Behind-the-scenes work on the next farm bill was top of mind for Agri-Pulse readers in 2023, with stories about marker bills and lobbying movement heavily featured in the year’s most-read stories.
Unable to move a new five-year farm bill in 2023, Congress instead passed an extension of the 2018 law in November. Much of the work done on the legislation could still be relevant as lawmakers look to consider a new bill this spring, but that timeline could be complicated by work to address government spending issues that were left unaddressed in 2023.
Aside from the farm bill, several other topics were critical to Agri-Pulse’s farm and food policy audience, including the ebbs and flows of EPA’s "waters of the U.S." rule and legal challenges to it, the trade dispute over American exports of genetically modified corn to Mexico, the availability of crop inputs and more.
The following list of stories is based on page views by month. The year’s top stories are also summarized with comments from top farm policy leaders in this week’s Agri-Pulse Newsmakers.
January
AFBF, Deere announce deal on ‘right to repair’ farm equipment
The American Farm Bureau Federation signed the first of five memorandums of understanding with farm equipment companies at the organization’s January convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with John Deere. Future agreements would later be inked with CNH Industrial, AGCO, Kubota, and CLAAS.
The deals pledge to give farmers and independent repair technicians “access technical manuals, tools and product guides to self-diagnose and self-repair machines, while respecting intellectual property and legislated legal requirements of the manufacturer.” Some critics say legislation to legally codify farmers' right to repair their equipment is still necessary.
Also in the news:
House Ag adds 12 Republicans, including former chairman
New WOTUS rule adopts longstanding tests for federal 'waters' jurisdiction
Senate Ag sets four farm bill hearings
House to make first move on new farm bill
February
Mexico issues new decree to end biotech corn imports
Mexico’s February action to limit the movement of genetically modified corn across its borders set the table for more action on the subject throughout the year.
The decree was supposed to soften the original blanket ban of all GMO corn and instead limit it to the white corn used for tortillas and other food products. While Mexico did decide to omit yellow corn for livestock feed from the ban, that did not top American officials from pledging to address the issue through the dispute resolution channels of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
Also in the news:
USDA announces new senior staff
Crop insurance industry warned of struggle ahead over new farm bill
Ag climate alliance lays out farm bill priorities
Thompson defends SNAP work rules, pushing back on GOP hard-liners
March
Will Tulare Lake rise from the dust?
Spring weather hit California hard as atmospheric rivers dumped water that caused flooding across the state. With so much precipitation, many in the state were wondering if Tulare Lake would be revived in 2023 the same way it was in 1997.
Also in the news:
Senate clears WOTUS disapproval, setting up likely Biden veto
House Ag makes case for new farm bill funding
House GOP bill extends SNAP work rules to more adults
USDA rolls out seed industry report, Vilsack pledges action on livestock competition rules
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April
WOTUS rule now blocked in 26 states
The long-running "waters of the U.S." policy dispute came to a head in April, when judges struck down enforcement of the rule in more than half the country.
The move came ahead of the Supreme Court’s May decision that struck down a critical piece of the agency’s January rewrite, which forced further action later in the year.
Also in the news:
Mexico makes its case against GM white corn
McCarthy wants SNAP work requirements in debt-ceiling deal
EPA emissions standards earn enviro praise, energy industry scorn
Bill banning foreign governments from buying farmland nears passage in N.D.
May
Charlie Stenholm, Democratic architect of farm policy, dies at 84
Farm policy veterans were saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Texas Democrat Charlie Stenholm in the middle of May.
Stenholm served as the House Ag Committee's ranking member during the development of critical legislation such as the 2002 farm bill and 2000 Agriculture Risk Protection Act, the landmark transformation of federal crop insurance.
