This Week! 2025 Agricultural Law Symposium—September 18, 2025. In-person at Penn State Dickinson Law, University Park, Pa., 6 CLE credits available!

Next Week: Webinar—Sept. 26, 2025, Understanding the Basics of U.S. Grain Dealer Statutes

Agricultural Labor: Federal Court Permanently Enjoins 2023 H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Calculation Rule, DOL to Publish New Rule 🌾
On August 26, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana issued a final judgement permanently vacating the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) 2023 final rule, which amended the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) calculation for H-2A workers to draw upon data from DOL’s Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program instead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Labor Survey. Teche Vermilion Sugar Cane Growers Assoc. Inc v. Su, No. 6:23-cv-00831. The court held that the final rule “is arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.” Additionally, DOL has submitted a proposed rule notification with the Office of Management and Budget stating that the agency intends to publish in the Federal Register a proposed rule in February 2026 to “amend its regulations to revise the methodology by which it determines the . . . AEWRs for non-range agricultural occupations.” See also ALWR—Oct. 11, 2024, “Federal Court Partially Enjoins 2023 H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Calculation Rule”

Agricultural Labor: USDA Publishes Notice Discontinuing Farm Labor Survey
On September 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) published in the Federal Register a notice (90 FR 42560) announcing that the agency has discontinued the information collection for the Agricultural (Farm) Labor Survey (FLS), stating that the agency has deemed the FLS “duplicative and/or no longer necessary” because “recent improvements to the Department of Labor (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program make the OEWS the superior barometer for measuring farm wages.” Previously, the FLS provided data to inform the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), the minimum wage for H-2A workers. In 2023, DOL published a final rule (88 FR 12760), ratified in May 2024, amending the AEWR calculation to use OEWS data—which was enjoined by a federal court on August 26, 2025 (see above). See also ALWR—Oct. 11, 2024, “Federal Court Partially Enjoins 2023 H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Calculation Rule” and ALWR—May 24, 2024, “DOL Ratifies 2023 H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rate Final Rule Methodology.”

International Trade: European Commission Announces EU-Mercosur, EU-Mexico Agreements Proceed to European Legislature for Approval
On September 2, 2025, the European Commission (EC), announced that it had submitted to the European Council both the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA), an extensive trade agreement between the EU and the four Mercosur countries, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and the EU-Mexico Modernised Global Agreement (MGA), a separate trade agreement with Mexico. According to the announcement, the EMPA “will create the world’s biggest free trade zone, covering a market of over 700 million consumers” and “reduces high tariffs on key EU agri-food products, notably wine and spirits (up to 35%), chocolate (20%), and olive oil (10%)” while “protecting 344 EU Geographical Indications.” The EC states that, under the EMPA, it anticipates “EU agri-food exports to Mercosur . . . to grow by almost 50%.” Additionally, the EC states that the EU-Mexico agreement “will remove the remaining prohibitive tariffs on EU agri-food exports to Mexico,” some of “which currently go up to 100%” “such as cheese, poultry, pork, pasta, apples, jams as well as chocolate and wine” and “expands protection” for 568 geographical indications. Before becoming effective, the “EMPA and the MGA require separate approval by the European Parliament and Member States.”

Water Quality: EPA Withdraws 2024 Meat and Poultry CWA Effluent Limitations Proposed Rule
On September 3, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in the Federal Register a final action (90 FR 42538) to withdraw the January 2024 proposed rule “Clean Water Act Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Meat and Poultry Products Point Source Category” (89 FR 4474), which would have reduced phosphorus and nitrogen limits for certain large direct dischargers and established new pretreatment standards for large indirect dischargers. EPA stated that “it is not appropriate to impose additional regulation on the [meat and poultry] industry, given Administration priorities and policy concerns, including protecting food supply and mitigating inflationary prices for American consumers.” See also ALWR—Jan. 29, 2024,“EPA Publishes Proposed Rule for Meat and Poultry Point Source Effluent Limitations.”

Environmental Policy: BLM Proposes to Rescind Conservation and Landscape Health Rule
On September 11, 2025, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule (90 FR 43990) that would rescind the Conservation and Landscape Health final rule, issued on May 9, 2024 (89 FR 40308). The final rule “established a ‘policy for the BLM to build and maintain the resilience of ecosystems on public lands.” According to the proposal to rescind the rule, BLM determined that the rule is “unnecessary and violates existing statutory requirements” and is “unnecessary to facilitate, and even undermines, the BLM’s management of the public lands under applicable law.” The proposed rule is open for comment until November 10, 2025 (BLM-2025-001).

