Latest News From Ag Policy

New Zealand says it will stop the export of livestock by sea following a transition period of up to two years, citing animal welfare concerns, which will affect major trading partners including Australia and China.

The chase to capture carbon continues. It’s a possible new source of income for farmers and ranchers, but it's also bringing a set of challenges and questions. The answer could be both public and private programs.

While critics say President Biden's infrastructure plan is too costly and includes more than infrastructure, proponents say it could help bridge the rural and urban digital divide.

As the 2021 bull market continues, it’s leading to a growing level of optimism from farmers. The latest Ag Economy Barometer from Purdue University/CME group shows farmer sentiments rose to 177 this month.

The second round of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) restarted April 5. Farmers have 60 days to either apply or make modifications to their existing CFAP 2 applications.

Senators John Hoeven and Michael Bennet reintroduced the Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act, bipartisan legislation to reform the Hours of Service and Electronic Logging Device regulations at the U.S. DOT.

A federal court has removed a provision of the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System that enabled pork processors to establish maximum line speeds.

The governments of nearly half the U.S. states are in agreement of the North American Meat Institute’s petition challenging the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 12.

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.

Argentina said on Monday it had suspended 15 meat exporters for dodging industry regulations, derailing at least 40 tonnes of shipments from one of the world's best-known beef producers.

USTR Katherine Tai on Monday told the European Union's competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, that she has a "strong desire to develop a more positive and productive" trade relationship with the EU.

The agency announced it will not finalize a plan introduced by the Trump Administration, instead handing control of rulemaking to its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

In a discussion on AgriTalk, Ethan Lane discussed the group’s objections to the plan, and what alternatives could be.

A second bill to change the H-2A guest worker program has been introduced in the House. This version would move oversight from the Department of Labor to USDA.

Farmers and ranchers have more time to sign up for the Paycheck Protection Program. The Senate passed legislation to extend the deadline from March 31 to May 31.

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.

One year has passed since the red meat trade provisions of the U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement entered into force, expanding access for U.S. beef and pork in the world's largest red meat import market.

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.

Proposition 12, California’s animal welfare rule, is slated to take effect on Jan. 1, 2022. But with these new regulations still mired in a legal battle, the pork industry is left in limbo, Rabobank says.

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.  

USDA published a Federal Register Notice requesting public input on a climate-smart agriculture and forestry strategy, directing the Ag Secretary to solicit input from stakeholders to develop a climate-smart approach.

Frontline meat workers deserve immediate access to vaccines, the Meat Institute says, and urges Biden's administration not to create inflexible standards that could force facilities to decrease capacity utilization.

The Cattle Transparency Act of 2021 was introduced in the Senate to mandate weekly minimum cash cattle trades. NCBA policy supports a voluntary approach to increase negotiated trades to regionally sufficient levels.

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.

While trade is not a headline of the Biden Administration in the first 100 days, it’s not stopping Katherine Tai from making her voice heard. Tai is now waiting full confirmation vote to put her ideas to work.

U.S. Cattlemen's Association supports the Cattle Market Transparency Act, which seeks to ensure regionally sufficient negotiated cash trade, and equipping producers with more information to aid marketing decisions.

The Cattle Market Transparency Act, if enacted, would direct the Secretary of Agriculture and the Office of the Chief Economist at USDA to establish regional mandatory minimums for negotiated trade of fed cattle.

The Cattle Market Transparency Act of 2021 was introduced to restore transparency and accountability in the cattle market by establishing regional cash minimums and equipping producers with more market information.

The Meat Institute filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to review an earlier ruling of the Meat Institute’s challenge to the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 12.

Congress got a clearer view of President Biden’s trade agenda this week as the Senate Finance Committee questioned Katherine Tai, Biden's nominee to serve as the United States Trade Representative.

The Senate has scheduled a vote on Tom Vilsack’s nomination for Secretary of Agriculture on Feb. 23. In early February, the Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously approved President Biden's pick to lead USDA.

Biden's USTR nominee was a key player in the USMCA negotiations, and some think USMCA may be a template for future trade talks, including the possibility of rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

On Thursday, the United States Cattlemen's Association (USCA) sent a letter to the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council regarding the enforcement of President Biden's Buy American mandate, signed on January 25.

Trade seems to be taking a back seat in Washington. From COVID-19 recovery to a focus on climate, other issues are taking priority in the new White House. That's not stopping ag groups from pushing for key trade deals.

The net farm income story this year is far from over. Farmer Mac’s chief economist says history shows USDA’s initial look at net farm income is typically too low and this year may be no different.

In December 2020, Congress added a provision to a COVID relief bill establishing a Statutory Dealer Trust, which give unpaid sellers first priority rights in their livestock or the proceeds of their livestock.

USDA’s first look at net farm income shows without continued ad hoc government payments, net farm income will drop this year.

Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) may be back on the table, but it’s far from a done deal. The topic was brought up during Tom Vilsack's confirmation hear thing week, but one economist says the economics have changed.

Even though official numbers won’t be released until early next week, U.S. Meat Export Federation says a promising finish to beef exports in 2020 could set the stage for record shipments in 2021.

Tom Vilsack, during Senate confirmation hearings Tuesday, said he was willing to consider reimplementation of country-of-origin labeling (COOL) regulations for meat products.

During U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s confirmation hearing in January, Yellen previewed how the Biden administration may address trade issues with China.

He’s the only USDA secretary that has served in one administration and has been asked to come back years later. For Tom Vilsack, it’s an opportunity he is looking forward to for many reasons.

Whether it’s to fulfill Phase One promised, or an increased need for feed, some say the timing of the record Chinese buys isn’t a coincidence. So, what's driving the record demand from China?

The DIRECT act will allow state inspected beef processors to sell their products across state lines when standards are the same as federal requirements.

AS USDA reviews the previous administration’s plans for the remaining CFAP money, President Biden’s pick to lead USDA will help spearhead those efforts, and find ways to incentives farmers for climate initiatives.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) says she supports the Biden Administration’s move to freeze payments under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).

USDA late Wednesday posted notice that $2.3 billion in supplemental Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments will be temporarily frozen.

In this commentary Greg Hanes, CEO of the Cattlemen's Beef Board, discusses the ways that Beef Checkoff dollars have been used in the past few months.