Articles by Bill Tomson

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is making it increasingly clear that he’s going to make it a priority to challenge the market power of big food processors and ag input suppliers. How far he ultimately goes remains to be seen. But he’s getting plenty of encouragement from both sides of Capitol Hill.

The U.S. and European Union remain at odds over major trade issues, but leaders announced a new age of cooperation Tuesday, and U.S. farmers stand to benefit if leaders can follow through on the goodwill expressed in Brussels this week.

The U.S. and European Union reached an agreement Tuesday to bring an end to the long-running dispute over aircraft subsidies as well as a five-year suspension of retaliatory tariffs that impact agricultural trade.

USDA is moving ahead with making sweeping reforms to how biotech animals are regulated.

Leading farm groups are supporting Field to Market President Rod Snyder to become EPA’s agriculture adviser. Field to Market has played a leading role in developing and promoting sustainability metrics and organizes a popular annual conference.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai is heading to Brussels for a summit hosted by the European Council next week and says she’s optimistic ahead of expected “intense negotiations” to end two disputes with the European Union as well as work with European allies to address trade challenges from China.

Some leading agriculture groups are urging lawmakers to reach a bipartisan agreement on infrastructure.

A broad array of national and state farm organizations is appealing to Congress and the Biden administration to provide $40 billion in new funding for climate-related and ag research infrastructure.

The U.S. and European Union are working to smooth out trade differences when it comes to aviation and steel, but the U.S. dairy sector says a proposed European overhaul to the health certificates it requires for imports is a major threat to American exports.

The White House is establishing a new task force on supply chain disruptions to provide a “whole-of-government” response to near-term challenges. The task force will be led by the secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and Transportation.