Air Quality: Federal Court Upholds EPCRA Farm Animal Waste Reporting Exemption
On August 7, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued an opinion upholding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2019 rule, which exempted air emissions from animal waste at farms from reporting requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).

Rural Empowerment Ass’n Comm. Help v. EPA, No. 1:18-cv-02260. For more, see Brigit Rollins, Federal Court Upholds Reporting Exemption for Livestock Emissions, Nat’l Agric. Law Ctr. (Aug. 26, 2025) and Paul Goeringer and Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, Clearing the Air on Manure: What the New Ruling Means for Agriculture, Southern Ag Today 5(36.5) (Sept. 5, 2025). See also ALWR—May 1, 2023, “EPA May Rescind EPCRA Farm Exemption; Conducts Meetings with Stakeholders.”

Food Policy: HHS Publishes ‘Make Our Children Healthy Again’ Report
On September 9, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the publication of its “Make our Children Healthy Again” Strategy Report. The report lists four “potential drivers behind the rise in childhood chronic disease that present the clearest opportunities for progress”: (1) “poor diet,” (2) “chemical exposure,” (3) “lack of physical activity and chronic stress,” and (4) “overmedicalization.” Regarding pesticides, the report stated that the government intends to “prioritize research and programs to help growers adopt precision agricultural techniques . . . to decrease pesticide volumes [and] improve the soil microbiome,”  and “work to ensure that the public has awareness and confidence in EPA’s pesticide robust review procedures and how that relates to the limiting of risk for users and the general public and informs continual improvement.” Additionally, the report states that the government plans to develop a “government-wide definition for ‘Ultra-processed Food,’” “support domestic agricultural production of plants used as natural color sources,” and “streamline organic certification processes and reduce costs for small farms transitioning to organic practices.” The report also identifies as additional action items “remov[ing] restrictions on whole milk sales in schools” and “remov[ing] barriers preventing small dairy operations from processing and selling their own milk products locally.”

Nutrition Programs: USDA Announces $18 Million for 2026 Farm to School Grants
On September 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the department will allocate $18 million for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program for FY2026. USDA states that the program “is designed to increase the availability of local foods in Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operations and connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for CNP meals.” According to the School Nutrition Association and the National Farm to School Network, in March 2025, several state agencies received notification from USDA cancelling their FY2025 Farm to School grant funding, totaling approximately $10 million. Applications for FY2026 are open until December 5, 2025.

Biotechnology: Complaint Alleges Texas Cell-Cultured Meat Prohibition Violates Constitution
On September 2, 2025, cellular agriculture companies Wildtype, Inc. and UPSIDE Foods, Inc. filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas a complaint challenging Texas’s SB 261, which became effective September 1, 2025, and prohibits the sale of cell-cultured meat within the state. Wild Type, Inc. v. Shuford, No. 1:25-cv-01408. The companies claim that the law violates the Dormant Commerce Clause because “it was enacted with the purpose, and has the effect, of discriminating against competition coming exclusively from out of state” and the Supremacy Clause because it “is expressly preempted by the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA).” Further, the companies are asking the court to “declare SB 261 unconstitutional and preempted under federal law and permanently enjoin its operation.” See also ALWR—May 20, 2025,“Federal Court Allows Dormant Commerce Clause Claim to Proceed Against Florida’s Cultivated Meat Prohibition.”

Read the latest Agricultural Law in the Spotlight: The Status of Cell-Cultured Meat Regulations

Regulatory Policy: Pennsylvania Meat Processing Industry Hearing September 25, 2025
On September 25, 2025, from 2:00–4:00pm, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Offices of Rural Affairs and National Ombudsman will hold a Meat Processing Industry Listening Session at the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce. Persons interested in attending may register by contacting Kennedy Smallwood at [email protected] or Jesse Rangle at [email protected].

Dairy Policy: PA Milk Board to Hold Cost Replacement Hearings for Areas 3, 5, 6
On September 6, 2025, the Pennsylvania Milk Board published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin three notices announcing a public hearing on November 5, 2025, for Milk Marketing Areas No. 3 (55 Pa.B. 6514), No. 5 (55 Pa.B. 6514), and No. 6 (55 Pa.B. 6415). According to the notices, the “purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony and exhibits concerning cost replacement” in the three areas.