Also in the news:
Debt limit deal offers wins for both parties on SNAP work rules
Biden, McCarthy reach debt deal that modifies SNAP work rules
House GOP moves to slash USDA funding, restrict CCC
SCOTUS upholds California's Prop 12 animal housing law
Supreme Court narrows reach of Clean Water Act in wetlands case
June
Checkoff program critics eye farm bill to win new restrictions
One of the many issues brewing for the upcoming farm bill is a checkoff reform push that has both growing support and growing opposition.
The measure – championed by Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Mike Lee, R-Utah – has been defeated in previous farm bill reauthorizations, and farm groups have stepped up their actions to make sure that streak continues.
Also in the news:
Dairy Farmers of America withdraws from IDFA over FMMO proposal
US begins USMCA dispute against Mexico’s GM corn restrictions
House Republicans propose stiff tax on foreign farmland purchases
July
India’s latest rice export ban could spell long-term trouble for US
India shocked traders with its summer announcement – covered in our most-read story of the year – that it would stop trading non-basmati rice with the rest of the world.
The decision – made in the name of softening food price inflation in the country – was decried as “India playing games with global food security” by U.S. rice industry officials.
Also in the news:
Bayer says report of Crop Science spinoff is 'speculation'
Agri-Pulse farm bill preview: Key issues and proposals for each title
Every farm bill is unique. So is the process to pass it.
National 4-H Council names new chief executive
August
Utah Farm Bureau leader arrested, facing farmworker mistreatment allegations
Former Utah Farm Bureau President Ron Gibson resigned from his position after the emergence of a video of a confrontation with employees on his Utah farm.
According to ABC4 in Salt Lake City, the charges would later be dismissed before being refiled. Simpson has pled not guilty.
Also in the news:
Rep. Cammack: Farm bill will be ‘biggest political dogfight in modern history’
Farm program update would yield big losers and some winners, analysis shows
Tyson shuttering chicken plants amid meat industry struggles
Finding good help is always tough. In agriculture, it's getting tougher.
September
CEO salaries, responsibilities are changing with times
Our annual report on executive compensation began to offer a full picture of the CEO job market after the COVID-19 pandemic, including the compensation of several top staffers who took new jobs in 2020.
Also in the news:
Changes in US agriculture accelerating faster than anticipated
Sources: USDA pumping $2.5B in CCC funding into foreign market promotion, food aid
How technology can help solve agriculture's labor woes
California looks to cut one of its most effective climate tools
October
Vilsack: Congress must act on farm bill or face dire consequences
After the Sept. 30 deadline for many farm bill programs came and went, the possibility of implementing the so-called “permanent law” began to emerge as a threat.
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed reporters in October about the need for Congress to act, which would avoid forcing USDA employees to implement the changes in farm policy necessary if other aspects of the 2018 farm bill were to expire at the end of the calendar year.
Also in the news:
Jordan eases House aggies’ farm bill concerns in race for speakership
Boozman eyes one-year farm bill extension
Johnson takes speakership, eyes December farm bill votes
Report: Global agricultural productivity still lagging
November
House, Senate Ag reach deal on farm bill extension
Procedural steps to start the farm bill process proved too high a hurdle to clear, forcing congressional leaders to pursue a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill as part of a deal to avoid a government shutdown.
Also in the news:
Bayer mulls breaking up company
Egg producers, trade groups liable for conspiracy, jury finds
Farm bill extension, stopgap spending bill clear House
Chlorpyrifos back in growers' toolbox following court ruling
December
House overwhelmingly passes bill to allow whole milk back in schools
One of House Ag Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson’s longest-running priorities cleared the House floor in December, but that might be as far as the measure gets in the current Congress.
Shortly after the House approved a bill that would allow milk fat to not count against the fat content limitations in school meals, Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow blocked an effort to move the bill’s Senate companion measure.
Also in the news:
Koch buys Iowa nitrogen fertilizer plant in $3.6B deal
Stabenow, USDA say whole milk bill sets dangerous precedent for school lunch standards
Biden administration agrees on ag-friendly rules for new SAF tax credit
This story has been updated to note each month's top story is based on monthly page views on Agri-Pulse.com.
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