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Policy Updates and Issue News November 2025

Washington Overview

The government shutdown ended on November 12, with a continuing resolution to fund the government through January 21, 2026. The Senate voted 60-40 in favor of the stopgap funding bill, with eight Democrats voting in favor and one Republican opposing the measure. The House then voted 222-209 to pass the legislation, with six Democrats voting yes and two Republicans voting no. This was the eleventh government shutdown and the longest in U.S. history. The measure contained appropriations bills to fund USDA, FDA, Veterans Affairs, military construction, and the legislative branch for the full fiscal year, which ends September 30, 2026. For all other government entities, a new funding vehicle must be adopted by January 21, 2026. The House-Senate compromise bill provides back pay for government employees, reinstates furloughed employees, and prohibits further reductions in force until January 21. SNAP recipients will receive full benefits for October and November. In a major shift of jurisdiction, USDA was instructed to work with the State Department to prepare a process to transfer the Food for Peace foreign food aid program from State to USDA. The remaining sections of the farm bill, which were not included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed July 4, 2025), were extended for one year and retained the longstanding prohibition of the closure of Farm Service field offices. A side agreement to the legislation promises Congress will address health care issues in December, including enhanced premium tax credits and Medicare cuts.

Agriculture and Food

Farm economy compared to 1980s crisis

Crop growers are facing a third straight year of financial struggles. Producers who lived through the generation-defining farm crisis four decades ago point to market price slumps, soaring input costs, and global trade disruptions as indicators that the ag economy could tip into the worst shape in 45 years.  Ninety-one percent (91%) of agricultural economists recently surveyed by the Farm Journal believe the crop sector is in a recession. This is up from 53% in July. In addition, farm sector debt has risen alarmingly in 2024 and 2025. Congress continues to discuss various forms of relief payments to crop producers, with possible action in December.

Fertilizer Supply Concerns

The United States does not have enough fertilizer production capacity to meet producer demand and relies heavily upon volatile global supply chains. Recent tariffs have exacerbated the situation that led to surprise price hikes and scarcity shocks. There is growing concern that fertilizer supplies will be insufficient to grow the country’s 2026 crops. As a result, the administration added potash and phosphate to its critical minerals list, which are defined as commodities essential to the economic or national security interests of the U.S. As critical minerals, potash and phosphate are now eligible for tariff carveouts.

China controls critical livestock supplements

China is deepening its stranglehold on key amino acids and vitamins used in livestock feeds. According to an American Feed Industry Association report, China accounts for 80% of five key supplements, and another five supplements rely on China for more than 50% of imports. These supplement ingredients, relied upon heavily by the broiler and pork industries, include lysine, vitamins A, B1, B2, B12, D3, and E, and threonine, methionine, and tryptophan. Efforts are underway in Congress to strengthen U.S. resiliency with the bipartisan, bicameral Securing American Ag Act that directs USDA to analyze America/s dependency on China across a wide array of ag inputs.

Antitrust investigation of major meat processors

President Trump, who frustrated cattle producers with his push to lower beef prices, is directing the Justice Department to investigate major meatpackers for possible price-fixing and manipulation. The President is reportedly frustrated that futures prices for cattle have declined significantly, while boxed beef prices have risen.  Four companies, Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef, dominate beef processing.

Conservation

Waters of the United States rule under review

The Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers will take another stab at establishing a “durable, common-sense definition of waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says the previous rule failed to properly implement the Supreme Court decision in the Sackett Case, which more clearly defined adjacent wetlands, continuous surface connection, and tributary.

Health Care

Health insurance tax credits expire December 31

Many rural and small-town residents get assistance with their health insurance premiums through a program known as enhanced premium tax credits. Created by the Affordable Care Act a decade ago, tax credits were designed to help individuals and families lower their cost of health insurance purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace. During the COVID pandemic, Congress temporarily expanded eligibility for these credits to make coverage more affordable for middle-income and rural households. These temporary enhanced premium tax credits are set to expire on December 31, 2025, unless they are extended by Congress. Subsidized enrollment more than doubled between 2020 and 2025, primarily due to the enhanced premium tax credits. If enhanced credits are allowed to expire, insurance premiums could double, rural hospitals will lose even more money by treating more nonpaying patients, and families will have to make difficult choices between health care and other basic needs. The National Grange is encouraging Congress to extend the enhanced credits or enact an equitable alternative. See the enhanced premium tax credits factsheet in this newsletter.

