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Shining Light on Farm & Food Policy for 20 Years.
Tuesday, April 01, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump is announcing new tariffs on U.S. car and truck imports — and they may have implications for agriculture. The announcement of the 25% tariff comes just days before Trump is set to unveil “reciprocal” duties on U.S. trade partners.
Farmers and rural businesses that signed contracts with the Agriculture Department to install renewable energy sources or energy-efficiency technology on their operations in exchange for federal grant funding are seeing funding held up amid a federal funding freeze.
Democrats on the House and Senate Agriculture committees are proposing $10 billion in market relief for farmers as the parties spar over an extension of the 2018 farm bill, Agri-Pulse has learned. House GOP leaders, however, have so far objected to the method used to cover the cost of the farm payments.
The Agriculture Department is making investments worth $163 million in Rural Energy for America grants, loans and technical assistance for 338 projects to install solar panels, wind turbines or other energy sources, and make other kilowatt-reducing improvements for farms and small businesses.
The Agriculture Department on Thursday said it will be distributing $124 million through two programs aimed at expanding renewable energy and fertilizer production.
The Biden administration is forming a new joint program between the Departments of Agriculture and Energy that aims to quadruple the use of wind energy under a federal program.
The Biden administration announced $772.6 million Wednesday to support more than 200 projects in rural communities, addressing high-speed internet, drinking water and wastewater.
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack used his speech at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention to roll out more than $200 million in loans and grants through programs meant to bolster American production of fertilizer and renewable energy.
President Joe Biden and cabinet members, including top USDA officials, start a two-week rural America tour Wednesday to “barnstorm the country" and highlight $5 billion in rural infrastructure and conservation investments.
Fresh off the heels of a nearly $266 million renewable energy announcement from USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack is urging a hands-off approach by those outside the department looking to tweak the agency’s funding pools.
