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Shoppers are more concerned about expenses for gas, housing, groceries and purchasing holiday gifts in 2024 than a year ago despite limited inflation, according to FMI: The Food Industry Association. 

The World Food Prize Foundation announced that former Iowa Governor and U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad will retire as its president Jan. 31, 2025, and be succeeded by Mashal Husain, now the group's chief operating officer. The foundation, based in Des Moines, Iowa, said it would conduct a global search to fill a newly created chief executive officer position.

Wall Street veteran Howard Lutnick, an outspoken proponent of President-elect Donald Trump's tariff policy, has been picked to head the Commerce Department and take a leading role in the incoming administration's trade policy.

The Agriculture Department will provide $2 billion to fruit, vegetable and nut growers through a newly launched program, Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Tuesday.

House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson is ready to move another extension of the 2018 farm bill, acknowledging to reporters Monday evening that lawmakers are unlikely to consider the measure in the lame duck session. “We’re prepared for an extension,” Thompson said. 

The White House formally asked Congress on Monday for $21 billion in disaster aid for farmers who have lost crops and livestock due to hurricanes, drought and wildfires over the past two years.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., released the text of her draft farm bill on Monday with just weeks remaining in this Congress. The bill would limit the Trump administration's ability to use the Commodity Credit Corporation to compensate farmers for the impact of a new trade war.

Donald Trump’s cabinet picks are coming fast and furious, but the ag community is still waiting for the president-elect to pick someone to lead USDA. 

Lawmakers are stepping up their work this week on a package of disaster aid and relief for commodity price declines as they head toward having to pass another extension of the 2018 farm bill. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Xochitl Torres Small is scheduled to testify at a Senate hearing on disaster aid needs.