Federal

From the Capital Press The USDA will distribute $11 billion to growers of 20 crops by the end of February to offset expected 2025 losses, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said. The USDA plans to later distribute $1 billion to farmers of specialty crops such as apples, cherries, hops and pears. The agency needs more time to study economic losses for ... Read More »

On Dec. 8, U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent announced $12 billon in one time bridge payments to U.S. farmers who have been impacted my market disruptions and increased input costs this year. “Wheat growers have endured another year of market adversity and rising input costs. NAWG is ... Read More »

From U.S. Wheat Associates The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) conducted a public hearing on Dec. 3, 2025, regarding the Agreement between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada (USMCA). The hearing comes as part of the first six-year joint review of the agreement, set for July 1, 2026. Witnesses representing a wide swath ... Read More »

From farms.com Scientists from the University of California-Davis have developed a new wheat variety that can help create its own natural fertilizer. This research uses a unique approach to support nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil, helping farmers reduce fertilizer expenses and lowering pollution. The findings were published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

As you know, WAWG is a grassroots organization and our growers’ voices are critical when it comes to visiting with legislators. We will be going to Olympia for our annual Olympia Days Jan. 18-20, 2026. We try and meet with at least 50 legislators during our day and a half of visits. We like to have at least three to ... Read More »

From agriculture.com The margins on almost every major crop are set to fall this marketing year, the American Farm Bureau Federation is warning, as rising input costs and export uncertainty further squeeze producers and deepen the need for further assistance.  Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From Farm Policy News Agri-Pulse’s Philip Brasher and Steve Davies reported that “President Donald Trump late Wednesday signed into law a measure to end the longest-ever government shutdown after 43 days, fully fund USDA and FDA for fiscal 2026, and end a bitter legal battle over this month’s SNAP benefits.” “The measure, approved by the House 222-209 Wednesday night after ... Read More »

From Farm Policy News Agri-Pulse’s Philip Brasher reported that “a new stopgap spending bill that would reopen the government includes a one-year extension of farm bill programs that were left out of a budget reconciliation bill earlier in the year.” “The continuing resolution, which would keep the government funded through Jan. 30, also would suspend the permanent agricultural laws that ... Read More »

From RFD-TV Water levels along the Mississippi River have fallen to historic lows again this fall — throttling barge traffic and raising freight costs just as the Midwest harvest reaches full stride. Gauges at St. Louis and Memphis are near record lows, forcing towboats to run lighter and with fewer barges per tow. For farmers moving corn and soybeans to ... Read More »

From Successful Farming China has booked two cargoes of U.S. wheat following last week’s meeting between the countries’ leaders, traders said on Thursday, the first such purchases since October last year, signalling easing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »