Articles by Steve Davies

Jenny Lester Moffitt, who served as undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs at USDA during the Biden administration, is moving to American Farmland Trust as senior fellow.

President Donald Trump took office for the second time Monday, declaring that the “golden age of America begins right now,” and laying out top policy priorities that include raising tariffs, reclaiming the Panama Canal, securing the southern border and ending the “Green New Deal.”

President Trump’s pick to head the Department of Homeland Security said the new administration’s plans to deport millions of immigrants would focus first on violent criminals who are in the country illegally.

After serving 12 of the last 16 years as agriculture secretary, Tom Vilsack will end his tenure leading USDA at the change of administration Monday.

Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency promised  at his confirmation hearing Thursday to work with farm-state senators on renewable fuel issues if confirmed as administrator, but also faced skepticism from Democrats who fear he won't be able to address climate change.

More Senate confirmation hearings are on tap today. President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head EPA, former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, will appear before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, selected to be interior secretary, will testify before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. 

Perdue Farms and a staffing agency have reached agreements with the Labor Department over child labor violations found at the poultry giant’s Accomac, Virginia, facility.

The renewable natural gas industry is looking for ways to alter a Biden administration tax credit so manure digesters can benefit from a tax credit meant to incentivize clean hydrogen production. 

One week to go to the new Trump administration. Ahead of next Monday’s inauguration, Senate committees will be rushing to tee up Donald Trump’s least controversial cabinet selections for quick confirmation.

A bevy of President-elect Donald Trump’s top selections for his cabinet get confirmation hearings this week, including former Rep. Lee Zeldin, picked to head the EPA, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, selected for the dual role of Interior secretary and White House energy czar. The Biden administration also is expected to release new regulatory actions in its final week.