March 25, 2025

Contents

• What We’re Watching
• Notable News
• This Week’s Legislation
• Upcoming Hearings
• Contact the Team

What We’re Watching

Congress 

This week, Congress is returning from recess and will turn their focus toward Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations and a reconciliation package. Notably, Politico Morning Agriculture reported that when some Republican lawmakers returned to their home states and districts, they participated in public events where they faced criticism from constituents regarding the availability of funds for small farmers, widespread layoffs of federal workers, farmers affected by the USAID shutdown, and tariffs.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said he wants to finalize a budget blueprint with the Senate to be passed by the week of April 7, in the hopes of having a package finalized before the April recess. The House resolution instructs the Agriculture Committee to find $230 billion in funding cuts, while the Senate instructs the Agriculture Committee to find $1 billion in cuts. The two chambers will now have to reconcile the differences and ultimately agree on the same budget resolution to unlock the reconciliation process. 

Administration

USDA Holds Avian Influenza Stakeholder Call

USDA held an update call with stakeholders and media to discuss achievements on their five-pronged approach to fight HPAI. Secretary Rollins discussed the availability of $100M for avian influenza prevention for therapeutics, vaccines and research. In addition, Rollins shared details regarding increasing egg imports from South Korea and Turkey while decreasing US egg exports to ensure a steady supply for consumers.

FDA Delays Traceability Compliance Date

FDA has announced pushing back the compliance date for the Food Traceability Rule by 30 months. The delay comes following industry concerns about the large undertaking of infrastructure and the short turnaround time, and about accurate data from supply chain partners. The full announcement can be found here. 

Secretary Rollins Appoints New Leadership

USDA Secretary Rollins announced new leadership within the department, appointing Bill Beam to lead the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Aubrey Bettencourt as chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Pat Swanson as administrator of the Risk Management Agency (RMA). Bill Beam is a farmer from Pennsylvania who previously was the deputy administrator of FSA during the first Trump administration; Aubrey Bettencourt was the global director of government relations and external affairs for Netafim; and Pat Swanson operates a crop insurance agency in Ottumwa, Iowa. Secretary Rollins also tapped Brooke Appleton from the National Corn Growers Association as the deputy undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation.

USDA also announced that Dr. Jaye L. Hamby was appointed as the new Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and will lead USDA’s efforts to advance agricultural innovation, community outreach, and fostering the next generation of agricultural leaders.

EPA Holds Listening Sessions on WOTUS

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army are looking to engage stakeholders on certain key topics related to the implementation of the definition of “waters of the United States,” (WOTUS), which comes following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. The official notice includes an announcement of listening sessions from the end of April through May on specific key topic areas to hear interested stakeholders’ perspectives on defining “waters of the United States” and how to implement that interpretation as the agencies consider next steps. The full schedule of listening sessions can be found here.

Notable News

• The State of the Farm Economy as of January 2025 – America First Policy Institute
• The War on Ultra-Processed Foods: How Producers can Fight Back – Bakery and Snacks
• Proposed US port fees on China-built ships begin choking coal, agriculture exports – Reuters
• Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Terminating $14 Billion in ‘Green Bank’ Grants – AP
• Will Local Food Survive Trump’s USDA? – Civil Eats
• The MAHA Challenge: Can It Lead to a Healthier and Safer Food Supply? – FDA Matters

This Week’s Legislation

• Congressman Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) introduced a package of agriculture bills, including the Ranching Without Red Tape Act, the Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act, the Farm Workforce Support Act, the Wolf and Livestock Fairness (WOLF) Act, and the Healthy Foods for Native Seniors Act.
• Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the Tar Sands Tax Loophole Elimination Act, which would close the tar sands loophole in the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.
•  Congressman Josh Riley (D-NY) introduced the Lowering Egg Prices Act, which would change regulations on refrigeration to introduce more consumable eggs into the market.
• Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY) introduced the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (FEED) Act to modernize regulations to ensure farmers have access to innovative feed additives.

Upcoming Hearings

Tuesday, March 25

• 2:00 PM: The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade will hold a hearing on “American Trade Negotiation Priorities.”
• 10:00 AM: The House Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing on “The CFTC at 50: The Past and Future of Commodity Markets.”
• 10:00 AM: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies will hold a Member Day Hearing.
• 10:15 AM: The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold a Legislative Hearing on H.R. 276, H.R. 845, H.R. 1897 & H.R. 1917.

Contact the Team

Feel free to contact Michael Torrey, Tara Smith, Cassandra Kuball, Barbara Patterson, Katie Naessens, Julie McClure, Nona McCoy, Danielle Nelson, Ashley Smith, Olivia Lucanie, Caroline Snell, Tracy Boyle, or Grace Walker with any questions or comments.

Food and agricultural organizations that need the right results in Washington, D.C. can trust Torrey Advisory Group to put its relationships, reputation, and expertise to work on your issue. Since 2005, the firm has successfully provided legislative and regulatory guidance, issues management, and association management services to a wide variety of clients. Learn more about us at torreydc.com.