National Agricultural Policy
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—February 24, 2026
Webinars this week—Register Now!
- Feb. 24 at noon, AgWorks: Wage and Hour Laws—Calculation and Enforcement
- Feb. 27 at noon, Understanding the Basics of the USDA National Appeals Division with Devin Winklosky, former USDA Administrative Judge (Attorney CLE available)
International Trade: President Issues Executive Order Increasing Tariff-Rate Quota for Argentinian Beef, Trade Agreement Signed with Argentina 🌾
On February 6, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order (91 FR 7107) increasing the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for lean beef trimmings by 80,000 metric tons for the 2026 calendar year and allocating “all of the increased in-quota […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—February 18, 2026
Webinars this month—Register Now!
- Feb. 24 at noon, AgWorks: Wage and Hour Laws—Calculation and Enforcement
- Feb. 27 at noon, Understanding the Basics of the USDA National Appeals Division with Devin Winklosky, former USDA Administrative Judge (Attorney CLE available)
Pesticides/Herbicides: EPA Announces Dicamba Approval for 2026, 2027 Growing Seasons 🌾
On February 6, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced (PDF) that the agency has temporarily approved dicamba for over-the-top use on cotton and soybeans for the 2026 and 2027 growing seasons despite “ecological risks associated with dicamba drift and volatility.” In approving dicamba, EPA cited […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—February 12, 2026
Webinars this month:
- Feb. 24, AgWorks: Wage and Hour Laws—Calculation and Enforcement
- Feb. 27, Understanding the Basics of the USDA National Appeals Division with Devin Winklosky, former USDA Administrative Judge (Attorney CLE available)
Technology: EPA Publishes Clean Air Act ‘Right to Repair’ Guidance Document 🌾
On January 30, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its publication of a guidance document explaining that, under the Clean Air Act (CAA), “temporary overrides of emission control systems are allowed when [performed] for the ‘purpose of repair’ to that equipment to obtain proper functionality.” EPA stated that […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—January 27, 2026
Today Jan. 27 at Noon: Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: Standards of Identity—Regulations and Current Issues (Free Attorney CLE)
Local Agricultural Policy: PA Agriculture Innovation Grant Program Requirements Published, Applications Open February 2, 2026 🌾
On January 24, 2026, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin a notice (56 Pa.B. 487) detailing the 2025–2026 fiscal year requirements for the Pennsylvania Agriculture Innovation Grant Program, which offers reimbursement grants to farmers and agriculture businesses to implement “new agricultural technologies, conservation, and renewable energy innovations.” Eligible applicants include agricultural commodity growers with more than $2,000 in anticipated sales […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—January 13, 2026
Register Now! Educational programming for January:
Jan. 21, AgWorks: Wage and Hour Laws—Requirements and Exemptions
Jan. 23, Understanding the Basics of Pennsylvania’s Seasonal Farm Labor Law (Atty CLE)
Jan. 27, Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: Standards of Identity—Regulations & Current Issues (Atty CLE)
Food Policy: USDA, HHS Publish Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030 🌾
On January 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 directing Americans to “eat real food,” along with an accompanying website, realfood.gov. The new dietary guidelines recommend that people […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—December 18, 2025
Next Week: Tues. Dec. 23 at Noon—AgWorks: Staying Compliant with Anti-Discrimination Laws
National Agricultural Policy: USDA Announces $12 Billion in ‘Bridge Payments’🌾
On December 8, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the agency will distribute $12 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funding for “one time bridge payments” to U.S. farmers “in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs.” According to the announcement, $11 billion is allocated for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, which will provide payments to row crop farmers who produce barley, chickpeas, corn, cotton, lentils, oats, peanuts, peas, rice, sorghum, […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—December 2, 2025
This month:
- Dec. 12, Understanding the Clean Water Act & Ag: Biosolids & Food Processing Waste Land Application (Free Attorney CLE!)
- Dec. 16, AgWorks: Staying Compliant with Anti-Discrimination Laws
National Agricultural Policy: Natural Resources Conservation Service Announces ‘Office of the Assistant Chiefs’ to Replace ‘Office of Regional Conservationists’ 🌾
On November 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced its creation of the Office of the Assistant Chiefs (OAC), which will replace the Office of the Regional Conservationists (ORC). NRCS states that “each Assistant Chief will oversee regional operations and work […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—November 18, 2025
This Week:
- Nov. 18, AgWorks: I-9 and ICE Raids—Protecting Your Business
- Nov. 21, Understanding the Basics of Cell Cultured Foods & Labeling Laws (free Attorney CLE!)
Local Agricultural Policy: Pennsylvania Legislature Passes 2025–26 State Budget, Governor Signs into Law 🌾
On November 12, 2025, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro approved the 2025–26 State Budget, consisting of two primary pieces of legislation: SB 160, “General Fund Appropriations” (PDF, struck provisions removed) and HB 416, “State Government Finances” (implementing legislation) (PDF). Also announced by the governor, the enacted budget appropriates a total of […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—October 28, 2025
Tues. Oct. 28: AgWorks: Legal Authority to Work in the U.S. and Other Pre-Employment Screening Processes
Fri. Oct. 31: Understanding Immigration Compliance: I-9s, Audits and ICE Raids (FREE Attorney CLE!)
National Agricultural Policy: USDA Announces Plan to ‘Strengthen American Beef Industry’ 🌾
On October 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a three-pronged plan to “strengthen the American beef industry.” Among several actions, USDA states that, “[e]ffective January 1, 2026, [Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)] inspection personnel will begin enforcing compliance on FSIS-regulated products that bear voluntary ‘Product of USA,’ ‘Made in the USA,’ and other U.S.-origin […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—October 14, 2025
Today 10/14 at Noon 3rd Quarter 2025 Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: H.R.1 (OBBA) Dairy Provisions
Dairy Policy: PA Milk Board to Over-Order Premium, Cost Replacement Hearings on December 3, 2025🌾
On October 8, 2025, the Pennsylvania Milk Board (PMB) published Bulletin No. 1661, announcing a public hearing on December 3, 2025 for all six Milk Marketing Areas “to receive testimony and exhibits concerning the level and duration of the Class I over-order premium.” Additionally, on October 3, 2025, PMB published on its website three bulletins announcing public hearings on December 3, 2025, for Milk Marketing Area No. 1 (
