Needs in Olympia for Agriculture

Fruit Grower Report
With an election around the corner and the potential for new voices in Olympia next year, the ag industry is pleading for help.

GOP Pushing Farm Assistance and Rural Mainstreet Index Down

The Agribusiness Update
GOP lawmakers are pushing to attach roughly $11 billion in direct farm assistance to a defense spending package, and rural bankers are growing more concerned about the farm economy as higher fuel and fertilizer costs weigh on producers.

Farm Bill Doubts

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
The future of a long-delayed farm bill may depend on what voters decide in November.

Farm Bill to Full Senate

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
The farm bill recently took an important step forward when the Senate Ag Committee voted to advance the legislation to the full Senate.

Sulfur Prices Need Help and China's Soybean Purchases

The Agribusiness Update
Florida lawmakers are urging the Trump administration to address sharply higher sulfur prices that threaten domestic phosphate fertilizer production and increase costs, and China purchased about 1 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans last week, providing a boost to American growers.

Senate Returns for Farm Bill Vote

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
The fate of the farm bill ahead of the midterm elections rests with the expected return next week of Senator Mitch McConnell, out for months after a fall and mild pneumonia.

California E15 Vote and Tyson Profits Down

The Agribusiness Update
California is moving closer to making E15 gas available after lawmakers unanimously approved legislation removing the final barriers to selling the higher-ethanol blend, and Tyson Foods lowered its fiscal 2026 profit and sales forecasts.

Ag Problems Recognized in Olympia

Fruit Grower Report
Washington State Tree Fruit Association President, Jon

DeVaney says challenges for the ag industry may be getting a bit more attention in Olympia.

Farm Bill Likelihood

Fruit Grower Report
There are some doubts out there among lawmakers about the likelihood of getting a new Farm Bill done this year, but there’ also still some hope out there.

Need for Guestworkers

Fruit Grower Report
It’s no secret that finding adequate, affordable ag labor is a huge challenge for farmers, especially in recent years.

Farm Bill Politics

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says lawmakers must stop with the farm bill delays and deliver some certainty to rural America.

California Cling Peach Harvest and Senate Farm Bill Fails to Pass

The Agribusiness Update
Harvest is expected to conclude soon for California cling peaches, which are used for canning, and the Senate Ag Committee failed to advance its Farm Bill Thursday after Democrats rejected the Republican proposal.

South Carolina State Fair Hiring and Senate Farm Bill Fails to Pass

The Agribusiness Update
The South Carolina State Fair is now hiring for this year’s fair, taking place Oct. 15-25, and the Senate Ag Committee failed to advance its Farm Bill Thursday after Democrats rejected the Republican proposal.

Higher Food Prices Continue and Regenerative Ag Climbs

The Agribusiness Update
Higher food prices continue to change the way Americans shop, according to a new report from CoBank's Knowledge Exchange, and regenerative agriculture continues to gain momentum across the country.

Understanding Ag

Fruit Grower Report
I asked Save Family Farming’s Dillon Honcoop if state lawmakers were aware of what their policy decisions were doing to the ag industry in this state?

House Passes Farm Bill

Line on Agriculture
The U.S. House of Representatives passed its farm bill without including year-round E15 legislation, a setback for corn growers and ethanol producers. The E15 debate overshadowed the bill's passage, with a split among Republicans over small refinery exemptions nearly derailing the bill.

California's Prop 12 Issues and SCOTUS Hears Roundup Case

The Agribusiness Update
A coalition of farm groups and lawmakers is urging Congress to address California’s Proposition 12, and Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in a case involving allegations that exposure to Roundup caused cancer.

Aid for Farmers

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer assured lawmakers the administration is both aware of and working to help struggling farmers.

WSTFA Lobbying Efforts

Fruit Grower Report
Much of what the Washington State Tree Fruit Association is focused on is engagement in state government affairs to help address the market uncertainty driven by government policy.

Renew Farm Bill Pressure and Fertilizer Prices Too High

The Agribusiness Update
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill returned from the Easter recess with growing optimism that a new five-year farm bill could soon advance, and overwhelming majority of U.S. farmers say rising fertilizer costs are limiting their ability to operate this season.