Trade policy, farm bill negotiations and livestock health issues are all competing for attention in Washington as lawmakers and industry groups navigate a busy summer agenda. From uncertainty surrounding USMCA to the latest movement on the farm bill, here are the policy developments farmers should be watching this week.

Farm-State Republicans Push Back on USMCA Uncertainty

President Trump’s recent comments questioning the future of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) have sparked concern among farm-state Republicans, who are urging the administration to preserve the trade pact ahead of its July 1 review date. Trump suggested the U.S. may not need the agreement, while lawmakers and agricultural groups continue to emphasize the importance of export markets with Canada and Mexico. Under the USMCA’s sunset review process, all three countries must indicate whether they support extending the agreement for another 16 years. However, the pact would remain in place until 2036 even if objections are raised during this year’s review. Read the full article to see why farm-state Republicans are defending USMCA.

Boozman to Release Draft Farm Bill Text

After months of speculation, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman is expected to release draft farm bill text this week. Key developments to watch include:

  • Farm bill text expected to be released today, June 23, according to multiple reports familiar with committee discussions.
  • Senate Agriculture Committee members and industry groups received private briefings ahead of the bill’s release.
  • Committee action could follow shortly, with Boozman targeting a markup between the July 4 recess and August recess.
  • The proposal will provide the first detailed look at Senate farm bill priorities, including which Republican policy provisions are included.
  • Democrats are already signaling concerns over nutrition-related provisions, setting the stage for negotiations as the bill moves forward.

The release represents the most significant farm bill development in months and could provide the clearest indication yet of whether Congress can advance a new farm bill this year.

Ag-FDA Spending Bill Advances

The Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to take up the fiscal year 2027 Agriculture-FDA spending bill this week, beginning work on funding priorities that could influence USDA and FDA programs in the year ahead.

Screwworm Cases Continue to Rise

Federal officials confirmed three additional New World screwworm detections over the weekend, bringing the total to 15 and keeping livestock health concerns at the forefront. Stay up to date on emerging cases with the USDA’s APHIS Confirmed Detections dashboard.

Iowa Governor’s Race Draws Agriculture Attention

Iowa businessman and farmer Zach Lahn is positioning himself as an outsider candidate in the state’s governor’s race, highlighting concerns about the influence of large agricultural interests following his primary victory. Learn more key insights about Lahn’s campaign.

Groups Call for Changes to Livestock Antibiotic Use

More than 60 agriculture, food, and public health organizations submitted a petition urging FDA regulators to phase out routine disease-prevention uses of medically important antibiotics in livestock production systems.

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