Latest News From POLICY

The debate over immigration continues to be an issue in Washington. However, the Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor shows economists are still skeptical it's enough for Congress to act on immigration reform.

The Last Acre Act would help expand high-speed internet access across eligible farmland, ranchland and farm sites. At least 15% of farms and ranches have no access to the internet today. 

Rep. Thompson, chairman of the House Ag Committee, continues to express optimism about passing a new farm bill in December in the House of Representatives. But he says an extension of the current farm bill is needed.

While voters are casting ballots today, they're also looking ahead. A Biden-Trump presidential race rematch is currently forecast, but their ages, economic turmoil at home and conflicts abroad are weighty concerns.

The projects are focused on strengthening supply chain reliability, creating workforce development opportunities, speeding up the movement of goods, and improving the safety, reliability and resilience of ports. 

The Panama Canal is now cutting its daily ship transits by half this winter due to severe drought.

Earlier this week, as part of an annual administrative review of countervailing duty orders, the Department of Commerce (DOC) adjusted duties on imported phosphate fertilizers.

A delegation from 11 ag industry groups gathered in Beijing on Thursday to meet Chinese counterparts amid growing U.S. efforts to bolster farm trade even as political ties between their two countries remain strained.

Government officials do not need a warrant or probable cause to enter private land, according to a judge's ruling on Oct. 31.

An increase in crushing capacity means there's going to be more soybean meal available for export. To prepare for that transition, infrastructure improvements are being made at the Port of Grays Harbor in Washington.

Bart Fischer, co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M, spotlights two topics that will be updated in the next farm bill.

Political unrest, a healthy ag economy and the start of an election year. These are all reasons economists in the October Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor think it could 2025 before Congress passes a new farm bill.

We’ve got to tell our farming stories—and when we tell them with honesty and authority, we’ll win hearts and minds and defend our freedom to farm.

Weather in Brazil is as big of a market mover as forecasts in the U.S. Why has Brazil grown so aggressively? One economist recently spent six months in Brazil and says a combination of factors is aiding their growth.

Recently a new theory of comprehending Chinese government action has emerged and seems plausible if not likely: Xi Jinping may not be the sharpest pencil in the box, even borderline incompetent.

“I'm announcing that Syngenta, a Chinese state-owned agrichemical company, must give up its land holdings in Arkansas,” emphasized Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

USDA has allocated more than $1.77 billion this year to agricultural producers and landowners through CRP. Since 2021, the CRP has witnessed a 21% increase in enrolled acres.

In a property rights ruling, a court noted the government’s absolute power to “roam private land without consent, warrants, or probable cause.”

While the U.S. and EU aim to make progress during an upcoming summit, reaching a final agreement is uncertain. This issue has significant implications for U.S./EU ties, climate goals, and geopolitics.

Carbon dioxide pipelines are not new – but they’re making news. There is a major effort to build a new pipeline network to transport CO2 from ethanol and fertilizer plants to underground storage.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Jesse Larios, a California cattle farmer, shares about his deep roots in agriculture and the contributions his Latino and Latina brothers and sisters have made in the industry.

This blog describes some steps taken in local and state jurisdictions to restrain the rate of groundwater withdrawal, but most parts of the country have taken no action in this area. A more holistic approach is needed.

Work by the House or Senate Agriculture Committee on a new farm bill is essentially stalled, Randy Russell tells AgriTalk's Chip Flory. Russell says that could be the case until government funding issues are resolved.

China's Commerce minister expressed concerns over trade and tech restrictions to U.S. Senate Majority Leader this week. That's as the U.S. Commerce Department added 42 more Chinese companies to the export blacklist.

The attack on Israel by Hamas adds urgency to GOP efforts to elect a new House speaker. The need to focus on Israel may help get a House GOP leadership decision this week, several lawmakers said. 

The historically low water levels on the Mississippi River have caused a trifecta in the soybean market.  Its increased freight weights, slammed basis levels and taken a real toll on exports.

After the government twice flooded a farmer’s home and 900 acres, killed his cattle, and insisted he foot the bill, the Supreme Court will hear the case.

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. 

As Congress drew closer to a government shutdown, the news pressured commodity prices. The drop in commodity prices happened despite what some viewed as a fairly bullish September Grains Stocks report for corn. 

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.

A series of lawsuits have been filed against EPA on the Renewable Fuels Standard, despite rising energy prices.

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. 

American farmers beaten, tear-gassed, herded and imprisoned by their own government for daring to protest authority? Welcome to agricultural revolt.

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.

China's GDP growth could possibly drop lower than the U.S. this year. In fact, fewer and fewer sectors are healthy, and only then by direct government intervention.

In the arena of global trade, we’ve squandered opportunities. We’ve surrendered America’s traditional leadership position. We’ve lost years of strength and leverage. We have a choice to engage and to lead. It is time.

In the name of regulation, can the government override the 4th Amendment? Yes, say Kansas ag officials. No, counters property owner Scott Johnson: “The government thinks it isn’t accountable, but we’re taking a stand.”

Carbon pipelines are stirring up controversy. According to John Phipps, projects like pipelines, transmission lines or solar arrays are bitterly and usually unsuccessfully opposed, but only by those affected.

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.

Mike Yoder says he has the constitutional right to use drones to find downed deer, but the government says the practice is illegal on private and public land.

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.

There is a chance we might see new tax legislation before year-end. However, I wouldn't count on getting what you want.

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.