Agriculture Policy News
From federal agencies to state governments, actions taken by elected officials and policymakers have a direct impact on America’s farmers and ranchers. Stay up-to-date on all things related to policy, including cabinet leadership, the farm bill, farmer-support programs, market access, environmental regulations, labor availability and the health of the ag economy.
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Latest Agriculture Policy News
California’s Proposition 12 has devastated family farms, fueled market consolidation and increased food costs. Legislators brought forward The Food Security and Farm Protection Act to protect farmers and consumers from “burdensome government overreach.”
After China retaliated with its own tariffs, the U.S. said on Tuesday that 104% duties on imports from China would take effect shortly after midnight, even as the Trump administration moved to quickly start talks with other trading partners targeted by Trump’s sweeping tariff plan.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has confirmed that Japan will take priority in the administration’s upcoming trade negotiations, underscoring its strategic importance as both a military ally and major economic partner.
As tariff proposals continue to bring uncertainty, the agricultural sector is assessing how any forthcoming country-by-country trade deals might offset the disruption, or if the industry needs to brace itself for a different kind of future.
As the trade war heats up, the reality is China is still the top export destination for U.S. farmers, even if the country isn’t buying as many soybeans as 2018.
More than 50 countries have reached out to the Trump administration to open negotiations following the sweeping new tariffs.
Cheap cotton prices and dwindling demand are just part of the problem. Input costs have climbed and there’s no safety net to be found from a new farm bill. One Georgia farmer says the current farm bill is irrelevant and worthless, and if a new one doesn’t get passed this year, the cotton industry is doomed.
The 34% reciprocal tariff announced by China on Friday is in addition to the original 20% retaliatory tariff China issued in March, which targeted 15 products including beef, cotton, grain sorghum, pork, corn, dairy and fresh fruit.
Of all the directions President Trump could have gone on “Liberation Day,” Canadian Shaun Haney says it was a real win for Canada and a step closer to Canada, Mexico and the U.S. being more entrenched than ever before when it comes to trade.
Farmers and farm groups have mixed reactions and lingering questions following President Trump’s announcement of sweeping reciprocal tariffs. Will farmers receive aid to offset tariff impact? How will U.S. trading partners react?