Ag groups are applauding the Senate’s confirmation of Kate MacGregor as Deputy Secretary of the Interior.
She is returning to the role after previously serving in the first Trump Administration. They say that her experience and understanding of land management issues could help shape future policy. The Public Lands Council points to MacGregor’s knowledge of how grazing reduces wildfire risk and her support for balanced range management.
“She’s coming into this position knowing that grazing reduces the risk of wildfire by 45 to 80 percent. She knows that more than two-thirds of western livestock spend time grazing on federal lands. She knows how to manage that complex multiple-use profile and what a careful hand it takes to keep that balance,” said NCBA’s Kaitlynn Glover.
The Public Lands Council says MacGregor’s confirmation will help move key policies forward, including grazing reform and clarity over the Endangered Species Act.
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New Resource Makes It Easier for People to Access Data on Rural Development funded Projects in Rural Communities
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U.S. agriculture entered the week with mixed signals as weather, logistics, and markets shaped early-year decisions. Here is a regional breakdown of domestic crop and livestock production for the week of Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
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RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey speaks with Texas’s Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez about USMCA renegotiation and its impact on U.S.–Mexico agriculture trade.
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Rising rural business confidence supports local ag economies, but taxes and labor shortages remain key constraints.
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CoBank Knowledge Exchange’s Jeff Johnston shares the group’s positive perspective on expanding data centers into rural areas and weighs the risks and rewards for those communities.
January 16, 2026 01:44 PM
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