Bloomberg’s Josh Wingrove and Hadriana Lowenkron reported Tuesday that “President Donald Trump widened his tariff threats to include China and the European Union on his second day back in office after day one saw Canada and Mexico in his sights.” “‘We’re talking about a tariff of 10% on China, based on the fact that they’re […]
Ryan Hanrahan
Ryan Hanrahan is the Farm Policy News editor and social media director for the farmdoc project. He has previously worked in local news, primarily as an agriculture journalist in the American West. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri (B.S. Science & Agricultural Journalism). He can be reached at rrh@illinois.edu.
Trump Says Canada, Mexico May Get 25% Tariff by Feb. 1
Reuters’ David Lawder, Andrea Shalal and Jarrett Renshaw reported Monday evening that “President Donald Trump did not immediately impose tariffs on Monday as previously promised but said he was thinking about imposing 25% duties on imports from Canada and Mexico on Feb. 1 over illegal immigrants and fentanyl crossing into the U.S.” “As he was […]
FTC Sues John Deere Over Right to Repair
Reuters’ Leah Douglas and Jonathan Stempel reported Wednesday that “the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday sued farm equipment maker Deere, alleging it illegally drives up repair costs by forcing farmers to rely on its authorized dealer network. The lawsuit argues Deere has unlawfully boosted profits by requiring farmers to use its network of authorized […]
USDA Releases 45Z Feedstock Details, Drops Bundling Requirement
Progressive Farmer’s Chris Clayton reported Wednesday that “less than a week after biofuel groups lamented the lack of details about the Clean Fuels Production (45Z) tax credit, USDA released an interim rule for climate-smart crops being used as biofuel feedstocks that should provide the biofuels industry more clarity on how to move forward.” “The interim […]
Foreign Ownership of Ag Land Grew 1.6 Million Acres in 2023
Foreign ownership of agricultural land in the United States increased by 1.58 million acres from 2022 to 2023, driven primarily by the expansion of renewable energy projects across the country. According to a new analysis from the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Daniel Munch, 45.58 million acres of U.S. agricultural land (or 3.61% of total privately […]
Trump EPA, Interior Secretary Hearings Begin This Week
UPDATE: Reuters is now reporting that “the U.S. Senate energy panel said on Monday the nomination hearing for President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of the interior, Doug Burgum, will take place on Thursday instead of Tuesday, blaming a ‘bureaucratic delay’ with a federal ethics office.” ―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――― Agri-Pulse’s Philip Brasher, Steve Davies, Oliver Ward, and […]
Biofuels Groups Criticize Partial 45Z Clean Fuels Guidance
Reuters reported at the end of this past week that “the U.S. government on Friday released short-term guidance on how companies can secure clean fuel tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, but fell short of finalizing the program’s key details.” “Biofuels groups are eager for clarity on the tax credits for fuels that combat […]
2025 Begins with More Ag Industry Layoffs in Iowa
Just a few days into the New Year, the trend in layoffs at agriculture-related companies is continuing, with John Deere announcing layoffs at its Ottumwa, Iowa plant and Bridgestone-Firestone announcing it is offering buyouts at its agricultural tire plant in Des Moines. Agriculture Dive’s Nathan Owens reported that “as crop farmers struggle with income declines, […]
Deal Reached to Avert Second East, Gulf Coast Port Strike
Reuters Lisa Baertlein reported Wednesday that “the union representing 45,000 dock workers on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts and their employers on Wednesday said they reached a tentative deal on a new six-year contract, averting further strikes that could have snarled supply chains and taken a toll on the U.S. economy.” “The International Longshoremen’s […]
Trump Won’t Rule Out Military Action to Take Panama Canal
The Hill’s Alex Gangitano reported Tuesday that “President-elect Trump on Tuesday refused to commit to not using the U.S. military to gain control of the Panama Canal, after vowing last month to take over operation of the key passageway.” “Trump was questioned during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago about his recently targeting the canal as […]
Trump Says He Won’t Narrow Universal Tariff Plans
Bloomberg’s Ramsey Al-Rikabi and Maria Luiza Rabello reported Monday that “President-elect Donald Trump denied a Washington Post report that his aides are considering narrowing his tariff plan so that it would only apply to limited specific critical imports.” “‘The story in the Washington Post, quoting so-called anonymous sources, which don’t exist, incorrectly states that my […]
Budget Reconciliation Likely to Include SNAP
Politico’s Gregory Svirnovskiy reported that “newly reelected House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday highlighted his and President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to pass one ‘big, beautiful’ budget reconciliation package through Congress and said he aims to have it on Trump’s desk by the end of April.” “‘Everything’s got to move in the right sequence. And along the […]
New Farm Bill Top of Mind as 119th Congress Begins
American Ag Network’s Jesse Allen reported Thursday that Sam Kieffer, Vice President of Public Policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said that “once the new Congress is sworn in (today) on January 3, they’ve got to get to work right away. ‘They need to get back to the business of doing a Farm Bill.’” […]
‘High Likelihood’ of Another East, Gulf Coast Port Strike This Month
Supply Chain Dive’s Alejandra Carranza reported in mid-December that “with less than a month before the International Longshoremen’s Association’s contract with the United States Maritime Alliance is set to expire, shippers want to know: Will there be a strike?” “A major development in the prolonged negotiations occurred (in December) when President-elect Donald Trump voiced his […]
US, Global Ag Economies Face Uncertainties Heading Into 2025
CoBank reported earlier this December that “the U.S. continues to benefit from solid economic growth, low unemployment and moderating inflation. From today’s vantage point, the U.S. economy seems likely to continue on that trajectory into 2025. However, the outlook for the rural economy is more volatile and uncertain. Rural industries are disproportionately exposed to federal […]
Jimmy Carter, Former Peanut Farmer and President, Dies
Agri-Pulse’s Philip Brasher reported Sunday that “Jimmy Carter, the former president and statesman who died Sunday at 100, was famously proud of being a peanut farmer and is being remembered for working to address food insecurity through modern farming practices and technology, and for giving time to help his old industry.” Reuters’ Will Dunham reported […]
Experts Worried Bird Flu Spread is Reaching Boiling Point
NBC News’ Evan Bush reported this past weekend that “the simmering threat of bird flu may be inching closer to boiling over. This year has been marked by a series of concerning developments in the virus’ spread.” “Since April, at least 65 people have tested positive for the virus — the first U.S. cases other […]
Trump Threatens to Take Back Panama Canal
Reuters’ Gram Slattery reported Sunday that “President-elect Donald Trump threatened to reassert U.S. control over the Panama Canal on Sunday, accusing Panama of charging excessive rates to use the Central American passage and drawing a sharp rebuke from Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino.” “Speaking to a crowd of supporters in Arizona, Trump also said he […]
US Wins GMO Corn Dispute with Mexico
Bloomberg’s Michael Hirtzer reported this past Friday that “the US has prevailed in its dispute with Mexico over genetically modified corn that threatened shipments to America’s top customer of the grain.” “An arbitration panel under the USMCA trade agreement issued its final ruling agreeing with the US that Mexico’s efforts to halt imports of GMO […]
Ag Aid Remains in Limbo as Government Shutdown Looms
The Hill’s Emily Brooks, Al Weaver and Mychael Schnell reported late Thursday evening that “Congress is racing toward a shutdown at the end of the day Friday, and Republicans appear no closer to finding a path forward that will keep the lights on and appease President-elect Trump.” “The latest setback roiled the House on Thursday […]