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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Saturday that the Biden administration has no plans to intervene to stop a dockworker strike. He also told reporters lawmakers need to “get practical” in their farm bill negotiations.

Twelve House members today are introducing a $14 billion disaster aid bill to compensate producers for weather-related losses in 2022 and 2023.

Lawmakers have finished their last major piece of pre-election business – keeping the government from shutting down when the new fiscal year starts next Tuesday. Meanwhile, the majority of Republicans call on their leadership to pass a farm bill before the end of the year

State agricultural leaders plan to continue focusing on economic uncertainty in farm country, food safety issues, and outreach to trade partners in 2025, leaders of state ag departments said at a meeting in Indianapolis this week.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his allies have been on Capitol Hill this week trying to build support for his claims that the food industry and agricultural practices are responsible for chronic childhood diseases. This comes amid questions about what role, if any, RFK Jr. could have in a second Trump administration.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and some allies in his "Make America Healthy Again" movement are trying to get a toehold on Capitol Hill even as the food and agriculture industry worries about what role he could play in a second Donald Trump administration.

Rural residents regardless of political party are more concerned about inflation than people who live in metro areas, according to a quarterly survey that has been tracking voter attitudes toward the cost of food.

Top staff from the House and Senate Ag committees continue their private talks this week on a possible new farm bill, even as lawmakers appear headed to agreement on a stopgap spending bill before heading home to campaign.

On to Plan B. House Republican leaders were unable to win passage Wednesday night of a stopgap spending bill that would have kept the government funded at current levels into March. 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is encouraged by congressional talks aimed at getting a farm bill passed this year and urged lawmakers to be “practical” as they iron our disagreements over reference prices and nutrition assistance.