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.
From rising trade tensions in Europe to a pending Supreme Court decision on tariffs and shifting demand from China, global trade policy spearheaded by President Donald Trump continues to shape the outlook for U.S. agriculture—adding uncertainty as farmers navigate another volatile year.
January 20, 2026 01:14 PM
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The Surface Transportation Board rejects the proposed Norfolk Southern–Union Pacific merger, prompting concerns from agricultural shippers about rail consolidation, service reliability, and higher transportation costs.
January 20, 2026 12:25 PM
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Congressional leaders signal momentum toward expanded, targeted farm aid to help producers manage losses and cash-flow stress in 2026.
January 20, 2026 11:48 AM
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New Resource Makes It Easier for People to Access Data on Rural Development funded Projects in Rural Communities
January 19, 2026 11:50 AM
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.
January 17, 2026 05:00 PM
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The proposal signals a renewed push to offset tariff-driven losses, stabilize nutrition programs, and broaden eligibility for farm aid, though its path forward will depend on congressional negotiations.
January 16, 2026 11:58 AM
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