Rural doctors battle misinformation

Many rural doctors report that political attacks on science and medicine are affecting their relationships with patients. Increasingly, they say misinformation and conspiracy theories about health fill a vacuum created by a lack of doctors in rural areas. This conundrum makes it even more difficult to recruit doctors for rural practices. Recent dramatic changes to immigration policies have made the recruitment of overseas talent tougher and too expensive.

Grange fights to lower prescription drug prices

Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are business entities that operate between the drug manufacturer and patient and play a powerful role in determining which medications are accessible and affordable. Three PBMs process nearly 80% of prescription drug claims, which gives them tremendous power over drug pricing that drives up drug costs, limits patient choice, and makes it difficult for employers to negotiate contract terms for medications. The National Grange joined 127 medical, pharmacy, consumer, and patient groups on an open letter to Congress to request PBM transparency and operational reforms, including:

  • Full transparency of PBM practices, including business arrangements, financial incentives, and formulary design.
  • Ban spread pricing, which allows PBMs to profit from the difference between what they charge for insurers and reimburse to pharmacies.
  • 100% pass-through of rebates, discounts, fees, and other payments from drug manufacturers to plan sponsors and patients.
  • De-link PBM compensation from drug prices.

Telecommunications

Reduce barriers to space innovation

The National Grange and the Connect Everyone Coalition are supporting modernizing outdated space policies to reduce unnecessary hurdles in the space sector, including for Low Earth Satellites (LEOs) supporting broadband deployment to remote areas. In a letter to the nine responsible federal agencies, the Coalition pointed out that outdated regulatory burdens should be transformed into a swift, predictable approval process for routine launches to enhance American competitiveness, innovation, and leadership. The letter called for the agencies to:

  • Establish a unified routine launch approval process through interagency coordination.
  • Eliminate multiple redundant agency environmental reviews that analyze the same data.
  • Codify shared standards so the same rocket conducting the same mission from the same pad will not require separate safety reviews by multiple agencies.

Trade

Lowly soybean drives China trade deal

China is normally the largest buyer of U.S. soybeans. But in response to tariffs and trade wars with America, China had not made any soybean purchases through October, causing soybean market prices to fall drastically. President Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in late October and emerged with an agreement for China to resume purchases of U.S. soybeans in similar volumes to recent years as a central component of a new U.S.-China trade deal. While on his three-leg Asian tour,  the President also announced a flurry of trade agreements with Japan, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.

Cattlemen take issue with Argentinian beef

In late October, the President announced his intention to raise Argentina’s beef tariff-rate quota to 80,000 metric tons from 20,000 metric tons to lower U.S. beef prices. The announcement caused the futures market for beef to plummet. Domestic cattle herd numbers are low, and feeder cattle normally imported from Mexico are at a standstill due to screwworm outbreaks. Strong consumer demand for beef and low beef supplies have exacerbated high beef prices. Farm and ranch state lawmakers and cattlemen argue that beef producers should be allowed to make a profit in this time of high input costs and drought conditions in cattle country, adding that high prices will incentivize herd expansion, more beef, and lower beef prices. The good news is that Argentine imports will be lower-quality meat destined for products like hamburgers.

Of Interest

Every day expenses Americans want Congress to prioritize

High inflation rates and soaring consumer prices are high priorities for cash-strapped voters. Here are their priorities for Congress to address:

  • Health care-31%
  • Food-22%
  • Housing-22%
  • Electricity-5%
  • Gas-4%

Perspectives

“What we’re really talking about is a wonderful day … when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?”  ~   Erma Bombeck

 

“I find that it’s the simple things that remind you of family around the holidays”.   ~  Amy Adams

 

“The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on our blessings and seek out ways to make life better for those around us”.  ~    Anonymous