New Senate Majority Leader John Thune lays out his 2025 priorities

The 119th Congress is in session, and ag lawmakers are ready to get to work.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune says he has an aggressive agenda to tackle for farm families.

“Extending the tax relief Republicans delivered during the first Trump Administration, lifting burdensome and expensive government regulations to help American businesses and families flourish, bringing appropriations bills to the floor for serious deliberation so that we make the best possible use of taxpayer dollars, and an overdue farm bill to update farm programs for farmers and ranchers to reflect current agricultural needs.”

Aside from taking on the leadership role, Thune remains on the Senate Ag Committee. He is hoping that a new farm bill can get passed soon but acknowledges it will require bipartisan support.

Related Stories
Farm legal expert Roger McEowen reviews the history of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and outlines how shifting definitions across multiple administrations have created regulatory confusion for landowners.
Leslee Oden, president of the National Turkey Federation, and Jay Jandrain, CEO of Butterball, joined us in the studio on Monday to discuss the history, significance, and expectations surrounding this year’s presidential turkey pardon.
These “USDA Foods” are provided to USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) nutrition assistance programs, including food banks that operate The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and are a vital component of the nation’s food safety net.
Industry support ensures continued funding for mango marketing and research, helping sustain long-term demand growth.
Tyson’s closure reflects deep supply shortages in the U.S. cattle industry, tightening packing capacity, weakening competition, and signaling more volatility ahead for cow-calf producers and feedyards.
Mike Steenhoek of the Soy Transportation Coalition discusses industry reactions to the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger, the Surface Transportation Board’s review process, and current conditions on the Mississippi River.