March 4, 2025

Contents

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

What We’re Watching

Congress 

Appropriations

Congress is quickly approaching the March 14 shutdown deadline, while appropriators have yet to announce topline numbers. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has floated the idea of passing a Continuing Resolution through September 30. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and the Speaker are looking to keep the CR clean with few anomalies and without enacting the proposed cuts by DOGE. Democratic votes will be necessary to pass any spending package given the Senate 60 vote threshold, so minority and majority leadership will have to come to the table on negotiations, assuming they want to pass any final package.

Senators Hold Hearing on Agriculture Economy

The Senate Agriculture Committee held their second “Farmer and Ranger Views on the Farm Economy” hearing last week. The first witness panel focused on specialty crops, while the second witness panel focused on livestock and poultry challenges. Almost every witness and every Senator throughout both panels touched on the H-2A program and reforms to the adverse effect wage rate (AEWR), trade programs and tariffs, the federal funding freeze and USDA layoffs, risk management and crop insurance options, and water availability. The full hearing can be found here.

Senate Confirmations

Last week, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted in favor of Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be the Secretary of the Department of Labor. Her nomination will now move to the full Senate for consideration. DeRemer formerly represented Oregon’s fifth district in Congress and has voiced support for working on agricultural labor reforms.

On Thursday, the Senate HELP Committee will hold a hearing to consider Dr. Martin Makary to be the Commissioner of the FDA. Dr. Makary has written a number of books on the healthcare system in the United States, and has supported the “Make America Healthy Again” movement under RFK Jr. 

Administration

Broad Tariffs Go into Effect on Mexico & Canada, Increase on China

At 12:01 a.m. EST today, 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods and a 10% tariff on Canadian energy products went into effect.  The President indicated Canada and Mexico could not negotiate a way to avoid the tariffs and released official notices which can be found here for Canada and here for Mexico. President Trump also amended an executive order to raise the existing additional tariff on Chinese goods to 20% from 10%, citing China’s failure to take adequate measures to reduce the flow of synthetic opioids into the U.S.

In response, Canada will institute a 25% tariff on key U.S. goods, based on the initial plan that was set forth a month ago against the initial threats. China also announced a new set of retaliatory tariffs between 10% and 15% focused on a broad range of agricultural goods including corn, soybeans, wheat, dairy and beef. Mexico is expected to make an announcement on Sunday, March 9.

OMB Releases Memo on Reducing Federal Workforce

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a memo this week to provide more detail on the Trump Administration’s plan to reorganize and reduce the size of the federal workforce. All agencies are now required to submit their first iteration of plans by March 13, and then a more detailed plan on April 14. The full memo can be found here.

USTR Proposes Action on Reducing Use of Chinese Vessels

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) proposed action to reduce the use of Chinese vessels. The action would also put fees on maritime operators that use Chinese built vessels, and would establish a timeline for increasing U.S. flagged vessels. In 2024, a number of manufacturer groups submitted a Section 301 petition on the acts, policies, and practices of China within the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sector. A public comment period is currently open until March 24.

Secretary Rollins Unveils Bird Flu Plan

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins rolled out a $1 billion strategy to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The five point strategy includes $500 million for biosecurity measures, $400 million in financial relief for affected farmers, and $100 million for vaccine research, action to reduce regulatory burdens, and exploring temporary import options. This is in addition to funding already being provided to indemnify growers for depopulated flocks.

Secretary Rollins Plans to Visit 50 States on Farming Community

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins is looking to visit all 50 states in an effort to protect the farm economy from tariffs and provide farmers with disaster aid. The Secretary stated that she will be involved in trade discussions, and will be planning on a strategy to provide aid to any farmers who could be impacted by the trade war. She is aiming to beat the March 21 deadline set by Congress for distributing $31 billion in economic relief and disaster aid payments. 

Tom Schultz Appointed as Forest Service Chief

Tom Schultz has been appointed as the Chief of the USDA Forest Service. He has experience in land management for over 25 years, having served as vice president of resources at Idaho Forest Group, director of the Idaho Department of Lands, and holding key leadership roles in Montana’s Department of Natural Resources. Upon being sworn in, Schultz will replace Chief Randy Moore, who recently announced his retirement.

Notable News

• Will the MAHA, Massie, Freedom Caucus Coalition Oppose USDA Secretary Rollins’ Bird Flu Response Plan? – NY Sun
• Amy Klobuchar Can’t Stop Talking About Eggs. We Asked Her Why – New York Times
• Funding Freeze Leaves Kansas Farmers Unpaid For Work They Already Completed – NPR
• Trump Administration Struggles To Rehire Fired Bird Flu Employees – Politico
• Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins: My Plan to Lower Egg Prices – Wall Street Journal
• Craig, On Defense Over Democrats’ Agriculture Priorities, Eyes Senate Run – Roll Call

This Week’s Legislation

• Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) introduced the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act to direct the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study on the feasibility of manufacturing more critical infrastructure goods in the United States, with a focus on identifying rural communities best suited to support domestic production.
•  Congressman Tom Tiffany (R-WI) introduced the Future Agriculture Retention and Management Act to prevent taxpayer funds from tipping the scales in favor of wind and solar development at the expense of food production. 
• Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) introduced the Undertaking Negotiations on Investment and Trade for Economic Dynamism (UNITED) Act to authorize the administration to negotiate and enter into a comprehensive trade agreement with the United Kingdom.
• Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced the Farmers Freedom Act of 2025 would provide a permanent definition of prior converted cropland (PCC) under the Clean Water Act. 

Upcoming Hearings

Tuesday, March 4

• 10:00 AM: The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry will hold a hearing on “The State of the Livestock Industry: Producer Perspectives.”
• 10:00 AM: The House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation will hold a hearing on “Leveraging Technology to Strengthen Immigration Enforcement.”
• 10:15 AM: The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing on “Understanding the Consequences of Experimental Populations Under the Endangered Species Act.”

Wednesday, March 5

• 10:00 AM: The House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight will hold a hearing on “Assessing the Threat to U.S. Funded Research.”
• 10:00 AM: The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy will hold a hearing on “Scaling for Growth: Meeting the Demand for Reliable, Affordable Electricity.”

Thursday, March 6

•  10:00 AM: The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing to examine the nomination of Martin Makary, of Virginia, to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Department of Health and Human Services.

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.