President-elect Trump’s pick to lead the EPA is in the hot seat this week. Lee Zeldin has been taking hard questions from Senators, including those about ethanol.
“I think that he was very forthright in saying when he voted against ethanol that he was a freshman Congressman and didn’t understand the issue. I think he’s had enough contact with Trump to know that Trump is pro-ethanol.”
Tariffs are also at the top of Grassley’s mind. He says he has urged the incoming Administration to rethink its strategy, but he admits he has had little success.
“I don’t think that the countervailing arguments that I’m making are going to be satisfactory to the Trump Administration, particularly if they’re going to have some sort of global tariff on 190 different countries that we could be dealing with.”
The expiring tax cuts are another area of concern this year but lawmakers say they are on it. Just this week, the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing to discuss them. A report by the National Association of Manufacturers shows the ag industry could lose 50,000 jobs if the 2017 tax cuts are not extended.
Small Business Administration Deputy Administrator Bill Briggs joined us with an update on how the SBA is working to support rural communities and small businesses across the country.
February 19, 2026 11:41 AM
·
President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week to accelerate domestic production of phosphorus and glyphosate, signaling that farm input availability is now treated as a national security risk.
February 19, 2026 11:18 AM
·
Federal aid helps, but producers will bear most of the losses. Balance sheets may look stable, but margins remain fragile without policy support.
February 18, 2026 01:49 PM
·
Biofuel and corn producers await proposal as Renewable Fuels Association pushes for expanded ethanol access.
February 18, 2026 12:53 PM
·
Lori Stevermer with the National Pork Producers Council reacts to the USDA’s speedline proposal, the new Farm Bill’s fix for California’s Prop-12, and other policy developments impacting the pork industry.
February 18, 2026 12:18 PM
·
South Texas farmers say water shortages continue despite Mexico’s renewed payments under the 1944 Water Treaty.
February 18, 2026 11:39 AM
·
