The Finance Committee held a hearing focused on trade and supply chains.
Ag voices were part of the conversation, including the American Soybean Association. President Caleb Ragland shared concerns about the economic pressure farmers are facing and urged lawmakers to focus on expanding market access in future trade deals.
“Our farm economy is in a dire situation. Commodity prices are down nearly 50% from three years ago, while farmers are still facing elevated prices for land, seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides. As the Administration negotiates with trading partners to reduce barriers and address reciprocal trade issues, we encourage this committee to press the White House on the importance of market access for U.S. agriculture. My written testimony includes specific asks of our industry, including a strong plea to couple this reciprocal tariff strategy with swift negotiations to reduce tariffs and remove market barriers for U.S. ag products.”
In a follow-up, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley asked which countries could serve as future markets for U.S. soy products beyond China. Ragland pointed to India, noting its large population but acknowledging trade with the country remains complex.
According to the National Council of Farmers Cooperatives (NCFC), President and CEO Chuck Conner says, there is only one other option besides addressing ag labor shortages.
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Sen. Roger Marshall, a founding member and chairman of the Make America Healthy Again caucus, joined us with his thoughts on the commission’s latest report and the key ag-related issues.
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California rancher and former NCBA President Kevin Kester joined House Republicans on Tuesday to tout provisions in the Big, Beautiful Bill that support family ranches.
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The EPA proposal laid out two options: fully reallocate all exempted volumes to the 2026–2027 standards, or reallocate half.
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The Fertilizer Research Act, reintroduced by Sens. Grassley, Ernst, and Baldwin, would direct the USDA to study and publish public reports on competition and pricing trends in the fertilizer market.
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Allowing year-round sales of E15 nationally could deliver billions in economic gains, according to a new study from the Renewable Fuels Association and National Corn Growers Association.
September 16, 2025 02:29 PM
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