 

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Understanding Agricultural Law Series. A free monthly Zoom 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:

Sept. 26, 2025, Understanding the Basics of U.S. Grain Dealer Statutes

Oct. 24, 2025, Understanding the Basics of Pennsylvania’s Seasonal Farm Labor Law

Nov. 21, 2025, Understanding the Basics of Cell Cultured Foods & Labeling Laws

Dec. 12, 2025, Understanding the Clean Water Act & Ag: Biosolids & Food Processing Waste Land Application

Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar Series. A free quarterly Zoom 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:

Oct. 14, 2025, 3rd Quarter 2025 Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: One Big Beautiful Bill Act Dairy Provisions

Mid-Atlantic Ag & Resource Law Conference with WVU Extension—October 28–29, 2025. In-person at National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown, WV. Registration Available.

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

Register or Refer an Ag Business for 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. Upcoming AgWorks webinars:

Resources of Interest:

Univ. of Ill. FarmDoc Daily, The Reconciliation Farm Bill: Is Conservation a Silver Lining?, Jonathan Coppess (September 11, 2025)

Univ. of Ill. Farm Policy News, EPA Biofuel Reallocation Proposal Reportedly Could Trim Demand, Ryan Hanrahan (September 11, 2025)

Nat’l Agric. Law Ctr., Federal Court Dismisses Challenge to Texas’ Newly Enacted Foreign Ownership Law, Ramie Parsons (September 10, 2025)

Nat’l Agric. Law Ctr., Lawsuit Challenges Registration of Enlist One and Enlist Duo, Brigit Rollins (September 9, 2025)

Tex. A&M Agric. Law Blog, Federal Court Upholds Air Emissions Exemption for Livestock & Poultry Operations, Tiffany Dowell Lashmet (September 8, 2025)

Univ. of Ill. FarmDoc Daily, Tracking Public Perceptions of MAHA, Maria Kalaitzandonakes and Jonathan Coppess (September 8, 2025)

Univ. of Ill. Farm Policy News, MAHA Strategy Report Mostly Friendly to Ag, Pesticides, Ryan Hanrahan (September 10, 2025)

Univ. of Ill. Farm Policy News, House, Senate Ag Chairmen Considering Market Aid for Farmers, Ryan Hanrahan (September 8, 2025)

Southern Ag Today, Clearing the Air on Manure: What the New Ruling Means for Agriculture, Paul Goeringer (Univ. Mar.) and Tiffany Dowell Lashmet (Tex. A&M Univ.) (September 5, 2025)

Nat’l Agric. Law Ctr., FTC Files Suit Against John Deere, Will Scobey (September 4, 2025)

Univ. of Ill. Farm Policy News, USDA Lowers Farm Income Forecast, Remains Well Above 2024, Ryan Hanrahan (September 4, 2025)

Southern Ag Today, Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade in 2025: Exploring the Recent August Forecasts, Andrew Muhammad (Univ. Tenn.) (September 4, 2025)

Agric. Law & Tax’n Blog, OBBBA and SNAP Benefits, Roger A. McEowen (September 3, 2025)

Nat’l Agric. Law Ctr., Solar Smarts for Landowners: Property Owner Rights/Use, Rusty Rumley and Grace Henson (September 2, 2025)

Nat’l Agric. Law Ctr., Keeping Good Records a Necessity for Farms with H-2A Labor, Mary Hightower (September 2, 2025)

Univ. Md. Risk Mgmt. Educ. Blog, Transmission Lines and Property Rights: A Maryland Landowner’s Guide to Eminent Domain and the Piedmont Reliability Project, Holiday Hull, Paul Goeringer, and Madeline Jones (September 2, 2025)

Tex. A&M Agric. Law Blog, 2025 USDA NASS Cash Rent Rates Published, Tiffany Dowell Lashmet (September 2, 2025)

Univ. of Ill. Farm Policy News, U.S. Tariffs Reshaping Global Ag Trade Flows, Ryan Hanrahan (September 1, 2025)

Agric. Law & Tax’n Blog, A Shift in Administrative Enforcement for Agriculture, Roger A. McEowen (August 31, 2025)

STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PRESS RELEASES

Supporting Innovation and Excellence: Pennsylvania Hosts Top U.S. Dairy Breeders for All-American Dairy Show at Farm Show Complex (September 12, 2025)

PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Pa. Bulletin Vol. 55, No. 36 and 37—September 6-13, 2025):  

