December 16, 2025
*Note – the Food and Agriculture Weekly Update will be paused for the holidays and will resume on January 6th, 2026.
Contents
- What We’re Watching
- Notable News
- This Week’s Legislation
- Upcoming Hearings
- Contact the Team
What We’re Watching
Congress
End of Year
This is the final week Congress is in session until they reconvene in January 2026. The Senate is set to vote on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which has already passed the House. Additionally, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) will be bringing a Republican health care package to the House floor for a vote, and there will be a vote on a floor amendment to extend the Obamacare subsidies. While it appears a solution to the health care debate remains elusive before the end of the year, conversations will likely continue on the topic as Congress faces another appropriations deadline Jan. 30, 2026.
The House voted on and passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would amend the National School Lunch Program to exclude milk fat from calculations of saturated fat in school meals and let students receive non-dairy milks without a doctor’s note. The bill will now be sent to the White House for enactment into law.
In the Senate, Republican leadership is looking to hold a procedural vote on the minibus of remaining appropriations legislation before January, since there won’t be many legislative days before the funding expires on January 30.
House Agriculture Committee Holds Member Day Hearing
The House Agriculture Committee held their Member Day hearing last week, allowing members of Congress who do not serve on the Agriculture Committee to share their priorities with the Committee Chair, Ranking Member, and other rank-and-file members. Members on both sides of the aisle raised concerns with HPAI and New World Screwworm infections, tariffs, and rural communities. Democrats mainly focused on the cuts to SNAP and the President’s tariff plans, while Republicans focused on land purchases, livestock issues, and general farm economy issues. Chairman GT Thompson (R-PA) expressed interest in holding hearings around the changes to SNAP in the new year and a markup on a farm bill in January or February.
Senators Pen Letter on HPAI Vaccines
Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and 20 other Senators wrote a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins encouraging USDA to continue prioritizing an avian flu vaccine strategy. The letter notes a draft proposal of an avian flu vaccine strategy for poultry is under review, and urges the Secretary to advance this process in a timely manner, with stakeholder feedback, and using sound science.
Administration
USDA and HHS Make MAHA Agriculture Announcement on Regenerative Ag
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy, and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz held a press conference to launch the Regenerative Pilot Program, which will provide $700 million to assist farmers with improving soil health, enhance water quality, and boost long-term productivity. The pilot program will be administered with $400 million going through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and $300 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program, and will establish a Regenerative Agriculture Advisory Council through the National Resources Conservation Service (NCRS). It will also allow producers to bundle multiple regenerative practices into one application.
USDA Approves More SNAP Restrictions Waivers
The regenerative pilot program announcement also featured USDA Secretary approving six new SNAP waivers in Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Virginia. The approved state waivers can be found via the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) website here. The announcement comes as Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia are gearing up to implement restrictions in January 2026.
Tariff Announcement on Nicaragua
The Trump Administration took action under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to address Nicaragua’s acts, policies, and practices related to abuses of labor rights, abuses of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and dismantling of the rule of law. Effective January 1, 2026, the U.S. will impose a tariff that is phased-in over two years on all imported Nicaraguan goods that are not originating under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The tariff will be set at zero percent on January 1, 2026 and will increase to 10 percent on January 1, 2027, and to 15 percent on January 1, 2028.
FDA Rulemaking on Traceability
The FDA has published a request for public comment around the traceability rule, asking for information on how data and records are submitted and maintained by the industry. The traceability rule was created to allow for easier identification of contaminated products and at what point in the supply chain foodborne illnesses were introduced. The implementation has been delayed until 2028. Public comments are due on February 9, 2026.
USDA Announces National Batching Deadline for Conservation Programs
On Monday, the USDA National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that January 15, 2026 will be the batching deadline for the first funding round of key conservation programs. The batch deadline applies to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) and the new Regenerative Pilot Program. While NCRS programs are continuous sign-up programs, the agency is implementing a national batching period to ensure producers have access to funding.
Notable News
- Ag Secretary Rollins: Trump is fighting to protect American farmers – USA Today
- Farmers will get more money from Trump. They still have more problems – Associated Press
- Cinnamon recalled in 14 states over potential lead contamination – The Hill
- San Francisco’s move against ultraprocessed food could lead to wave of lawsuits – Food Dive
- U.S. Trade Deficit Falls to Five-Year Low – Wall Street Journal
- South Dakota Ranchers Are Burning the Prairie to Save It – New York Times
This Week’s Legislation
- Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the One Fair Price Act, which prevents companies from using consumer personal data to set varying prices.
- Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Reps. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) and Andrea Salinas (D-OR) introduced the Domestic Organic Investment Act to make a USDA program permanent that would solve supply chain gaps for the organic market.
- Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) introduced a package of legislation, including the Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act, the PFAS Research Development Reauthorization Act, and the No Taxation on PFAS Remediation Act to address PFAS contamination.
- Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced the Dye Free Procurement Act, which would prohibit federal agencies from purchasing foods that include synthetic dyes.
Upcoming Hearings
Tuesday, December 16
- 10:15 AM: The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a legislative hearing.
Wednesday, December 17
- 10:00 AM: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance will hold a hearing titled “Protecting Consumers and Businesses: Confronting Organized Retail Crime”
- 2:00 PM: The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere will hold a hearing titled “Mexico’s Relationships with the Region”
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 Sowinski, Eden Lambert, 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.