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 per year, agricultural commodity processors with more than $10,000 in anticipated sales per year, certain technical assistance providers, and individuals and certain entities that create energy from agricultural commodities. Also announced by Governor Josh Shapiro during the Pennsylvania Farm Show, grants will be awarded in amounts from $5,000 to $2 million, depending on grant type and project specifications. PDA lists the following as project examples that include technology that “improves efficiency on the farm or in processing,” “generates energy while reducing nutrient waste leaving the farm,” or “supports crops that effectively store carbon or replace non-renewable resources.” PDA will evaluate applications based on relevancy, practicality, accessibility, scalability, and the project’s ability to improve “society, the environment and the economy.” Applications must be filed online between 8 a.m. on February 2, 2026, and 11:59 p.m. on April 18, 2026.

Dairy Policy: USDA Announces $11 Million to Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives Grant Recipients
On January 21, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the agency’s noncompetitive award of $11 million in Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) grant funding to four current DBI initiatives:

According to the announcement, the funding supports “small and mid-sized dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products.” 

National Agricultural Policy: USDA Announces Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Reporting Portal
On January 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the launch of a new online portal to “streamline reporting of transactions involving U.S. agricultural land by foreign persons,” including businesses and governments, under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). USDA states that the new portal “is part of a broader effort to strengthen enforcement and protect American farmland” under its National Farm Security Action Plan. According to the announcement, the new portal will gather the same information that form FSA-153 requires, so USDA states that “filers should not duplicate filings by using both submission options.” See also ALWR—July 15, 2025, “USDA Announces National Farm Security Action Plan, Opens Reporting Portal.”

Agricultural Data: USDA Announces Rural Data Gateway ‘Lender Lens’ Dashboard
On January 19, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new dashboard on its Rural Data Gateway called Lender Lens, which will publish Rural Development’s entire commercial guaranteed loan portfolio. According to the announcement, Lender Lens data includes total loan volume, average loan size, loan distribution by sector, geographic spread, and delinquency rates. Current Lender Lens visualizations include OneRD Investments; Investment Data Download; OneRD Loan Portfolio; and Loan Portfolio Download.

 

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Understanding Agricultural Law Series. A free monthly webinar series for agricultural and rural business advisors. One hour of substantive CLE credit available for Pennsylvania-licensed attorneys at no charge. All events on Fridays, noon–1 pm (ET). Upcoming:

Feb. 27, 2026, Understanding the Basics of the USDA National Appeals Division

Mar. 27, 2026, Understanding the Basics of Right to Farm Laws

Apr. 24, 2026, Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard

May 22, 2026, Understanding the Basics of the PA Preferred Program

Jun 26, 2026, Understanding the Basics of Agricultural Vehicle Regulation

July 24, 2026, Understanding the Basics of International Agricultural Trade & Tariffs

Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar Series. A free quarterly webinar series covering dairy industry legal and regulatory developments with an in-depth focus topic. One hour of substantive CLE credit available for Pennsylvania-licensed attorneys at no charge. All events on Tuesdays, noon–1 pm (ET). Upcoming:

Jan. 27, 2026, 4th Quarter 2025: Dairy Product Standards of Identity—Regulations and Current Issues

Apr. 14, 2026, 1st Quarter 2026 Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar

Jul 14, 2026, 2nd Quarter 2026 Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar

Oct. 13, 2026, 3rd Quarter 2026 Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar

AgWorks: Connecting Agricultural Businesses to Workforce Services and Training. From 2025 to 2027, the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law and Penn State Extension will collaborate with farms and agriculture-related businesses to strengthen the workforce system. AgWorks will provide 100 registered small- to medium-sized Pennsylvania farms and agribusinesses with no-cost training and consultation to ensure business sustainability. As part of the AgWorks program, the Center for Agricultural and Shale Law will provide legal consulting and present 20+ employment law programs.

