AG COUNCIL NEWS & INFORMATION BRIEF
January 24, 2025
WASHINGTON AG UPDATE
Trump Hits Ground Running as 47th President of the United States: On Monday, January 20th, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. His initial actions focused on strengthening border security and greater enforcement of illegal immigration, expanding energy production, withdrawing from international climate agreements, and directing policies for federal agencies and government employees. In addition, President Trump made statements related to plans of implementing tariffs on certain imports from various countries with a targeted date of February 1 for related actions. More...Inaugural Address | Executive Actions | AgWeb | FoxNews Hannity Interview
Cabinet Nominees Work Towards Senate Confirmation Votes: The U.S. Senate is working to quickly review the president's nominees for cabinet positions and other high level appointees that require Senate confirmation. Former Senator Marco Rubio was the first cabinet appointee to be confirmed in his new role as Secretary of State. On Thursday, Secretary of Agriculture nominee Brooke Rollins received her confirmation hearing in the Senate Agriculture Committee. President Trump also announced other key positions within the U.S. Department of Agriculture including deputy secretary and undersecretary posts. More...Rollins Confirmation Hearing | ArkansasOnline | AgWeb | AgWeb | DTNPF | HoosierAg | WaPo Trump Appointment Tracker
USDA Tasked with Delivering Congressional Aid to Farmers: In late December, Congress approved a continuing resolution (The American Relief Act of 2025) that provided funding through March 14. Within that spending bill was supplemental funding for farmers to help offset economic losses and impacts of disasters. The law sets a 90 day timeframe for USDA to develop and deliver the funds provided. With a new administration taking shape, the USDA is expected to be heavily focused on quickly and efficiently delivering the much needed aid. More...American Farm Bureau Summary | AgWeb
March 14 is Next Congressional Deadline for Spending: Congress must once again face a deadline for government spending for the 2025 fiscal year. That deadline is March 14 when the current continuing resolution is scheduled to expire. In addition to considering nominations for the Trump administration, Congress must complete work in funding the government for the remainder of the 2025 fiscal year so they can start to prepare for the 2026 fiscal year, which begins October 1. In addition, President Trump needs to be clear room for considering a budget reconciliation package or packages that could advance other policy priorities of the administration and the republican majorities in the House and Senate. More...Appropriations Tracker | FoxNews | Politico | RollCall |
Senator Cotton and Others File Legislation to End Trade Status with China: Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) joined Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI) in introducing in the Senate and House legisltion to end Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status with China. The legislation, if enacted, would lead to immediate tariffs (some phased in) on imports from China. Revenues collected from tariffs would be reserved for aiding farmers and other priorities related to China. Senator Cotton serves as Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and Rep. Moolenaar Chairs the House Select Committee on China. President Trump issued an order on Monday for his administration to immediately assess the special status with China. More...S. 206 | H.R. 694 | Trump Trade Order | Rueters | Select Committee Announcement | Cotton Announcement | House Bill Text | Senate Bill Text
FTC Files Lawsuit Against Deere on Repair Services: On January 15, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with the Illinois and Minnesota Attorneys General, announced that they filed a joint lawsuit against agricultural equipment manufacturer Deere & Company (Deere) alleging unfair practices that have driven up equipment repair costs for farmers while also depriving farmers of the ability to make timely repairs on critical farming equipment, including tractors. Two of the five commissioners dissented in the decision to file suit. More...AgWeb | | AgWeb II | FTC Court Filing | FTC Announcement | AgWeb | WSJ | Dissenting Opinion
Government Agencies Issue Guidance on 45Z Tax Credits: In the final days of the Biden administration, the Departments of Treasury, Energy, and Agriculture along with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a handful of announcements related to progress made in regards to implementation new tax credits that could benefit agriculture provided the feedstocks eligible are grown in the United States. The guidance and interim rules will still need to receive final approval or consideration by the Trump administration. Congress will also be tasked with extending the tax credit, which was enacted in 2022. More...IRS | Treasury | USDA | DOE | IRS FAQ | DOE GREET Model | IRS Emission Rate Table | AgWeb | Agri-Pulse
Trump Addresses World Economic Forum: President Trump addressed the World Economic Forum (WEF) via video conference at the organization's Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The meeting brings together global business and policy leaders each year to discuss global and regional challenges with economic solutions. Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders also took part in the meetings participating in forums on governorships in the United States and smartphone impacts on children. More...Trump Address | Reuters | WEF Homepage | Governor Sanders Panel I | Governor Sanders Panel II
Other Ag Related News & Info from Washington:
Trump Announces $500 Billion Stargate Project for AI Data Centers
SCOTUS Reinstates Corporate Transparency Act, but Still Stayed
Crop Protection, 2025 Starts the ESA Era
SESO Overview of DHS H-2 Modernization Plan | Webinar Link
Hunt Shipman Discusses D.C. Landscape in NALC Webinar
ARKANSAS AG UPDATE