Department of Agriculture

55 Pa.B. 6546 Notice: “General Quarantine Order; Certified Swine Sample Collectors”

55 Pa.B. 6551 Notice: “Program Requirements for the Urban Agricultural Infrastructure Grant Program”

55 Pa.B. 6553 Notice: “Venison Donation Program Grant Application”

55 Pa.B. 6419 Notice: “List of Pesticides Which May be Used by Medical Marijuana Growers and Processors”

Department of Environmental Protection

55 Pa.B. 6555 Notice: “Applications for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits and Water Quality Management (WQM) Permits Under the Clean Streams Law and Federal Clean Water Act”

55 Pa.B. 6636 Notice: “Bid Opportunity”

55 Pa.B. 6636 Notice: “State Water Plan—Regional and Statewide Water Resources Committee Meetings”

55 Pa.B. 6477 Notice: “Proposed Conditional State Water Quality Certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act for the United States Army Corps of Engineers Pennsylvania State Programmatic General Permit-7 (PASPGP-7)”

55 Pa.B. 6423 Notice: “Applications for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits and Water Quality Management (WQM) Permits Under the Clean Streams Law and Federal Clean Water Act”

55 Pa.B. 6509 Notice: “Environmental Assessment Approvals for PENNVEST Funding Consideration

Pennsylvania Milk Board

55 Pa.B. 6514 Notice: “Hearing and Presubmission Schedule; Milk Marketing Area No. 3”

55 Pa.B. 6514 Notice: “Hearing and Presubmission Schedule; Milk Marketing Area No. 5”

55 Pa.B. 6415 Notice: “Hearing and Presubmission Schedule; Milk Marketing Area No. 6”

PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE

SB 381 “An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in public safety, prohibiting certain animal experimentation, sale and testing; and imposing penalties.” Referred to Judiciary [House] (September 11, 2025)

HB 661 “An Act amending Title 16 (Counties) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in contracts, further providing for contract procedures, terms and bonds and advertising for bids.” Laid on the table [House] (September 10, 2025)

HB 260 “An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in liquid fuels and fuels tax, further providing for refunds.” Laid on the table [House] (September 10, 2025)

HB 177 “An Act providing for the creation of keystone opportunity dairy zones to facilitate the economic development of Pennsylvania’s dairy industry; authorizing expenditures; providing for tax exemptions, tax deductions, tax abatements and tax credits; creating additional obligations of the Commonwealth and local governmental units; prescribing powers and duties of certain State and local departments, agencies and officials; and imposing penalties.” Referred to Agriculture & Rural Affair [House] (September 10, 2025)

HR 309 “A Resolution designating the month of October 2025 as “Wine, Wineries and Grapes Month” in Pennsylvania.” Referred to Agriculture & Rural Affairs [House] (September 10, 2025)

HB 179 “An Act authorizing the provision or sale of Pennsylvania milk in Pennsylvania schools.” Laid on the table [House] (September 10, 2025)

SB 988 “An Act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in crop insurance, further providing for definitions, for crop insurance financial assistance and for funding.” Referred to Agriculture & Rural Affairs [Senate] (September 4, 2025)

SB 985 “An Act amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code, in licenses and regulations and liquor, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages, further providing for ready-to-drink cocktail permit, for authority to acquire ready-to-drink cocktail permits, for distributors’ and importing distributors’ restrictions on sales, storage, etc. and for unlawful acts relative to malt or brewed beverages and licensees.” Referred to Law & Justice [Senate] (September 4, 2025)

FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESS RELEASES

EPA Releases Proposal to End the Burdensome, Costly Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, Saving up to $2.4 Billion (September 12, 2025)

ICYMI: EPA Launches Successful Feed It Onward Initiative to Fight Food Waste at Scott Air Force Base (September 10, 2025)

MAHA Commission Unveils Sweeping Strategy to Make Our Children Healthy Again (September 9, 2025)

EPA Announces Permitting Reform to Provide Clarity, Expedite Construction of Essential Power Generation, Reshore Manufacturing (September 9, 2025)

EPA Launches ‘Feed It Onward’ Initiative (September 5, 2025)

EPA announces a total of $337 million to North Carolina for water infrastructure resiliency and repair of environmental damage from Hurricane Helene (September 3, 2025)

ICYMI: Administrator Zeldin in Breitbart: EPA is Protecting America’s Workers and the Environment (September 3, 2025)

