Articles by Noah Wicks

Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance is downplaying the potential impact on agriculture of former President Donald Trump’s proposal to impose across-the-board tariffs on U.S. imports. At the same time, he says Trump’s tariff policy is critical to protecting U.S. industry, and he denies that tariffs would increase consumer prices.

Former President Donald Trump, responding to a survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation, is throwing his support behind increasing commodity price supports and other assistance for producers. But Vice President Kamala Harris notes Trump proposed budgets that would have cut some farm programs. 

Biofuel company Gevo is aiming to bolster its network for low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel feedstocks through the $210 million purchase of an ethanol plant located on a North Dakota carbon capture site.

Leaders of the House and Senate Ag committees are working together to lay the groundwork for passing a farm bill before the end of the year. That’s according to a memo to House Ag Committee Democrats from the panel’s ranking member, David Scott of Georgia.

The House advanced legislation Wednesday that would increase oversight of farmland purchases by investors from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. 

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., is making it pretty clear he has no plans to take up a farm bill this year. Schumer on Tuesday criticized House GOP leaders for omitting a farm bill extension from a continuing resolution that’s needed to keep the government funded after Sept. 30.

Farm equipment giant John Deere inserted language acknowledging customers’ abilities to use mechanics “of their own choosing” for emissions control device repairs into 556 of its product manuals in order to comply with Environmental Protection Agency regulations, newly unearthed documents show.

Some House Republicans say they hope the farmer fly-ins this week will spur action on a farm bill, although there’s no sign of a breakthrough between the House and Senate, and time is fast running out.

Some 300 organizations are sending a letter to congressional leaders today, appealing for a farm bill, and teams of farmers representing a cross-section of commodity groups will be fanning out across Capitol Hill this week to make the pitch in person.  North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum defended former President Donald Trump's tariff policy on Sunday.

USDA is due out today with its latest forecast for farm income, and the numbers are expected to be bad. Look for more new calls for Congress to pass a new farm bill to shore up incomes of row crop producers.