EVENTS TODAY
- NASDA Winter Policy Conference (through Wednesday, 2/26)
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Tuesday
- House Energy-Water Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the civil works program
- House Ways and Means subcommittee hearing on trade enforcement priorities
Wednesday
- Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
- House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing, “Examining the Biden Administration’s Energy and Environment Spending Push,”
- Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on the farm economy
Thursday
- Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee meeting to consider the nomination of Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be secretary of labor
- Washington International Trade Association forum, “Unpacking What’s Fair and Reciprocal.”
- USDA releases Weekly Export Sales report
- Thursday & Friday - Agricultural Outlook Forum in Arlington, VA
MORE GOVERNMENT CUTBACKS UNDERWAY
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) says the American people voted for change but promises to fight to keep critical services running. The Trump Administration hopes these cuts will curb government spending and help tackle inflation—though officials note it will take time to see results from these major cutbacks.
BANKRUPTCY FILINGS SKYROCKET ACROSS U.S. FARMS
Photo by ehrlif via Adobe Stock
Data from the Farm Bureau revealed a shocking increase in Chapter 12 bankruptcy filings last year: a 55-percent increase in farm bankruptcy filings year over year, encompassing 216 farms. While the total number of lost farms remains lower than the near-600 bankruptcy filings recorded in 2019, agricultural areas outside the contiguous U.S. saw an even higher rate of bankruptcies, tripling filing rates from 2023. The trend isbecoming a very serious industry concern for the agricultural sector.
SUPPLY CHAIN STABILITY IN SIGHT
The Longshoremen’s Association, the largest maritime trade union in North America, is about to ratify a new six-year contract, providing providing farmers with the predictability they need to ship their grain. The vote could come as soon as tomorrow, relieving an industry hit by supply chain disruptions.
EPA EXPANDS E-15 ACCESS IN THE MIDWEST
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) green-lit year-round E15 biofuel sales in Midwestern states, offering more consumer access and regulatory certainty. Some states, like Ohio, are requesting extra time, but the move marks a step toward nationwide E15 availability as Congress considers a permanent solution.
USDA TAKES ACTION AGAINST UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Building in Washington, D.C.
Photo by kmiragaya via Adobe Stock
The USDA launched a compliance review in response to the University of Maine’s disregard for President Trump’s Executive Order 14201, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins emphasized that taxpayer dollars should not support institutions that violate federal law. As a federally funded institution, the University of Maine could lose over $100 million in USDA funding if it fails to comply with Title IX and the President’s executive order.
