The Agriculture Department has temporarily taken over management of the Food for Peace program, which drives demand for U.S. commodities used as international food aid. We spoke with Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran about the program’s history and ties to Kansas, USDA’s commitment to distribute more than 200,000 tons of food aid by March, and his confidence that legislation could pass to permanently house the program at USDA.Plus, hear more about how the Food for Peace program would be improved, by moving it from the State Department to USDA, from our panel with Kim Cooper from the North American Millers’ Association and Dalton Henry of U.S. Wheat Associates.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Additional farm aid wasn't included in a government funding package but farm groups are continuing to push for additional assistance, including $5 billion specifically for specialty crops. Rep. Josh Harder, who represents part of California's Central Valley, joins the show to discuss the concerns of his district's growers: ag labor reform, tariffs, and reforming olive oil standards.Also this week, Congress punted legislative action on year-round E15 again by creating a council of lawmakers to study the issue instead of including legislation in a government funding bill. National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower discusses the devastating news for corn farmers.The dietary guidelines released this month encourage Americans to consume less processed food. Mollie Van Lieu with the International Fresh Produce Association explains how the guidelines could increase fruit and vegetable consumption, and which nutrition issues could arise in farm bill 2.0 negotiations.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders traveled to California for the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual convention where the group agreed ag labor is one of the top issues they hear about. We spoke with Senate Ag Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., and ranking member Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., in an exclusive joint interview touching on year-round E15, the future of the farm bill and ag labor reform. Plus, House Ag's chairman, Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Penn., and ranking member, Angie Craig, D-Minn., join the show to discuss a farm bill 2.0 timeline and what they'd like to see included in the bill.Plus, we connected with American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall to learn what he was hearing from members at the convention and how the current farm economy compares to the 1980s farm crisis.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Congress is back in Washington for the second session of the 119th Congress. We sat down with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., to discuss the future of year-round E15, prospects for a second budget reconciliation bill to be passed in 2026, and odds of a five-year farm bill being passed. "For me whether it's year-round E15 ... eliminating taxes on farm machinery, whether it's creating new tax incentives, whether it's redirecting tariff revenue to the farm community that is actually shouldering some of the burden," Emmer explained. "I support all of that."Plus, Callie Eideberg with The Vogel Group and Ken Barbic with Invariant discuss the newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the future of a complete, five-year farm bill moving in 2026.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

It's been a big year for farm policy. President Donald Trump was inaugurated in January and quickly followed through on many of his campaign promises: an aggressive trade agenda, renewed focus on food inflation, and the use of a Republican-controlled House and Senate to enact a sweeping budget reconciliation bill that included major agriculture spending. At the same time, USDA announced a broad reorganization plan, and $42 billion in farm aid was unveiled to support the struggling farm economy and ongoing lack of export markets.On this special year-in-review episode, we revisit the most influential interviews from Agri-Pulse Newsmakers in 2025 that brought you to the heart of ag policy each week.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is nearing the end of her first year leading USDA. We sat down with two former agriculture secretaries, Dan Glickman of the Clinton administration and Mike Johanns of the George W. Bush administration, to reflect on the top issues of 2025.Tune in for a conversation on the farm economy, beef prices, and possible farm policy reforms. We also asked the leaders what advice they would offer Rollins as she looks ahead to 2026.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

The Trump administration unveiled a $12 billion farm aid package last week, but some lawmakers are already saying more aid is needed. Before Congress left Washington for the year, we spoke with Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Boozman about the future of the farm bill, the potential need for more farm aid in early 2026, and if there will be a time when farmers don't need to rely on government payments.Plus, Peter Bachmann with the USA Rice Federation and Dennis Nuxoll with Western Growers join the show to discuss the market and commodity market losses rice and specialty crop growers are grappling with, and the need for an additional farm aid package in early 2026.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

The Trump administration unveiled a $12 billion Farm Bridge Assistance aid package to compensate farmers impacted by market and commodity market losses. House Ag Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig, D-Minn., said farmers are in need of economic support, but added "the administration has called this a bridge. Where's the bridge? This is more like a circle."Plus, Jonathan Coppess with the University of Illinois Gardner Agriculture Policy Program and Eric Gibson with Rabobank outline when farmers should receive payments and if a second farm aid package should be moved by Congress in 2026. The pair also discuss concerns about the effect repeated farm aid payments will have on the next generation of farmers.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

A farm aid package is expected to be announced next week for farmers suffering from export losses and low commodity prices. We sat down with Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden to discuss the package, which he says “a wide variety of commodity crops” will be eligible for.During the extended year-in-review interview, we also discuss the Trump administration's efforts to advance many agriculture priorities this year: Tackling food inflation, advancing trade deals, and consolidation in the meat sector. Vaden, who is leading the USDA reorganization, also shares a timeline for when USDA staff will be relocated to five regional hubs across the U.S.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

China has begun purchasing U.S. soybeans following a trade deal with the United States. We asked Tanner Ehmke with the CoBank Knowledge Exchange whether the recent purchases show China can meet its commitments under the agreement. Plus, Lance Zimmerman with Rabobank discusses consumer beef demand amid an ongoing low cattle supply and the Trump administration’s increased beef import quota from Argentina.Brian Jennings with the American Coalition for Ethanol also joins the show to discuss the ongoing push for year-round E15, and Luther Markwart with the American Sugarbeet Growers Association outlines concerns about sugar dumping from Brazil. Tom Zacharias with the National Crop Insurance Services explains influential budget reconciliation crop insurance provisions growers can look forward to in 2026.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD