Philip Brasher

The budget issue will be coming into sharper focus as Republicans plan how to use their control of both the Senate and House to make deeper cuts in spending. Nutrition assistance and farm programs could potentially be vulnerable to cuts, depending on how far GOP congressional leaders decid

The organizations representing the farmers who produce America`s milk and the companies that turn the milk into cheese and other foods have started preliminary discussions about overhauling the federal marketing order system that regulates milk pricing.

Higher-than-forecast costs of commodity programs in the new farm bill could attract the attention of congressional budget cutters if Republicans pursue broad reductions in federal spending.

Congressional Republicans are laying the groundwork for an effort to stop the administration`s proposed rule for defining the `waters of the United States` (WOTUS).

With both sides of Capitol Hill under GOP control, congressional Republicans will likely pursue a two-pronged effort to curb the Obama administration`s use of the Endangered Species Act.

Most of the criticism of the Obama administration`s environmental agenda has been focused on its effort to reduce carbon emissions from power plants and its proposed Clean Water Act rule, but a proposal to tighten limits for ozone is also stirring some concern in the agriculture and energy

When it comes to government subsidies, U.S. farmers may be falling behind many of their competitors, far behind in some cases. China, Brazil and India and other countries are far out-spending the United States on agricultural support, and some lawmakers say it

Congress is kicking off an appropriations process that could produce a pivotal showdown between congressional Republicans and the White House over its regulatory agenda.

Lawmakers are getting ready to put in place a critical piece of President Barack Obamas trade agenda. Bills to grant the president Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) are expected to be dropped in the House and Senate sometime after Congress returns after this weeks recess.

The Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) is the top priority for many, but it is isnt the only trade bill the business community would like to see the new Congress deal with. Congress also is overdue to write a new miscellaneous tariff bill (MTB).