Upcoming AgWorks webinars and workshops:

Feb. 24, 2026, AgWorks: Wage and Hour Laws—Calculation and Enforcement

Subscribe to the Pennsylvania Farm Employers’ Listserv (PFEL): an email networking and resource-sharing group exclusively about human resources information for agricultural operations.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Legal Services Plan: “A new member-benefit program involving law firms that specialize in legal areas commonly utilized by farmers.”

Resources of Interest:

Nat’l Agric. Law Ctr., HHS and USDA Release “The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030,” Emily Stone (Jan. 20, 2026)

Univ. of Ill. Farm Policy News, Supreme Court Will Hear Bayer’s Roundup Liability Case, Ryan Hanrahan (Jan. 19, 2026)

Univ. of Ill. Farm Policy News, Congress Creating Ethanol Task Force After Year-Round E15 Deal Fails, Ryan Hanrahan (Jan. 23, 2026)

Agric. Law & Tax’n Blog, Top Ten Agricultural Law and Tax Developments of 2025—No. 3, Roger McEowen (Jan. 20, 2026)

Ohio St. Univ. Ext. Farm Off. Blog, The Popularity of the LLC: Ohio’s Business Formation Trends, Robert Moore (Jan. 20, 2026)

Ohio St. Univ. Ext. Farm Off. Blog, What is ‘Deed Fraud,’ and How Can Landowners Protect Themselves from It?, Ellen Essman (Jan. 22, 2026)

Iowa St. Univ. Ctr. Agric. Law & Tax’n, Twelve Estate and Succession Planning Mistakes to Avoid, Kristine A. Tidgren (Jan. 20, 2026)

Southern Ag Today, Update Your Beneficiaries!, Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, Tex. A&M (Jan. 23, 2026)

STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PRESS RELEASES

None.

PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Pa. Bulletin Vol. 56, No. 4—Jan. 24, 2026):                      

Department of Agriculture

56 Pa.B. 487 Notice: “Pennsylvania Agriculture Innovation Grant Program; 2025-2026 Program Guidelines”

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

56 Pa.B. 490 Notice: “Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council Public Meeting”

56 Pa.B. 490 Notice: “Presque Isle State Park Complex Advisory Committee Meetings”

Department of Environmental Protection

56 Pa.B. 552 Notice: “Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board; Meeting Cancellation and Reschedule”

PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE

None.

FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESS RELEASES

EPA Hosts Roundtable Discussion with Data Center Coalition on Clean Air Resources and Energy Reliability (Jan. 23, 2026)

Administrator Zeldin Gets EPA Back on Track to Eliminate Animal Testing After Biden Admin Halted Phase Out (Jan. 22, 2026)

EPA Announces Next Step in Gold Standard Review of Fluoride to Inform Protective Recommendations (Jan. 22, 2026)

EPA Seeks New Members for the Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Advisory Committee (Jan. 21, 2026)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) PRESS RELEASES

USDA Encourages Ag Producers, Residents to Prepare for Winter Storm Fern (Jan. 23, 2026)

USDA Launches New Online Portal for Reporting Foreign-Owned Agricultural Land Transactions (Jan. 22, 2026)

USDA Announces New World Screwworm Grand Challenge (Jan. 21, 2026)

On One-Year Anniversary of President Trump’s Second Term, Secretary Rollins Signs Commissions for Senate-Confirmed USDA Leadership (Jan. 20, 2026)

USDA Launches Lender Lens Dashboard to Promote Data Transparency (Jan. 19, 2026)

USDA AGENCY PRESS RELEASES

Agricultural Marketing Service

USDA to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to South Texas Onions Marketing Order (Jan. 23, 2026)

USDA Announces Over $11 Million Awarded to Support the U.S Dairy Industry (Jan. 21, 2026)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Help Protect the USA from African Swine Fever (Jan. 21, 2026)

Economic Research Service

Precision Dairy Farming, Robotic Milking, and Profitability in the United States (Jan. 22, 2026)

Rural America at a Glance: 2025 Edition (Jan. 20, 2026)

Farm Service Agency

Trump Administration Appoints Cory Atkins to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Delaware (Jan. 20, 2026)

