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Attention turns to Senate on ag labor * Rising optimism for China resolution

The Democratic-controlled House approved a bill Wednesday to expand the H-2A visa program to year-round farmworkers and provide growers relief from wage hikes, but the broad GOP opposition underscored the challenge of getting Congress to address the agricultural labor squeeze.

President Donald Trump remains resolute that China commit to specific promises on amounts of U.S. ag commodities that it would buy as part of a trade pact, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue said Wednesday.

Producers will have an extra week to sign up for Dairy Margin Coverage and the Market Facilitation Program.

President Trump announces his intent to nominate Brandon Lipps as Undersecretary Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, Kip Tom was sworn in to serve as the agriculture representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome, and Roger Johnson, announced he will not seek reelection as president of NFU.

The California Dept. of Food and Agriculture is accepting public comments until Dec. 24 on its draft Request for Grant Applications (RGAs) for the next round of methane reduction funding.

Colby Pereira discussed the recent romaine outbreak traced back to the region and water quality and quantity challenges.

The outcomes for legal challenges, SGMA, a State Water Board plan and the governor's Water Resilience Portfolio depend on the Voluntary Agreements.

The U.S. agriculture sector — from pork producers to vegetable farmers — is relishing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s agreement to a deal on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, but farm groups won’t be satisfied until the House and Senate ratify the trade pact.

Agricultural policy has seldom received as much attention as it has in this presidential campaign as Democrats vie for ways to cut into President Donald Trump’s rural base and win Iowa’s first-in-the-nation’s caucuses amid heightened anxiety about the farm economy.