Joshua Baethge

2 weeks ago | farmprogress.com | Joshua Baethge

With no farm bill in sight, Republican lawmakers are hoping to use the budget reconciliation process to improve farm safety net programs. Early Thursday morning, the House passed a budget package by a 215 to 214 vote. Two Republicans joined all Democrats in opposition. Now, the Senate will work to draft its budget reconciliation package. Here’s what farmers should know:What is reconciliation?

2 weeks ago | farmprogress.com | Joshua Baethge |Curt Arens

While in Nebraska on May 19, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said a USDA plan will improve the viability and longevity of smaller-scale family farms for generations to come.  A series of policy priorities dubbed the Small Family Farms Policy Agenda are intended to better support small farmers, she said. They include streamlining the application process for many programs, as well as improving access to credit, farmland, markets and business planning tools.

3 weeks ago | farmprogress.com | Joshua Baethge

The United States and China agreed, at least temporarily, to dial back high tariffs imposed in April.  Following negotiations in Geneva on Monday, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the U.S. is lowering its 145% tariffs on Chinese imports to 30%. In return, China will lower its tariff rate on U.S. goods from 125% to 10%. Those rates will remain in effect for 90 days as the two nations work to hammer out a new trade deal.

3 weeks ago | farmprogress.com | Joshua Baethge

USDA is suspending live animal imports from Mexico. The decision announced May 11 by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was made due to concerns over New World screwworm and its rapid spread. According to an agency release, the screwworms have been reported in remote farms near Oaxaca and Veracruz in southern Mexico. Those cities are roughly 700 miles from the U.S. border.

4 weeks ago | farmprogress.com | Joshua Baethge

President Donald Trump announced May 8 that the U.S. and the United Kingdom had agreed in principle to a new trade deal. Though many of the specifics still need to be ironed out, the president hailed the agreement as a positive step for agriculture. “The deal I made today with the United Kingdom is GREAT for our FARMERS and RANCHERS!” Trump said in a May 8 Truth Social post, replete with all caps and exclamation points.