Arkansas General Assembly Begins Legislative Session: The 95th Arkansas General Assembly began a new legislative session January 13th at the State Capitol in Little Rock. Legislators began their work by hearing a State of the State address by Governor Sanders and electing leadership for the House and Senate, including committee assignments. In addition, members continued to file legislation for consideration. Over the next several weeks members are expected to be busy considering legislative proposals covering vast aspects of state laws, including areas that impact agriculture. We intend to be very active in advocating on matters impacting our members. More...Governor's State of the State | Text of Address | Legislative Update
Ag Council Annual Meeting Prepared Organization for 2025: On December 12-13, the board of directors of the Ag Council of Arkansas joined in Little Rock to hold its annual meeting. As part of the meeting, the board set the stage for the coming year with updates in leadership, policy, and financial planning. In addition, the board heard from a range of guest speakers who focused on economic challenges facing the agriculture industry and policy needs of our members. The board of directors elected Joe Mencer of Lake Village to serve as President. More...Meeting Summary
Arkansas Ag Hall of Fame Announces New Class for 2025: On January 6, the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame announced its plans to induct 6 new members in its Class XXVII at its annual induction ceremony to be held March 28 in Little Rock. The Ag Hall of Fame was created to honor those who have made significant contributions to Arkansas agriculture, as well as community and economic development. Included in the 2025 class are Aubrey Blackmon of Houston, Carl Brothers of Stuttgart, Chuck Culver of Fayetteville, Mike Freeze of Little Rock, the late Jack Reaper of Albion, and Frank Wilson of Rison. More...Press Release | Link to Luncheon Tickets | Ag Hall of Fame Homepage
Arkansas Startup Offers Crop Budget Software Solution: A new agriculture related business startup based in Northwest Arkansas is seeking to provide a software solution to farmers with a new app that can assist farmers in developing budgets and planning for managing financial risks related to their crops. The company, named AcreHedge, has adopted crop enterprise budgets established by land grant universities and adapted them into a new and more dynamic user interface that can assist farmers in better understanding their financial prospects and risks for the coming year. The company plans to expand on their service offerings overtime to further assist farmers who join. They are offering subscription discounts for members of the Ag Council with the discount code (AGCOUNCIL). More...AcreHedge App Link | AcreHedge Homepage
Other Arkansas News & Info Links:
Legislation Filed to Create New Regulations and Penalties for Crop Residue Burning | Ag Council Position on HB1045
Some Farmers Looking for the Exit
AGFC Celebrates Conservation Incentives Program Success
Rice Seed Supply Remains Tight for 2025 Crop Year
UADA Accepting Applications for LEADAR Leadership Program Until Feb 7
Jared Wiley Named ARDOT Director
Governor Appoints Jerry Halsey to Highway Commission
Governor Appoints Cole Jester to Secretary of State
Arkansas Company NativState Sells 400,000 Carbon Credits
Upcoming Meetings and Events:
Arkansas Grown Conference January 30-February 1, Hot Springs
Arkansas Soil & Water Conference January 29 Jonesboro
Cotton & Rice Conference January 27-28 Memphis
ASU AgriBusiness Conference February 12 Jonesboro
National Cotton Council Annual Meeting February 14-16 Dallas
Arkansas Rice Annual Meeting February 25 Stuttgart
Mid-South Farm & Gin Show February 28-March 1 Memphis
UofA Winter Production Meetings Jan-Feb
Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting March 13-14 North Little Rock
Arkansas Ag Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony March 28 Little Rock
Additional Arkansas Ag Resources:
USDA Daily Arkansas Grain Bids
NALC Newsletter "The Feed"
Arkansas Vegetative Drought Geospatial Maps
DeltaPlastics Push4Pickup App
Crop Residue Field Burning Smoke Management FIRESMART App
Arkansas Farm Bueau AgCast Podcast
USDA AMS Service Rates
Arkansas Department of Ag Calendar
Ag Council Leadership Opportunities
Apply for Service on State Boards & Commissions
Arkansas Rice Research & Promotion Board
Arkansas Soybean Research & Promotion Board
Arkansas Corn & Grain Sorghum Research & Promotion Board
Arkansas Wheat Research & Promotion Board
USDA NRCS Arkansas Offices
USDA Land Value & Cash Rent Estimates
Arkansas Crops Update
UADA Crop Budgets (2025) | UADA Crop Profit/Loss Calculator App
AcreHedge Crop Budget App
UADA Verification Information
Arkansas Rice Research Studies Report for 2023
Arkansas Row Crop Risk Management
Pine Tree Discoloration & Mortality Reporting
Feral Hog Task Force
Arkansas Voluntary Smoke Management Guidelines
Digital Edition of Delta Farm Press
H-2A Guidebook by Congressman Crawford
Enrollment Link: U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
Climate Smart Grant Opportunities Dashboard
ECONOMIC & INDUSTRY NEWS
January USDA WASDE Report: On January 10, USDA issued a World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) Report and Crop Production Report. The reports showcase supply and demand estimates for major crops and include anticipated production. The data produced in the August report furthered the expectation of a large yield across the United States for most commodities. More...WASDE Report | Secretary Briefing (slides | video) | Visual Summary | U.S. Crop Production Report | U.S. Annual Summary | Arkansas Crop Production Annual Summary |
Other Market News & Info:
January 23, 2025 ProFarmer Newsletter
Other USDA Reports:
- Cotton Ginnings
- Grain Stocks
- Rice Stocks
- Winter Wheat/Canola Seedings
- Cotton System
- Fats & Oils
- Grain Crushings
- Weekly Export Sales
Other links of Interest:
USDA Daily Arkansas Grain Bids
Morning Coffee & Ag Markets Podcast from UADA Economists
DTN Commodity Market Insights
Nutrien Ag Solutions Weather Reports
UADA Fundamentals of Federal Crop Insurance
FarmJournal ProFarmer Newsletter
USA Rice Daily
RiceStuff Podcast Homepage
Entergy Agri Desk
Jarrod Hardke's Arkansas Rice Report
Arkansas-Crops Blog
UADA Ag News Blog
USDA County Cash Rent Estimates
Arkansas Economic Profile: 2024 Pocket Facts - News | USDA Arkansas Ag Economic Overview | Arkansas Ag Census Data | Arkansas Historical Data | Arkansas Farms & Land Report | Arkansas Land Values & Cash Rent Report | Arkansas Farm Labor Report
UofA Crop Updates | UofA Land Grant Research & Extension Service Video
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