March 10, 2026

Contents

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

What We’re Watching

Congress 

Farm Bill 

The House Agriculture Committee favorably reported the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 out of Committee in a markup that spanned over two days. Democrats largely centered debate on the cuts to SNAP in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as well as the process by which the Republican-led farm bill came together. Other key issues that came up were the overall trade environment and its impacts on farmers, pesticide policy, MAHA, and whether or not this bill “meets the moment” for farmers and rural America. The Committee considered dozens of amendments, some of which were agreed to on a bipartisan basis. The bill was passed out of the Committee by a final vote of 34-17, with seven Democrats (Costa, Davids, Davis, Vasquez, Gray, McDonald Rivet, Riley) joining all present Republicans in voting for the bill. Notably, both Representatives Jackson (D) and Baird (R) were absent due to personal matters. Report language for the bill is still pending. The full House markup livestream can be found here, and the full list of amendments can be found here. 

House Agriculture Chair GT Thompson (R-PA) has indicated wanting to move the full bill before Easter; however, this will be dependent on whether Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has the votes to pass the full legislation. The Senate has expressed a desire for a late Spring markup, but the path forward remains unclear.  

Hearings

The House Agriculture-FDA Appropriations Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on agricultural trade and foreign agricultural affairs. The Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Luke Lindberg, was the sole witness and discussed market access for  American agricultural products and the ongoing trade agreements with other countries. Discussions were focused on the current trade deficit, the transfer of the Food for Peace program to USDA, the USDA three-point plan for trade, and USDA purchases of American agricultural products.  

Senator Markwayne Mullin to Replace DHS Secretary

Last week, President Trump announced Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) will be replacing Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Sen. Mullin currently sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Governor Kevin Stitt (R-OK) will have 30 days to appoint a Republican to fill the seat once the Senator leaves. 

Senate Democrats Planning to Introduce Bill on Anti-Trust

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) indicated he will be introducing legislation within the coming days to break up U.S. meatpacking companies in an effort to lower beef prices and review foreign-owned meat companies. The bill will also prevent companies from processing more than one type of meat and may require large processors to spin off beef plants. President Trump has been planning to lower costs by importing beef from Argentina, but other factors, like cattle shortages, high demand, and high input prices have kept beef prices high for consumers. It is unclear whether this legislation will have support of any Republicans. 

Administration

USDA Approves Four New SNAP Waivers

On Wednesday, USDA Secretary Rollins held an event with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Ben Carson around the Dietary Guidelines, and announced the approval of SNAP waivers in Kansas, Nevada, Ohio, and Wyoming. In Kansas, the waiver will be implemented on February 15, 2027, Nevada’s waiver will begin on February 1, 2028, Ohio’s waiver will begin on October 1, 2026, and Wyoming’s waiver will begin on February 1, 2027. All waivers restrict sugar-sweetened beverages, but only Kansas and Nevada restrict candy. This brings the total approved SNAP waivers to 22.  

CIT Issues Order on IEEPA Tariff Refunds

On March 4, a judge on the Court of International Trade ordered the government to liquidate all unliquidated entries and to re-liquidate shipments that were subject to International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs “without regard to the IEEPA duties.” This is one of the first lower-court orders requiring that the government repay any of the IEEPA-based duties it collected and is seen as setting a critical precedent around IEEPA refunds. Next steps at the CIT will include a hearing to cover how the government may repay the refunds. The administration might also seek an appeal, which may further delay progress around IEEPA tariff refunds.   

USMCA Review Discussions Begin with U.S. & Mexico

On March 5, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced that it has officially launched its review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) with Mexico. In a press release, USTR shared that the two countries are set to hold their first meeting the week of March 16 where they will engage in bilateral discussions in preparation for the Joint Review of the USMCA. Per the release, the ministers “instructed negotiators to begin a scoping discussion on the necessary measures to ensure the benefits of the Agreement accrue primarily to the parties, including by reducing dependence on imports from outside the region, strengthening rules of origin, and enhancing the security of North American supply chains.” The U.S. and Canada have yet to make a similar announcement around bilateral discussions.  

FDA Holds Public Meeting on Dietary Supplements 

On Tuesday, the FDA announced a public meeting on Dietary Supplement Innovation and the Scope of Dietary Ingredients. The meeting will be held on March 27, 2026, and will be used to inform the FDA’s next steps regarding the meaning of the dietary ingredient categories listed in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. There will be presentations on the scope of the phrase “dietary substance for use by man to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake” as used in DSHEA; new methodologies to produce existing dietary ingredients; and specific ingredient types, including proteins, enzymes, and microbials.   

FDA Shares Findings from California Multi-Year Environmental Review Study 

The FDA is working to share initial findings from a multi-year environmental study conducted in California’s Central Coast agricultural region to inform produce safety, foodborne illness, and how pathogens are introduced into the growing environment. The findings focus on outbreaks of the E. coli O157:H7 strain and other Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). The study found the presence of STEC in fecal samples from animals may remain viable in fecal material for extended periods; surface water and associated sediments may spread STEC movement, specifically from rivers and creeks; and found that six different highly pathogenic STEC serotypes were identified as persisting for nearly two years.  

Notable News 

• Farmer Sentiment Rebounds, but Future Expectations Continue to Slide – Ag Economy Barometer
• ICE Surge in Minnesota Hits Meatpacking Towns – Food & Power
• Farm Bill markup sparks debate over nutrition and rural policy – Food Navigator
• The new SNAP food restrictions aren’t just confusing — they’re illegal – The Hill
• Trump Administration Affirms Support for Bayer in Glyphosate Case – Civil Eats
• Medical schools pledge changes as RFK Jr. urges training in nutrition – Washington Post
• Here’s Why You’re Seeing So Many Food Recalls – Delish
• Ingredient Bans, Labeling Mandates Could Add $860 to Family Food Bills – NH Journal

This Week’s Legislation

• The House Agriculture Committee passed the 2026 Farm, Food, and National Security Act out of Committee.  
• Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the Promoting Regulatory Independence, Mastery, and Expansion (PRIME) for Meat Processing in Indian Country Act to support tribal meat processing operations.  
• Senators Angus King (I-ME) and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the Community TEAMS Act to address the physician shortage in rural areas.  
• Reps. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Scott Franklin (R-FL) reintroduced their Land Grant Research Prioritization Act to give land grant universities access to existing USDA grant funding to enhance artificial intelligence (AI), mechanization and other research. 
• Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Investments in Rural Transit Act to address key issues facing rural transit providers, including rising operating costs, complicated red tape, and difficulty procuring new vehicles. 
• Reps. Erin Houchin (R-IN), Vince Fong (R-CA), and Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced the Dalilah Law, which would prevent undocumented individuals from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and operating trucks on roadways.  
• Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems (FLOWS) Act of 2026 to create a grant program to help rural utilities improve reliability and modernize their cybersecurity. 

Upcoming Hearings

Tuesday, March 10 

• 3:00 PM: The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee will hold a hearing on “Increasing Domestic Consumption of U.S. Grown Agricultural Products.” 

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.