Missouri bans Chinese-owned farmland near military bases

The measure strengthens its current agricultural land restrictions against companies with ties to adversarial countries, citing national security concerns.

By Nathan Owens • Jan. 5, 2024

Controversial Prop 12 rule takes full effect in the new year

Pork products sold in California must adhere to regulations that prohibit the use of swine gestation crates as of Jan. 1, 2024.

By Nathan Owens • Jan. 4, 2024

Bipartisan group calls for strengthened food assistance in upcoming Farm Bill

A D.C.-based think tank provided five key policy recommendations to bolster SNAP, TEFAP and other programs supported by the omnibus law.

By Nathan Owens • Jan. 3, 2024

These 12 ‘mini USDAs’ are helping small farmers break into new markets

Regional hubs across the country are supporting the growth of local agriculture, tailoring services based on the area of the country and the farmers involved.  

By Alexandra Jones • Jan. 3, 2024

Bill to expand school milk options sours in Senate

After bipartisan approval in the House, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act was blocked in the Senate following a request for unanimous consent.

By Anna Merod • Dec. 21, 2023

Agriculture’s year in review: The biggest stories of 2023

A farm bill extension and an economic downturn came just as the industry began an expensive transformation to adapt and mitigate climate change. 

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 21, 2023

Foreign ownership of US farmland climbed nearly 9% in 2022

Despite the uptick, acreage owned by China declined as states moved to restrict adversarial countries from owning U.S. forest, crop and pasture land.

By Nathan Owens • Dec. 20, 2023

USDA pressured to delay poultry competition rule

Lawmakers say more time is needed to comply with changes made under the Packers and Stockyards Act, which could affect tens of thousands of chicken contracts. 

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 19, 2023

US allows beef imports from Paraguay despite pushback from ranchers

Livestock producers are looking to overturn the rule, warning of potential food safety and trade risks. 

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 19, 2023

USDA funding shortfall could leave nearly 2M women and children without food aid

Without an additional $1 billion for the WIC program, the agency warned states may need to implement waiting lists or suspend benefits to make up the costs.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 18, 2023

COP28 takeaways: More than $7B mobilized for food system climate action

With the end of the U.N. climate summit, here's a final tally of some of the major financial commitments and sustainability pledges meant to transform the agricultural and food sectors. 

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 15, 2023

DOL shifts to a per-violation penalty for certain child labor infractions

The move is yet another enforcement change in a year where federal regulators levied high-profile penalties against child labor law violators in meatpacking and other industries.

By Ryan Golden • Dec. 15, 2023

House passes bipartisan push to expand school milk options

Policymakers say the bill will provide students with essential nutrients, while studies suggest limiting dairy options has benefits for low-income children.

By Naaz Modan • Dec. 15, 2023

UFCW throws support behind proposed grant program protecting farm and food workers

The Grocery, Farm, and Food Worker Stabilization Act would help cover “disaster-related costs” for workers across the supply chain, including those in grocery and meatpacking.

By Peyton Bigora • Dec. 14, 2023

Landmark COP28 agreement calls for climate-resilient food system, transition from fossil fuels

Countries and businesses now "need to turn these pledges into real-economy outcomes, without delay,” according to the U.N.'s climate secretary.

By Zoya Mirza , Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 13, 2023

US lawmakers push to increase tariffs in trade ‘reset’ with China

A bipartisan report called on the USDA to find new export markets for farmers, noting higher tariffs would likely lead to trade retaliation.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 13, 2023

Biden admin offers tax credits to expand agriculture’s role in sustainable aviation fuel

The decision expands the types of crops eligible for biofuel subsidies, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 12, 2023

Court approves Cargill’s $2.4M settlement of ransomware outage wage claims

Employees alleged that the Kronos Private Cloud cyberattack resulted in unpaid wages and overtime, among other damages.

By Ryan Golden • Dec. 12, 2023

Here’s the UN’s roadmap for agriculture to reach net-zero emissions

A landmark report released at COP28 says wholesale changes to production practices and diets will be needed to keep temperatures in check while ensuring food security needs are met.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 11, 2023

Draft text of COP28 agreement leaves food off the table

Nestlé and PepsiCo joined environmental groups in calling on negotiators to take "more ambitious, comprehensive, and equitable climate action on food."

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 8, 2023

US agencies unveil collaborative food waste prevention strategy at COP28

The Biden administration will continue supporting on-farm anaerobic digestion and composting programs as part of a “whole of government approach” to slash food loss in half by 2030.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 7, 2023

Lowering crop insurance subsidies for large farms could save millions, watchdog finds

The report comes as agriculture leaders in Congress look for ways to free up new funding for the next farm bill.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 6, 2023

How farms became the latest battleground in US-China relations

As states become more brazen in their efforts to restrict China from owning U.S. farmland, some worry about the potential impact to trade.

By Nathan Owens , Julia Himmel • Dec. 5, 2023

Over 130 countries sign COP28 pledge to integrate food into climate action

Notably absent from the list of signatories is India, which has said it will refuse to sign on to any agreement that could compromise food security.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 4, 2023

Generate Upcycle threatens to close anaerobic digester over Michigan permitting changes

The company may shutter its 150,000-ton-per-year Fremont Regional Digester this month if it’s required to obtain a groundwater permit for its liquid digestate, which has been marketed as a fertilizer.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 4, 2023