EPA Releases Statement Following Favorable D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling (September 2, 2025)

EPA Administrator Zeldin Tours Midwest, Announces Action to Support Lower Food Prices for Americans (September 1, 2025)

EPA Announces Action to Support Lower Food Prices for Americans and Reduce Burden on American Farmers by Addressing Meat and Poultry Discharge Regulations  (August 30, 2025)

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

USDA to Provide $1 Billion to Flood and Wildfire-Impacted Livestock Producers (September 12, 2025)

Secretary Rollins Announces Reinvigorated Farm to School Grants Supporting American Farmers and Children (September 10, 2025)

MAHA Commission Unveils Sweeping Strategy to Make Our Children Healthy Again (September 9, 2025)

USDA Announces $221.2 Million Grant Agreement to Cover Agricultural Losses in North Carolina (September 5, 2025)

USDA Secures New Long-Term Fire-Retardant Contract, Saving Taxpayers Hundreds of Millions (September 3, 2025)

USDA Announces Forest Health Resilience Projects to Improve Timber Production (September 3, 2025)

USDA AGENCY PRESS RELEASES

Agricultural Marketing Service

USDA Proposes Revisions to Grade Standards for Lemons (September 11, 2025)

USDA Restricts PACA Violators in California and Florida from Operating in the Produce Industry (September 4, 2025)

Roberson Onion Corp. dba Roberson Produce in Georgia Enters Into Consent Decision and Order Involving Alleged PACA Violations (September 4, 2025)

USDA Restricts PACA Violators in California, Georgia, New Jersey and New York from Operating in the Produce Industry (September 4, 2025)

Atlantic Frozen Foods LLC Satisfies Terms of Consent Decision and Order Involving Alleged PACA Violations (September 4, 2025)

Economic Research Service

Documentation for the Agri-Food Economic Data System (Ag-FEDS): A More Complete Accounting of the U.S. Agri-Food Economy (September 11, 2025)

Drivers of Fertilizer Markets: Supply, Demand, and Prices (September 10, 2025)

Global Food Assessment, 2025–35 (September 9, 2025)

Farm Service Agency

USDA to Provide $1 Billion to Flood and Wildfire-Impacted Livestock Producers (September 12, 2025)

Trump Administration Appoints Laurie Boner to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Wyoming (September 10, 2025)

Trump Administration Appoints Jeffrey Holmes to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in New Hampshire (September 9, 2025)

Trump Administration Appoints Susan Larson to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Utah (September 9, 2025)

Trump Administration Appoints Keith Richmond to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in West Virginia (September 9, 2025)

Trump Administration Appoints Eddie Fields to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Oklahoma (September 9, 2025)

Trump Administration Appoints Robert Andrzejczak to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in New Jersey (September 8, 2025)

Trump Administration Appoints Tootie Smith to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Oregon (September 8, 2025)

USDA Announces September 2025 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers (September 2, 2025)

Food Safety and Inspection Service

Constituent Update (September 12, 2025)

Residue Repeat Violators List (September 11, 2025)

Salmonella Verification Testing: July 28, 2024 through July 26, 2025 (September 5, 2025)

Constituent Update (August 29, 2025)

Foreign Agricultural Service

Export Sales to South Korea (September 12, 2025)

Export Sales to Unknown Destinations (September 5, 2025)

USDA Under Secretary Lindberg Advances Trump Administration’s America First Agenda during Commodity Cooperator Roundtables (September 3, 2025)

Export Sales to Philippines (September 2, 2025)

National Agricultural Statistics Service

September Crop Production (September 12, 2025)

USDA Forecasts US Corn Production Up, Soybean and Cotton Production Down from 2024 (September 12, 2025)

USDA NASS Releases the First-Ever Hawaii Cropland Data Layer at 10-Meter Resolution (September 2, 2025)

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Cooperative Extension—Key Partner in Disaster Preparedness (September 4, 2025)

NIFA Seeks Applications for Co-funded Research on Topics Identified by Commodity Boards (September 3, 2025)

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Where Conservation Connects Wildlife with Communities (September 11, 2025)

NRCS Assists with Dangerous Erosion Issues (September 11, 2025)

Glacial Lakes Project Announces Application Date (September 10, 2025)

NRCS Announces Application Deadline for EQIP and RCPP-LMR Sign-Ups (September 5, 2025)

NRCS-WA sets FY’26 EQIP Classic batching deadline (September 4, 2025)

