September 18, 2025
Grassley, Baldwin, Ernst Reintroduce Fertilizer Research Act
Sens. Chuck Grassley, Tammy Baldwin, and Joni Ernst are reintroducing bipartisan legislation, Fertilizer Research Act would require the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct a study on competition and trends in the fertilizer market and their subsequent impacts on price. Grassley is a lifelong family farmer and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “Fertilizer is an essential tool our farmers rely on to maintain healthy soil and improve crop yields,” Ernst said. “I’m working hard to drive down fertilizer costs and make life more affordable for both farmers and consumers. By gaining a better understanding of the fertilizer industry, this research will provide the foundational knowledge needed to give farmers much needed clarity and certainty as harvest approaches.” The Fertilizer Research Act is endorsed by the National Corn Growers Association, the American Soybean Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Farmers Union, and many other organizations that support farmers.
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U.S., Canada, Mexico Begin Trade Consultations
The U.S., Canada and Mexico are set to formally begin consultations ahead of the review of their regional USMCA trade accord next year, the U.S. and Mexico announced Tuesday. The consultation process began on Wednesday. Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said an evaluation of the trade pact’s results over the past five years will take place between now and the end of the year to prepare for negotiations over a possible extension of the agreement in 2026. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, which estimates that the USMCA covers nearly $2 trillion in US goods and services within the region, made a similar announcement in an official notice seeking public comment on the matter. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney last month said his government would also hold industry consultations on the trade agreement this fall, though Canada’s process has not yet formally begun.
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Colorado Lawmakers Considering Ag-Friendly Tax Changes
Colorado lawmakers prioritized protecting the state’s agriculture industry in some of their first bill requests Monday through the Colorado Legislature’s Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee. The Colorado Sun reports that the committee can request up to five bills for drafting, which offers an early glimpse into their water and agricultural priorities ahead of the legislative session. Lawmakers proposed four, all focused on agriculture topics, like taxing ranches, regulating farmers markets and keeping farmland in production. One measure would have expanded the definition of “ranch” to make more types of ranches eligible for tax exemptions. Currently, people who raise certain animals, like pigs and chickens, for profit are not eligible for the same property tax relief options as other livestock operations, like cattle ranches. The new bill will include more feedback from local officials, mainly county assessors.
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McDonald’s plans $200 Million Investment to Promote Regenerative Practices
McDonald’s said Monday it plans to invest $200 million over the next seven years to promote regenerative agriculture practices on cattle ranches. Associated Press reports the Chicago burger giant said the investment was its largest to date in support of regenerative agriculture in the U.S. The company has also funded regenerative projects on potato farms in Canada and Europe. “As a brand that serves more than 90% of Americans every year, we recognize the responsibility we have to help safeguard our food systems for long-term vitality,” Cesar Piña, McDonald’s chief supply chain officer for North America, said in a statement. Regenerative techniques aim to conserve water, enhance soil health and reduce the need for synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. On cattle ranches, ranchers practicing regenerative agriculture move cattle frequently and let the land recover for weeks or months. That helps produce more grass with deeper roots, which take more carbon from the air to help improve soil.
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Bird Flu Seen in Central Nebraska Dairy Cattle
Bovine bird flu is now a thing in Nebraska, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA). The NDA and USDA in recent days identified a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a dairy cattle herd in central Nebraska, reports Successful Farming. The Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, working with the National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed a similar strain of the virus to what infected a herd in California. Cattle are at little risk of death with proper care, and the herd has been quarantined, officials said. Nebraska State Veterinarian Dr. Roger Dudley asked the state’s cattle producers to monitor their biosecurity protocols and contact a vet if they notice any symptoms. The state warned farmers to watch for decreases in hunger and milk production, along with clear nasal discharge, tacky or loose feces, dehydration, fever, and lethargic behavior.
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EPA Draft Rule on Reallocation of RFS Refinery Exemptions Creates Possible Good, Bad, & Ugly Outcomes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a draft rule regarding the potential reallocation of recently granted Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) refinery exemptions (SREs) from years 2023 and 2024 as well as for the estimated amount SREs expected for 2025. Combined, this rule will impact over two billion gallons of renewable fuels demand. In the draft rule, EPA proposed reallocating 100% of the RFS exemptions or only 50%, while also soliciting comment on doing no reallocation at all. Any reallocated volumes would be added to the 2026-2027 RFS blending volumes under the proposal. “Just a few weeks ago Iowa Renewable Fuels Association praised the EPA for committing to full reallocation in the 2026-2027 RFS rule, the co-proposal that would reallocate only 50% of the SREs would be bad news for farmers.
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