House passes USDA-FDA funding bill that GOP says is doomed by shutdown On Thursday, in a test of partisan resolve, the Democratic-controlled House passed, on a nearly party-line vote of 243-180, a funding bill to reopen the USDA and FDA. With the exception of essential work such as meat inspection,… Continue reading
EPA to drop proposal for younger pesticide applicators On the same day that President Trump nominated Andrew Wheeler to be EPA administrator, the agency said it would withdraw a Trump-era proposal to set a minimum age of 16 for farmworkers to handle, mix, or apply pesticides, down from the age… Continue reading
To get around the shutdown, SNAP benefits will be paid nearly two weeks early The Trump administration will release an estimated $4.8 billion to SNAP recipients on January 20, nearly two weeks early, to ensure they get their February food stamps despite the partial government shutdown, announced Agriculture Secretary Sonny… Continue reading
Trump tariff payments and E15 take a hit from shutdown The partial government shutdown is putting a kink in the Trump tariff payments to farmers and it could prevent the EPA from approving the sale of E15 by the summer, as promised by President Trump. Supreme Court won’t hear challenge… Continue reading
Federal nutrition assistance at risk in a long-running shutdown Two of the major public nutrition programs, SNAP and WIC, could run out of money if the partial government shutdown persists into February and beyond, affecting millions of people. While the USDA says funding is assured for this month, it is… Continue reading
As House Agriculture chairman, Peterson plans extensive oversight hearings Incoming Agriculture Committee chair Collin Peterson spelled out an ambitious plan for hearings on topics from the farm economy and the trade war to rural broadband and a review of Sonny Perdue’s decision to move two USDA agencies out of Washington…. Continue reading
Shutdown likely to delay crucial USDA reports Barring a breakthrough in negotiations between the White House and Congress, the partial government shutdown will force the USDA to delay next week’s scheduled release of potentially market-moving reports that take a final look at the 2018 crops and provide the first hints… Continue reading
USDA says it will deliver on Trump request for 5-percent spending cut Under orders from President Trump to cut spending by 5 percent, the USDA may try to slash the taxpayer-subsidized crop insurance program, eliminate a green-payment program, or take an ax to its research agencies, if recent proposals are… Continue reading
As the agribusiness landscape for crop inputs continues to change, 2018 was the scene of continued news surrounding mergers and acquisitions. Notably, headed into 2019, the four largest ag chemical companies are: Bayer ($12.9 billion in annual revenue); Syngenta (9.7 billion in annual revenue); BASF ($6.4 billion in annual revenue);… Continue reading
Trump injects food stamp limits into signing of ‘really tremendous’ farm bill At the same time President Trump signed into law the 2018 farm bill, which modestly strengthens the farm safety net, loosens farm subsidy rules, and legalizes industrial hemp, he announced “immediate action on welfare reform” on Thursday through… Continue reading
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