain stocks reports, an official said during an online conference on Wednesday.

Just this week, USDA confirmed U.S. sorghum shattered records last week, with a total of 33.9 million bushels of purchases. The total smashed the previous record set in August 2020 by 10 million bushels.

Brazilian production of ethanol from corn rose 58% in the newly passed year as dozens of recently built plants in the country's grain heartland ramped up production.

A week after USDA released its bombshell Prospective Plantings report, USDA’s April WASDE also sparked some market momentum in corn, but seemed to disappoint for soybeans.

USDA's Prospective Plantings report released Wednesday showed farmers intend to plant more acres overall, but fewer than what the trade expected. Here's a breakdown of which states are seeing a shift in 2021 acres.

President Biden is preparing to announce a $2.25T infrastructure plan on Wednesday. It's aimed to fuel funding for America’s roads, waterways, broadband and the electric grid, but there's also a focus on climate.

The maneuvers to try to refloat the mega container ship Ever Given, stranded in the Suez Canal since last Tuesday, have been successful early this Monday.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said a Mexican plan to ban imports of GMO corn would apply to grain used for human food products, not livestock feed, based on a conversation he had with Mexican Agriculture Secretary.

USDA will move forward with $20 per acre payments for price-trigger crops outlined in the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) round three with checks going out starting in April.

The Biden Admin. is readying a $3T infrastructure and economic plan. While officials say the plan centers around roads and infrastructure projects, critics say that’s only a small piece of the potential proposal.

If approved by the Surface Transportation Board, the railroads predict any final merger could happen in mid-2022.

For a fifth year, the White House is publicly recognizing March 23, 2021, as National Ag Day. As part of the proclamation, the White House salutes farmers and ranchers for the contributions they continue to make.

The first U.S.-China meeting of the Biden administration got off to a fiery start, with both sides leveling sharp rebukes of the others' policies in a display that underscored the level of bilateral tension.

Farmers for Free Trade wants to see a full implementation of the Phase One trade agreement. A year into the deal, there are still accountability and compliance issues with China.

In a unanimous Senate vote on Wednesday, Katharine Tai was confirmed as the next U.S. Trade Representative. The trade expert was confirmed with a vote of 98-0.  

Former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson is headed to consulting firm Combest, Sell & Associates.

In his opening days of his second stint as head of USDA, Tom Vilsack is focused on farmer profitability and opening markets to build that profitability.

The western half of the country continues to see little moisture, and after a year of record government payments to agriculture, farm groups fear financial assistance this year will be tough to get passed in Washington.