In the last few hours, the House has narrowly passed the “Big, Beautiful Bill” Act that extends tax breaks and boosts farm programs.
The reconciliation bill was again debated all night, this time before the full House. It passed by just one vote and made the 2017 tax cuts permanent, a major request from farmers and ag groups. This includes adjustments to the estate tax exemption, and it also includes SNAP reform, increases crop insurance, and commodity program spending. House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson says the bill stops tax hikes, reigns in spending, and invests in rural America.
The bill now moves to the Senate. Thompson says once this bill is settled, he is eager to get to work on the Farm Bill, which addresses several issues not included in the reconciliation package. Those include farm loan limits and rules, action on the local ag market program, nutrition assistance incentives, and other rural development programs. Thompson says the remaining issues in the Farm Bill are now much easier to tackle with the larger issues now out of the way.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller discusses the state’s latest efforts to prevent the New World screwworm from reaching Texas.
February 02, 2026 12:22 PM
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Economists are also closely watching how policy decisions in Washington could influence markets moving forward. Analysts say deferred futures for corn, soybeans, and wheat suggest markets are operating near break-even levels, not at prices that would encourage expanded production.
February 02, 2026 12:13 PM
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The biggest development of 2025 in agricultural law and taxation was the signing into law on July 4 of the Trump Administration’s landmark legislation, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA)
February 02, 2026 11:40 AM
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House Agriculture Committee Chairman “GT” Thompson is pushing a “Farm Bill 2.0.”
February 02, 2026 10:56 AM
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Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, provides new updates on winter storm impacts and the outlook for rural power reliability.
January 30, 2026 02:59 PM
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The federal government’s status is far from the only factor moving the markets on Friday. Two critical reports released today on producer inflation and the status of the U.S. cattle herd are also top of mind.
January 30, 2026 12:51 PM
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