USDA-NRCS State Technical Advisory Committee meeting set for Sept. 10 (September 4, 2025)

USDA Announces Forest Health Resilience Projects to Improve Timber Production (September 3, 2025)

State Technical Committee to Meet September 10 (September 2, 2025)

USDA-NRCS Supports the Arc of the Central Plains Innovative Agricultural Project (September 2, 2025)

FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Federal Register: September 1–13, 2025):

Department of Agriculture

90 FR 44360 Notice and request for comments: “Revision of Seven U.S. Grade Standards for Canned Tomato Products” (September 15, 2025)

90 FR 43166 Notice of public, virtual meeting: “Tribal Advisory Committee” (September 8, 2025)

Agricultural Marketing Service

90 FR 44151 Proposed rule: “Domestic Dates Produced or Packed in Riverside County, California; Decreased Assessment Rate” (September 12, 2025)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

90 FR 44000 Revision to and extension of approval of an information collection; comment request: “Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Importation of Sheep, Goats, and Certain Other Ruminants” (September 11, 2025)

90 FR 43166 Notice: “Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of an Information Collection; Conditions for Payment of Avian Influenza Indemnity Claims” (September 8, 2025)

90 FR 42737 Notice: “Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Limited: Determination of Nonregulated Status of ISK-311NR-4 Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid) Genetically Engineered to Produce a Blue-Purple Flower Color” (September 4, 2025)

90 FR 42557 Revision to and extension of approval of an information collection; comment request: “Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Approval of Laboratories for Conducting Aquatic Animal Tests for Export Health Certificates” (September 3, 2025)

Employment and Training Administration

90 FR 43640 Notice; request for comments: “Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Revision of H-2A Temporary Agricultural Labor Certification Program” (September 10, 2025)

Environmental Protection Agency

90 FR 44062 Notice of receipt and request for comment: “Certain New Chemicals; Receipt and Status Information for July 2025” (September 11, 2025)

90 FR 43921 Correcting amendment: “Hazardous Waste Management System; Identification and Listing of Hazardous Waste; Final Rule; Correction” (September 11, 2025)

90 FR 42965 Notice of the designation of three new equivalent methods and one new reference method for monitoring ambient air quality: “Ambient Air Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods; Designation of Three New Equivalent Methods and One New Reference Method” (September 5, 2025)

90 FR 42896 Notice of filing of petitions and request for comment: “Receipt of Pesticide Petitions Filed for Residues of Pesticide Chemicals in or on Various Commodities-June 2025” (September 5, 2025)

90 FR 42711 Proposed rule; reopening of comment period and public hearing: “Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System: Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities; CCR Management Unit Deadline Extension Rule; Reopening of Comment Period and Public Hearing” (September 4, 2025)

90 FR 42708 Withdrawal of direct final rule: “Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System: Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities; CCR Management Unit Deadline Extension Rule; Withdrawal of Direct Final Rule” (September 4, 2025)

90 FR 42538 Final action: “Clean Water Act Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Meat and Poultry Products Point Source Category” (September 3, 2025)

Farm Service Agency

90 FR 44158 Notice; request for comment: “Information Collection Request; In-Person and Online Registration for FSA-Hosted Events and Conferences” (September 12, 2025)

Food and Nutrition Service

90 FR 44001 Notice: “Agency Information Collection Activities: State Administrative Expense Funds” (September 11, 2025)

Food and Drug Administration

90 FR 43455 Notice: “Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request; Tobacco Product Establishment Registration and Listing” (September 9, 2025)

90 FR 43454 Notice of availability: “Classification Categories for Certain Supplements Under Biosimilar User Fee Amendments III; Guidance for Industry; Availability” (September 9, 2025)

90 FR 42972 Notice: “Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request; Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards” (August 5, 2025)

90 FR 42699 Final amendment; order: “Food Additives Permitted for Direct Addition to Food for Human Consumption; Vitamin D3 in Yogurt and Other Cultured Dairy Products Fermented with Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Subspecies bulgaricus, and Streptococcus thermophilus” (September 4, 2025)

90 FR 42761 Notice: “Pesticide Registration Review; Pesticide Dockets Opened for Review and Comment; Notice of Availability” (September 4, 2025)

90 FR 42535 Final amendment; order: “Secondary Direct Food Additives Permitted in Food for Human Consumption; Hydrogen Peroxide” (September 3, 2025)

