Republicans on Capitol Hill remain sharply divided over the best way to advance President Trump’s policy priorities.
The Senate GOP is pushing ahead with a two-step strategy. The Budget Committee is scheduled today to take up the first of two budget resolutions. The measure the committee is considering calls for increasing annual spending by $85.5 billion for four years. The money would be designated for the military and border security.
Take note: The resolution would only instruct committees to find $5 billion in spending reductions over 10 years, with $1 billion coming from the Senate Agriculture Committee.
The House GOP leadership continues to insist on doing a single bill that would include tax cuts.
For more on the budget debate, check out our weekly newsletter today.
Canadian fertilizer mounts DC influence offensive
Canadians are calling attention to a potential weak spot for U.S. farmers in a possible trade war. The CEO of a leading Canadian potash producer and the premier of Saskatchewan, the country’s potash mining region, are in Washington this week to tout the benefits of potash imports for U.S. ag.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation the visit is “about changing minds.” New tariffs on all Canadian exports are scheduled to kick in March 1.
Nutrien CEO Ken Seitz is also in Washington this week to meet with U.S. policymakers, according to a company spokesperson. The visit is his third in three weeks.
In a statement to local Saskatchewan media last week, Seitz said he’s “dedicating a significant amount of time” to stressing to U.S. officials “the importance of what Nutrien does, what it is that Canada does and what Saskatchewan does for U.S. agriculture.”
Censky highlights dangers of repeated tariff threats
Former Deputy Ag Secretary Stephen Censky warns that tariff threats may secure concessions in the short-term, but their overuse risks fraying trade ties with U.S. partners.
“I do worry about the long-term effects,” Censky, who is now CEO at the American Soybean Association, said during a panel at the annual meeting of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.
“Using the threat of tariffs to make deals, I think that could work for a while,” Censky said. The former Trump official added that countries “don't want to do business with someone that they think is a bully.”
“People like to move someplace else and do business with people that they think are more predictable and people that they can trust,” he said. Persistent tariff bluster could drive trade partners to look to U.S. competitors like China, Brazil or BRICS countries, he added.
Why it matters: Trump this week announced negotiated exemptions on steel tariffs will end from March 12. Aluminum tariffs will also rise on all U.S. imports. Meanwhile, Mexico as well as Canada could be facing new duties next month, and China has already seen a tariff hike.
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Buyout offer continues to be blocked by federal judge
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to offer buyouts to more than 2 million federal government employees.
Federal employee unions sued over the plan, saying it violates the federal Antideficiency Act, which prohibits the government from spending money it doesn’t have. The government is currently operating under a continuing resolution that expires March 14.
Farmers warn against county office staff reduction at House Ag hearing
Farmers warned at a House Ag Committee hearing Tuesday that losing USDA staff in county offices could add barriers to accessing funding and conservation assistance.
Staff at the Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service provide an important service to farmers, witnesses said. “Any … reduction in staffing or opportunities to speak with people in those offices could potentially lead to inadequacies and inefficiencies,” Texas farmer Alisha Schwertner told lawmakers.
Illinois Corn Growers Executive Director Rodney Weinzierl said local NRCS staff provide support to farmers with contracts. But he added that he would like to see them provide more general technical assistance as well. When pressed by Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, Weinzierl said staffing cuts would ultimately limit the agency’s ability to do that.
"I would say they’re not providing as much technical service support already, and if their staffing was reduced, obviously, it would be less,” he said.
Thune, Warnock reintroduce bill on precision ag
Senators have reintroduced a bipartisan bill that would support adoption of precision agriculture technologies.
The Promoting Precision Agriculture Act cosponsored by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., would direct USDA to craft voluntary and industry-led interconnectivity standards, guidelines and best practices for precision agriculture. It also prioritizes a focus on cybersecurity needs tied to expanding availability of advanced precision agriculture technologies.
“Precision agriculture harnesses the power of technology to provide real-time data that helps producers become even more efficient and productive,” Thune says in a statement.
Final word
“[Trump] said that he’d take care of farmers and ranchers, and he’s held true to that promise in that past. I’m certain that we will get paid, regardless of the current freeze that might be in place.” — Texas farmer Alisha Schwertner.
Schwertner told the House Ag Committee Tuesday she is owed $100,000 on Environmental Quality Incentives Program projects.
