Latest News From Ag Policy

Legislative proposals aimed at the U.S. livestock markets could have a negative impact on farmers and ranchers they are intended to protect, Meat Institute argues ahead of Thursday’s House Ag Committee hearing.

Meat industry representatives will defend their operations and pricing practices on Thursday before the full House Agriculture Committee during a “Hearing to Review the State of the Livestock Industry."

Report requested by Congress and USDA puts into context a variety of cattle market disruptions, including the 2019 Tyson fire and the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on packing plants and disruption of beef supply chains.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announces a USDA loan guarantee initiative to create more and better market opportunities, promote competition and strengthen America’s food supply chain

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a comprehensive set of investments to address challenges facing America’s agricultural producers.

Lawmakers are considering several changes to the federal tax code that NCBA says would have a devastating impact on family-owned businesses, including farms and ranches.

Possible tax changes on the table in Washington are causing angst in agriculture. Secretary Vilsack says the proposed changes won't impact 98% of family farms, but another analysis contradicts those claims.

"The shirts you and I are wearing today say where they come from, but the beef we put in the center of our plate doesn’t have to bear that label,” Sen. John Thune told Chip Flory on AgriTalk about mandatory COOL.

Chip Flory is joined by USDA Secretary Vilsack to discuss who is affected by stepped-up basis and why he thinks agricultural America should be in support of it.

U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday ordered his administration to find ways to ensure people are protected from extreme heat, including through work-related rules and other cooling efforts.

President Biden’s nomination of Elaine Trevin for USTR role could produce a win for agriculture. Those in trade are taking notice.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack joined AgriTalk Monday to explain the change to ELAP to help drought affected ranchers pay for feed transport and meat packers being charged with profiteering during the pandemic.

Agriculture associations urge President Biden to address ocean carrier practices causing increased costs and delays for American businesses as “the problem not only persists, but is becoming more dire.”

Paul Neiffer says one of the biggest benefits in the House’s proposed plan is farmers won’t be hit with increased taxes at death, as the transfer tax is no longer included and the full step-up in basis remains.

In an unprecedented move, the Biden administration unveiled a broad plan to tackle record retail meat prices. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack said consolidation in beef, pork and poultry processing is leading to higher prices.

The American Beef Labeling Act was announced by four U.S Senators on Wednesday that would reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef.

Congress must consider the implications that changes to federal tax policy will have on family-owned agricultural businesses, and the “American Families Plan” must also support family farms and ranches.

President Biden highlighted the ravages of climate change during a visit to flood-damaged New Jersey on Tuesday, putting a focus on domestic priorities after weeks of public attention on the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Hurricane Ida, and possible aid to producers, was a big topic of the Farm Journal Farm Country Update with Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack Thursday. Vilsack highlighted when additional aid may be on the way. 

U.S. Secretary spoke on the impacts of climate change in the agricultural industry, as well as prevention plans set forth by the Biden Administration, during Thursday's Farm Journal Farm Country Update.

Net cash farm income, which tracks producers’ cash flow, is forecast by USDA at $134.7B for 2021. That number is up $6.4B from February’s forecast and would be an increase of 21.5% from 2020's $110.9B.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will join Clinton Griffiths for a virtual live town-hall Sept. 2 at 2 p.m. CDT. Farmers and ranchers will ask about the most pressing issues and opportunities they face.

China's pork production is expected to decline 14% in 2022, while pork imports are expected to climb 5.1 MT with consumer demand exceeding domestic production, according to a USDA attaché report released last week.

Canada has joined Mexico in seeking formal consultation with the United States over the interpretation of content rules for automobiles set out in the North American trade pact, Mexico and Canada said on Friday.

USDA is out with its new ag export forecast for both this year and next, and it's showing exports could hit $173.5 billion in 2021, $4 billion more than 2020, due to higher livestock, poultry and dairy exports.

President Joe Biden's tax plan has both good and bad news for farmers, says Paul Neiffer, a CPA and principal with CLA and author of the “Farm CPA” blog.

The 10th Circuit rejected the law in a 2-1 decision.

Federal officials announced this week mandatory water cuts to the Colorado River, marking the first federal water cuts, and it's the first-ever water shortage for a river that serves 40 million people in the West.

The Senate passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill Tuesday, and transportation could receive more than half the new funding slated in the bill, but the plan is expected to hit a major roadblock in the House.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack joined AgriTalk host Chip Flory on Tuesday to celebrate what he described as an important first step in the process of improving infrastructure in rural America and across the country.

The number of dogs being imported into the U.S. for resale from countries affected by ASF is growing. Combine that with an increasing risk of foreign animal disease spread, and it’s a formula for potential disaster.

EPA announced it's creating a durable definition of WOTUS by reverting back to the pre-Obama era rule as a framework. EPA is encouraging farmers and ranchers to weigh in during a series of public meetings in August.

Southern farmers are battling an infestation of fall armyworms. From hay fields to soybeans and rice, armyworms are causing severe damage. And now, Arkansas farmers have one more option to control the pest in rice.

It was a busy week on Capitol Hill for the beef industry. NCBA’s Ethan Lane joined AgriTalk to sum up the events.

A Senate hearing on Capitol Hill this week focused on “beefing up the supply chain,” but it was the prices paid to producers also in focus, as Senators pressed on everything from price discovery to transparency.

The Senate cleared a key procedural vote on a bipartisan infrastructure deal Wednesday, which could set Biden’s infrastructure focus into action. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called it “a very big moment."

Competition in the meat sector was a focus on Capitol Hill Wednesday. The same day of the House Ag Committee's hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee put the meatpacking industry in the hot seat with calls for change. 

The hearing held on July 28 featured testimony from economists and covered the recent Black Swan events affecting the cattle industry.

New WHIP+ legislation made its way out of the House Agriculture Committee Tuesday. The $8.5B bill expands not only the type of weather events and resulted losses covered, but also the level of drought needed to qualify.

The “Beefing up Competition: Examining America’s Food Supply Chain” hearing will be livestreamed at 2:30 P.M. eastern.

As the "Right to Repair" movement continues, should farmers have the right to repair all parts of their equipment? John Phipps talks about how the White House's recent decision could impact farm intellectual property.

U.S. and Chinese officials met face-to-face for high-level talks, and the meeting had a tense tone as the countries remain at odds over issues from cyber security to human rights. 

Twelve groups representing farmers and companies who make a majority of America’s meat, poultry, dairy and animal feed and ingredients, unveiled the Protein PACT for the People, Animals, and Climate of Tomorrow

Lane joined AgriTalk this week to discuss the bill, which was introduced by Sen. Cory Booker, who is known for being vegan among other things.

In order for gene editing in agricultural animals to “unleash enormous gains in productivity,” a remodeling of the federal landscape is imperative, experts conclude.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker re-introduced his Farm System Reform Act, a bill he says would “transform a broken system.” NCBA calls the proposal "misguided."

Democratic lawmakers are renewing the effort to end what they call "factory farming," while livestock groups like NCBA call the legislation a jumbled mess.

AgriTalk's Chip Flory and Pro Farmer’s Jim Wiesemeyer unpack Biden’s new executive order, including new rules under the Packers and Stockyards Act, “Product of USA” labeling and more.

On the heels of President Joe Biden signing an Executive Order to increase competition in the U.S., USDA says the President’s plan will also level the playing field for family farmers and ranchers.

President Biden is tackling anti-competitive issues in the U.S. with a new Executive Order. Signed Friday at the White House, the order could have a sweeping impact on agriculture.