A hurricane is brewing in the Gulf Coast and political storms are developing as Congress is back to work facing an end of month deadline on a spending plan for the new fiscal year. 

Senator Charles Grassley has low expectations for the Lame Duck Congress this year. The Iowa legislator says GOP leaders will target tax and spending cuts as well as a new farm bill next year. 

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran is this week's guest on Agri-Pulse Newsmakers. Moran speaks to pending ad hoc assistance for farmers and thoughts on a second turn for Donald Trump in the Oval Office. 

China and Brazil have expanded trade deals to include a number of industries including agriculture. The country is also amending domestic policy that may reduce sales of used cooking oil. 

Members of congress continue to set their sites on approving farm and nutrition legislation. Agri-Pulse's Lydia Johnson gathered comments from key leaders this week on Capitol Hill. 

Iowa Senator Charles Grassley took his turn at criticizing the Democratic farm bill proposal submitted by Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow. He says the work will have to be done next year.