California Rep. Jim Costa is challenging David Scott of Georgia to lead Democrats on the House Ag Committee in the next Congress. Costa says some committee members urged him to consider the move. 

Costa, who didn’t speak with Scott before deciding to run, told reporters he plans to lay out his vision for the committee in coming days.

Ag Committee Democrats told Agri-Pulse they’re looking forward to hearing Costa’s and Scott’s plans for the committee. They’re also eager to have a leader ready to negotiate on a new farm bill. 

“I'm listening. I want to hear the visions,” said Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., “At this point, just want to hear who's going to be the best negotiator for the priorities of my farmers at home and get us the best bipartisan farm bill.”

Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, said Costa had been reaching out to colleagues about the position, but she hadn't spoken with him directly. She said passing a farm bill requires someone who will advocate for the interests of members. 

Take note: Scott, who’s the most senior member of the committee, has been absent since Congress returned after elections. He’s getting treatment on his back and has told local news he plans to be back in Congress after the Thanksgiving break. His office didn’t comment on Costa’s announcement.

Read our story here.

Emmons discusses RFK Jr. vetting for USDA

We’re still waiting to see who’s going to be Donald Trump’s ag secretary. But Oklahoma farmer Jimmy Emmons spoke with Agri-Pulse Founder Sara Wyant about his conversation last Friday with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who’s doing some of the vetting for USDA’s top slot, Emmons said. Emmons has not met with Trump. 

During the first Trump administration, Emmons served as a regional coordinator managing five states and three agencies for USDA’s Farm Production and Conservation mission area. Emmons leads Trust In Food’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Connected Ag Project.

Emmons said Kennedy shares his concerns that “Americans should feed Americans” and that food security is national security. Kennedy has long advocated for moving toward less use of pesticides and more organic production.

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Musk, Ramaswamy outline plan to shrink federal regs, staff  

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy say they’ll rely on “legal experts embedded in government agencies, aided by advanced technology” to slash federal regulations and drastically reduce the size of the U.S. government.

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, the two heads of what’s being called the Department of Government Efficiency say recent Supreme Court decisions “suggest that a plethora of current federal regulations exceed the authority Congress has granted under the law.”

They say they plan to “hire a lean team of small-government crusaders, including some of the sharpest technical and legal minds in America,” who will work with the Office of Management and Budget to identify these regulations.

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They claim Trump can then, “by executive action, immediately pause the enforcement of those regulations and initiate the process for review and rescission. This would liberate individuals and businesses from illicit regulations never passed by Congress and stimulate the U.S. economy.”

The two men say Trump has enormous power to fire federal employees so long as he is making “reductions in force,” not targeting individual employees.

Creditor seeks dismissal of Pure Prairie bankruptcy case

The bank that facilitated a $48.7 million loan to Pure Prairie Poultry through USDA’s Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program is asking a federal judge to dismiss an involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy case farmers brought against the processor.

Community Bank and Trust, based in LaGrange, Georgia, wants the bankruptcy case dismissed because there are no assets to give to unsecured creditors. The bank claims in its motion that Pure Prairie owes it approximately $36 million, but added that the value of the collateral is “insufficient” to secure its full claim.

The involuntary bankruptcy case was brought by four entities, at least two of which were farmers who contracted with the company.

Take note:  Pure Prairie owes approximately $113 million to lenders, feed companies and other parties after its abrupt closure in early October, according to Community Bank and Trust’s motion. 

2024 Chesapeake dead zone near long-term average

The Chesapeake Bay’s "dead zone” has been near long-term average size levels in 2024, according to data released by researchers Wednesday.

Measurements of low-oxygen areas created by high nitrogen and phosphorus levels showed similarities to an average taken from 1985 to 2023. Modeling by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science found that the total volume of hypoxia saw higher peaks in mid-June and July, while lowering in August. 

“The past few years of near or below average Bay-wide hypoxia levels are a good sign that Chesapeake Bay nutrient management actions are working, but these must be continued if we are to outpace water quality degradation due to climate change,” Marjy Friedrichs, research professor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, said in a release. 

Take note: Chesapeake Bay watershed states are expected to fall short of their 2025 pollution reduction commitments before a 2014 agreement expires next year. The Chesapeake Executive Council will meet on December 10 to discuss the future of the agreement. 

FDA extends comment period on post-market assessment of chemicals in food

FDA is extending the comment period on ”approaches to systematic post-market assessment of chemicals in food,” the agency says in a Federal Register notice today. Trade associations had asked for more time. The new comment period ends Jan. 21.

FDA hosted a public meeting Sept. 25. A transcript is available here.

Final word

“With a decisive electoral mandate and a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court, DOGE has a historic opportunity for structural reductions in the federal government. We are prepared for the onslaught from entrenched interests in Washington. We expect to prevail. Now is the moment for decisive action.” Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, and Vivek Ramaswamy, a businessman, in the Wall Street Journal, laying out plans for their Department of Government Efficiency.