Trump Administration Appoints Starlyn Perdue to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Iowa (Jan. 20, 2026)

Food Safety and Inspection Service

Onboarding Manual (Jan. 21, 2026)

Thirty Years and Going Strong: USDA’s Active Engagement in the U.S. National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) Interagency Collaboration (Jan. 21, 2026)

Foreign Agricultural Service

Export Sales to Unknown Destinations (Jan. 22, 2026)

Export Sales to Colombia and Unknown Destinations (Jan. 21, 2026)

Export Sales to the Philippines (Jan. 20, 2026)

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

From Lab to Lawn: How NIFA-Funded Scientists Developed a Better Turfgrass (Jan. 22, 2026)

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Finding Flexibility in Farm Bill Programs (Jan. 23, 2026)

Extended Application Deadline for Producers Interested in Soil Carbon Amendments (336) (Jan. 21, 2026)

Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (Jan. 20, 2026)

FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Federal Register: Jan. 19, 2026—Jan. 23, 2026):

Agricultural Marketing Service

91 FR 2880 Notification of hearing on proposed rulemaking: “Marketing Order for Onions Grown in South Texas (M.O. No. 959); Hearing” (Jan. 23, 2026)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

91 FR 2897 Extension of approval of an information collection; comment request: “Notice of Request for an Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Interstate Movement of Certain Land Tortoises” (Jan. 23, 2026)

91 FR 2896 Revision to and extension of approval of an information collection; comment request: “Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Control of Chronic Wasting Disease” (Jan. 23, 2026)

91 FR 2518 Revision to and extension of approval of an information collection; comment request: “Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Nomination Request Form; Animal Disease Training” (Jan. 21, 2026)

91 FR 2329 Revision to and extension of approval of an information collection; comment request: “Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)” (Jan. 20, 2026)

Food and Drug Administration

91 FR 2781 Petition for rulemaking; request for information: “Labeling and Preventing Cross-Contact of Gluten for Packaged Foods; Request for Information” (Jan. 22, 2026)

Food and Nutrition Service

91 FR 2901 Notice: “Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 60-Day Public Comment Request for the Study Classifying and Measuring Household Food Waste” (Jan. 23, 2026)

91 FR 2898 Notice: “Agency Information Collection Activities: OMB Generic Clearance for the Annual Survey of School Food Authorities” (Jan. 23, 2026)

National Agricultural Statistics Service

91 FR 2723 Notice; correction: “Notice of Intent to Seek Approval to Renewal an Information Collection; Correction” (Jan. 22, 2026)

91 FR 2723 Notice and request for comments: “Notice of Intent to Extend and Revise a Previously Approved Information Collection” (Jan. 22, 2026)

Natural Resources Conservation Service

91 FR 2519 Notice; request for comment: “Notice of Request for New Information Collection; Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Grants” (Jan. 21, 2026)

U.S. HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

H.R.7206 “To provide for economic assistance to agricultural producers, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned (Jan. 22, 2026)

H.R.7201 “To establish a program to fill critical rural workforce shortages through an education assistance and loan repayment in exchange for service in designated rural areas, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned (Jan. 22, 2026)

H.R.7195 “Timber Harvesters, Haulers, and Landowners Market Disruptions Relief Act” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (Jan. 22, 2026)

H.J.Res.143 “Resolution Act.” Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Small Business, Science, Space, and Technology, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, Ways and Means, Rules, Ethics, the Budget, and Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned (Jan. 22, 2026)

H.R.7153 “To improve connections between the Department of Agriculture and national and homeland security agencies, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (Jan. 20, 2026)

U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY 

None.

U.S. HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE—UPCOMING HEARINGS

None.

U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY—UPCOMING HEARINGS  

U.S. Senate Ag. Comm., Business Meeting, Jan. 27, 2026, at 3:00 PM EST

 

Contributors:
Audry Thompson—Staff Attorney
Christina Fraser—Research Assistant
Riley Amdor—Research Assistant
Samuel Sweeten—Research Assistant