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Balanced Reporting. Trusted Insights.
Thursday, April 03, 2025
House Republicans will force a vote this week on EPA’s new emission standards that critics say amount to a mandate for electric vehicles. Meanwhile, some staff-level talks continue on a possible new farm bill amid a continued sharp divide over how to fund it.
Former President Donald Trump, responding to a survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation, is throwing his support behind increasing commodity price supports and other assistance for producers. But Vice President Kamala Harris notes Trump proposed budgets that would have cut some farm programs.
Some House Republicans say they hope the farmer fly-ins this week will spur action on a farm bill, although there’s no sign of a breakthrough between the House and Senate, and time is fast running out.
Some 300 organizations are sending a letter to congressional leaders today, appealing for a farm bill, and teams of farmers representing a cross-section of commodity groups will be fanning out across Capitol Hill this week to make the pitch in person. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum defended former President Donald Trump's tariff policy on Sunday.
Farmers who grow the crops being hammered the hardest by commodity market declines are hitting Capitol Hill this week, accompanied by ag bankers and Farm Credit lenders, to make a last-ditch push for a new farm bill.
The Agriculture Department has sharply raised its forecast for farm earnings this year, projecting that net farm income will fall by close to 7% from 2023, a far smaller decline than USDA economists had estimated in February.
Two House subcommittees will look into into the food shortages that have plagued tribal communities throughout the summer. The House Ag subcommittee that oversees nutrition programs and the House Ag Appropriations Subcommittee have scheduled a joint hearing for next Wednesday.
As the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030 Advisory Committee plans to host its final meeting later this month, food industry groups are worried efforts to consider sustainability, race and socioeconomic factors have led to less reliable science in the process.
Tribal leaders warned USDA months ago of a potential food shortage for key food assistance programs.
Now, as some tribes have struggled with backlogs throughout the summer, members of Congress are pushing for transparency and solutions.
Senate Republican Whip John Thune, a leading contender to succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP leader, said Wednesday that Congress is likely to pass another one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill.
