The continuing resolution is now law; what areas got a boost and how do lawmakers feel?

President Trump has signed a measure to continue funding the government through September, with some small increases to ag programs.

The continuing resolution keeps spending largely in line with last year’s levels, but there are increases at USDA for WIC. The resolution also puts overall USDA spending at around $400 million more than last year.

Areas like EPA experienced a $2 billion increase, but ethanol groups were disappointed. The legislation did not include any backings of year-round E15.

Senator Deb Fischer tells AgriPulse she is disappointed about E15 getting left behind, but says it is a good overall bill. She says it had broad support and will prove good for ag producers and consumers alike. The bill will fund the government through September, which is when the current extension of the 2018 Farm Bill expires.

Related Stories
The USDA opened a new sterile fly-dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in South Texas to prevent a potential outbreak of New World screwworm and protect the small U.S. cattle herd.
China’s reliance on imported soybeans remains entrenched, shaping global demand and trade leverage.
Cuba remains a steady, nearby buyer of U.S. poultry, pork, dairy, and staples, but legal and compliance risks could still affect shipping and payment channels.
Agriculture remains a key drag on regional growth amid weak prices and policy uncertainty.
American Farmland Trust shares guidance, research, and policy solutions to help farmers navigate the growing threat of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” contaminating U.S. farmland.
Richard Gupton of the Agricultural Retailers Association discusses the EPA’s new decision on over-the-top Dicamba and what it means for growers this year.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Federal aid helps, but producers will bear most of the losses. Balance sheets may look stable, but margins remain fragile without policy support.
Biofuel and corn producers await proposal as Renewable Fuels Association pushes for expanded ethanol access.
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.
Weskan Grain CEO Will Bramblett discusses the antitrust lawsuit filed by grain farmers and agribusinesses, and its potential implications on rail competition and market access.
RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney shares insight into Canada’s trade push in Mexico and what it could signal for agriculture and the USMCA moving forward.