Farm Bill Veterinary Support and EPA Fungicide Strategy
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**The new farm bill passed in the House includes key provisions supporting veterinary medicine, animal health, and public safety, and is drawing praise from the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The legislation reauthorizes critical programs aimed at preventing animal disease outbreaks, strengthening food safety, and improving veterinary workforce shortages.
Supporters say the bill benefits U.S. farmers and ranchers by improving disease prevention, ensuring a safer food supply, and expanding veterinary services.
**The EPA has released a draft Fungicide Strategy and is seeking public input as part of a 60-day comment period, aiming to balance environmental protection with the needs of U.S. agriculture.
The proposal outlines a science-based framework to protect more than 1,000 endangered and threatened species while maintaining access to essential crop protection tools.
The strategy focuses on identifying risks, applying mitigation measures, and determining where protections are needed.
**Farm banks remained a cornerstone of the rural economy in 2025, providing critical financing to farmers, ranchers, and small agricultural operations.
According to the American Bankers Association, banks held nearly $212 billion in farm loans, accounting for more than one-third of all agricultural credit.
Of that, 1,372 farm banks, many rooted in rural communities, provided $122 billion in lending, with a strong focus on smaller farms.
