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Scarcity of farm labor and concerns about the environmental impacts of chemical inputs have spurred interest in agricultural robotics, but the widespread adoption of fully autonomous vehicles remains far off due to a lack of on-farm infrastructure and resources for producers.

A coalition of a major farm groups is urging the incoming Biden administration to abandon the disruptive tariffs and trade wars that have been hallmarks of the Trump administration and instead chart a more stable course to increase access to international markets.

Time is running short for congressional leaders to announce a deal on a coronavirus relief package, but there continues to be some signs of progress.

Seth Meyer will be returning to the Department of Agriculture to assume the position of chief economist.

Lawmakers now have until this Friday to reach agreement on a new coronavirus relief package and government-wide funding for fiscal 2021.

Lawmakers have given themselves one more week to reach a deal on a new coronavirus relief package that congressional leaders want to wrap into a government-wide funding bill for fiscal 2021.

Tom Vilsack pledged to act quickly to tackle racial issues at the Agriculture Department and joined President-elect Joe Biden in promising that climate change would be a top policy priority for USDA.

Under court order, USDA is reinstating the farm labor survey that has long been used to determine minimum wage rates for H-2A workers. It’s not clear yet how the action will affect 2021 wage rates.

A new rule is designed to give packers and producers clarity on what constitutes “undue or unreasonable preference” in the meat sector, but some already say it will need an update under the Biden administration.

President-elect Joe Biden has tapped a China expert to be his U.S. Trade Representative, reflecting the most pressing trade issue his administration will face on day one – the ongoing trade war with the Asian economic powerhouse.