90 FR 42550 Notification of petition: “Biomin GmbH; Filing of Food Additive Petition (Animal Use)” (September 3, 2025)

90 FR 42593 Notice: “Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request; FDA Food Safety and Nutrition Survey” (September 3, 2025)

Food and Nutrition Service

90 FR 42558 Notice: “Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education and Obesity Prevention Grant (SNAP-Ed) State Plan and Annual Report System” (September 3, 2025)     

U.S. HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

H.R.5341 “To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to exempt certain owners of livestock from inspection requirements, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (September 11, 2025)

H.R.4386 “To amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to clarify entrance privileges for vehicles with respect to the America the Beautiful interagency pass.” Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands (September 11, 2025)

H.R.4284 “Small Cemetery Conveyance Act” Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands (September 11, 2025)

H.R.5286 “To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop an enforcement mechanism with respect to certain provisions relating to the transport of animals, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Transportation and Infrastructure (September 10, 2025)

H.R.5280 “To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to enhance the long-term protection of watersheds, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (September 10, 2025)

H.Res.691 “Expressing the sense of Congress that August 30, 2025, be observed as the 135th anniversary of the 1890 Institutions.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (September 10, 2025)

H.R.5241 “To amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to provide mandatory funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation for reimbursement payments to geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (September 9, 2025)

H.R.5223 “To amend the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to allow individuals with drug offenses to receive benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committees on Agriculture and Ways and Means (September 9, 2025)

H.R.4550 “United States Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2025” Received in the Senate (September 9, 2025)

H.Res.683 “Supporting the designation of the week of September 8 through September 12, 2025, as ‘Malnutrition Awareness Week’” Referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce (September 9, 2025)

H.R.5196 “Protect Our Farmers and Families Act of 2025” Referred to the Committees on Agriculture and Energy and Commerce (September 8, 2025)

H.R.5168 “Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (September 8. 2025)

H.R.5150 “Protecting Agricultural Borrower Information Act” Sponsor introductory remarks on measure (September 8, 2025)

H.R.5164 “To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to eliminate the prohibition on indirect costs with respect to aquaculture assistance, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (September 4, 2025)

H.R.5150 “To strengthen privacy protections for recipients of loans and payments processed by the Farm Service Agency.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (September 4, 2025)

H.R.5138 “To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to authorize grants for eligible institutions to carry out agriculture workforce training programs, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (September 4, 2025)

H.R.5129 “To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require that supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits be calculated using the value of the low-cost food plan, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (September 4, 2025)

H.R.5111 “To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to improve the conservation reserve program, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (September 3, 2025)

H.R.4550 “United States Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2025” Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 190 (September 3, 2025)

H.R.5097 “To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program under which the Secretary will award grants to specialty crop producers to acquire certain equipment and provide training with respect to the use of such equipment.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (September 2, 2025)

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

S.2792 “A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require that supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits be calculated using the value of the low-cost food plan, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (September 11, 2025)

S.2778 “A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a program for the procurement of domestically grown unprocessed fruits and vegetables to provide healthier school meals, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (September 11, 2025)

S.Res.378 “A resolution supporting the designation of the week of September 8 through September 12, 2025, as ‘Malnutrition Awareness Week’” Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (September 9, 2025)

S.2727 “A bill to amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to authorize grants for eligible institutions to carry out agriculture workforce training programs, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (September 4, 2025)

S.2717 “A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow for deductions of student loan payments from income.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (September 4, 2025)

S.2707 “A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to exclude certain student income from eligibility determinations, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (September 4, 2025)

S.2701 “A bill to amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to reauthorize and improve the Water Source Protection Program, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (September 3, 2025)

S.2695 “A bill to provide for the establishment of a National Synthetic Biology Center, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (September 3, 2025)

S.2694 “A bill to improve connections between the Department of Agriculture and national and homeland security agencies, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (September 3, 2025)

S.2693 “A bill to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to enhance the recognition, procurement, and domestic production of biobased products, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (September 3, 2025)

S.2692 “A bill to amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish in the Department of Agriculture an Office of Biotechnology Policy, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (September 3, 2025)

S.2691 “A bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to extend and enhance the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program, and for other purposes.” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (September 3, 2025)

U.S. HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE—UPCOMING HEARINGS

U.S. House Ag. Comm., An Examination of the State of the Specialty Crop Industry, September 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET

U.S. House Ag. Comm., USDA’s Rural Development: Delivering Vital Programs and Services to Rural America, September 18, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET

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

None.

 

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