Will ‘Product of the USA’ Give Cattle Ranchers a Boost?
On National Agriculture Day, USDA announced a revamped “Product of the USA” label that now requires meat, poultry and egg products to be raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States. The change comes as U.S. cattle herds hit a 75‑year low in 2026, driving up beef prices and squeezing small ranchers who compete with large, import‑reliant packers. While the voluntary label aims to give independent packers a marketing edge, industry groups are urging Congress to make origin labeling mandatory, reviving the COOL law and addressing WTO trade‑rule concerns.
USDA Finalizes Rollback of Environmental Permitting Regulations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture finalized a rule that dramatically reshapes how it complies with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The regulation slashes NEPA paperwork by roughly 66 percent, eliminates public‑comment periods, and strips climate‑change and environmental‑justice analyses from...
Food Companies Backslide on Promises to Reduce Pesticides
The As You Sow “Pesticides in the Pantry” report shows that ten of the seventeen biggest U.S. food companies earned lower scores this year, indicating a retreat from earlier pledges to cut synthetic pesticide use. General Mills, once a leader...
Will AI Be a Net Positive For Aquaculture?
Finfish aquaculture is grappling with disease, mortality, pollution and costly feed, prompting a surge of AI solutions. Over $610 million was poured into AI projects in 2024, with more than 90 startups—mostly in Norway and the United States—targeting disease prediction, net...
USDA Pauses Rural Energy Grants Amid Anti-Renewables Push
The USDA’s Rural Business Cooperative Service announced a pause on Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) awards while it rewrites regulations to comply with a 2025 executive order that targets wind and solar subsidies. REAP, a bipartisan initiative, has funded...
Trump Administration Tells Hospitals to Align With New Nutrition Guidelines
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a Quality and Safety Special Alert urging hospitals to redesign patient meals in line with the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which prioritize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and minimally processed proteins while...
‘Native Foods Have Sustained People for Generations’
Jack Strong, executive chef at The Allison Inn and Spa and member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz, is using his platform to revive and showcase Native cuisine. He runs a school‑based culinary program that serves K‑12 meals, operates a...
In an Ohio Apple Grove, Researchers Race to Save Rare Varieties
In 2004‑05 Diane Miller collected wild apple seeds from Kyrgyzstan and planted them at Ohio’s Dawes Arboretum, creating a 15‑acre, 800‑tree repository of thousands of genetic lines. The collection offers disease‑resistant traits that could reduce pesticide use and broaden flavor...
USDA Proposes Delaying Poultry Industry Rule
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed delaying the poultry grower‑payment and capital‑improvement rule until December 2027, pushing back its original July 2026 effective date. The rule, part of a Biden‑era effort to enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act, would...
Op-Ed: The AI ‘Revolution’ Is a False Promise for Food Systems
The op‑ed argues that the touted AI "revolution" in agriculture and aquaculture is more hype than solution, driven by big tech, corporations, and government funding. While AI tools promise higher yields, they often force farmers to surrender data rights and...
SNAP Recipients Sue USDA Over Soda, Candy Restrictions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved 22 waivers that let states restrict SNAP purchases of soda, candy, energy drinks and other sugary items. A coalition of the National Center for Law and Economic Justice and law firm Shinder Cantor...
Farmers Warn Senate Ag Committee of Iran War Price Shocks
During a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, lawmakers highlighted how the Iran‑Israel war threatens the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for up to 30% of global fertilizer exports. Farmers warned that disrupted shipments could push already‑high input costs to record levels,...