Jacqui Fatka

The House passed by voice vote Wednesday a bill that would improve liability protections for farmers, processors, supermarkets and other businesses that donate food. 

Agricultural labor solutions failed to get included in the final omnibus language released Monday, leaving agricultural groups empty-handed in their search for action before the current Congress ends.

Congressional negotiators are nearing agreement on a massive year-end bill that’s expected to include billions in agricultural disaster aid as well as a compromise version of the Growing Climate Solutions Act and special aid to rice growers.

Members of Congress, farm and labor interests joined in support of a new workforce bill that they hope will become a “Christmas miracle” and gain passage before Congress adjourns for the year. But the measure still faces an uphill battle because of timing and opposition from many Republicans.

A Tuesday hearing at a Senate Agriculture Subcommittee illustrated a bipartisan priority to incorporate the concept of "food as medicine" into the upcoming farm bill.

The Agriculture Department left most of its crop production and usage estimates unchanged in its latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates released Friday, matching trader expectations ahead of the report.