POLICY UPDATES/ISSUE NEWS
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…
Read MoreAgriculture and Food Farm aid package remains elusive Past news reports have continued to stress that markets for soybeans, corn, wheat, and sorghum are in the tank. Tariffs have caused the loss of traditional foreign buyers, and tariffs have caused the prices on imported farm supplies to skyrocket. President Trump…
Read MoreAgriculture and Food Screwworm scare closer than ever Agriculture producers, wildlife agencies, and pet owners are more concerned than ever after a case of New World screwworm has been confirmed less than 70 miles south of the Texas border in Mexico. The previous northernmost case detection was 370 miles farther…
Read MoreAgriculture and Food Congress needs to pass a “skinny “farm bill The President signed the Big Beautiful Bill Act into law on July 4. It included several big-ticket farm bill items such as support for commodity programs, crop insurance, supplemental nutrition assistance (SNAP), dairy, sugar, and biofuels. However, there are…
Read MoreAgriculture and Food Farm Bill Many farm bill provisions were included in the budget reconciliation bill that the President signed into law on July 4. See “What’s in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for Farmers and Ranchers” in this newsletter. “Skinny” farm bill is next Although several major sections…
Read MoreAgriculture and Food Farm bill provisions hit a snag Commodity price support and nutrition assistance sections of the farm bill have been included in the budget reconciliation package moving through Congress. Actions by both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees would make massive cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program…
Read MoreAgriculture and Food Farm bill charts new territory The House Agriculture Committee finished a marathon committee markup session to include parts of the farm bill funding in the fiscal 2025 budget reconciliation process. That’s a break from tradition whereby the farm bill is normally adopted as a stand-alone bill. The…
Read MoreAgriculture and Food Support to restrict junk food SNAP purchases A federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program shopper can pretty much shop anywhere in the grocery store. That wide latitude could change. Attempts to eliminate junk food from SNAP coverage could gain traction under HHS Secretary Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again…
Read MoreAgriculture and Food Corporate Transparency Act paused by Treasury Department The National Grange joined 65 small business groups to thank Treasury Secretary Bessert for suspending enforcement of business ownership disclosure requirements for domestic businesses. The new rule, implemented last year, was intended to catch foreign money-laundering schemes masquerading as U.S.…
Read MoreWashington Overview To say the least, it’s not your same ole Washington these days, no matter what side of the political spectrum you’re on. Uncertainty and confusion might best describe the environment permeating through all sectors. Law firms have a tsunami of new business as court challenges are filed against…
Read More