This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news for farmers, seed-growers, ranchers and their upstream suppliers and downstream buyers. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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Dates: 2026-03-15 to 2026-03-21

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Congressional Calendar
• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📜 Legislative Updates
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture Schedules Member Day Hearing: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies will hold a Member Day hearing on March 26, 2026, at 2:00 pm in 2362-A Rayburn House Office Building. Members of Congress expected to present include Jonathan Jackson, Jefferson Van Drew, Kim Schrier, and Raul Ruiz.

Federal Government News

USDA Proposes 18-Month Delay for Poultry Grower Payment Systems Rule

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) released a proposed rule to delay the effective date of the Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems final rule from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027. The final rule, originally published in January 2025, prohibits certain compensation reductions for growers and imposes new documentation and disclosure requirements for broiler contracts. AMS cites Congressional direction, cost uncertainties, and the need to further review policy and legal issues as reasons for the proposed 18-month delay. AMS estimates administrative cost savings for live poultry dealers (LPDs) and growers during the delay, with quantified ten-year savings of $6.5 million. The notice is open for public comment until April 17, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

White House Announces U.S.-Japan Alliance Initiatives with Agricultural Market Access

President Donald J. Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi unveiled a set of initiatives to reinforce the U.S.-Japan Alliance. The agreement includes expanded market access for U.S. agricultural exports to Japan and $73 billion in Japanese investments in U.S. energy projects. Additional measures target supply chain resilience in critical minerals, research collaboration, and a Critical Minerals Action Plan. The partnership covers joint initiatives in science, technology, AI, and quantum fields, and a new memorandum encourages cooperative conservation of National Parks.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

USDA Reviewing Information Collection for Importation of Sheep, Goats, and Other Ruminants

The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) submitted an information collection request concerning the importation of sheep, goats, and related ruminants. Under 9 CFR Parts 91–96, APHIS regulates these imports to prevent the introduction of animal diseases such as scrapie and BSE. The renewal involves data on exporters and importers, animal origins and health, transit details, and processing methods. The agency expects 741 respondents providing 16,406 responses resulting in an estimated burden of 8,260 hours.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

USDA NASS Requests Changes in Agricultural Surveys, Expands Crop and Livestock Data Collection

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is seeking OMB approval for substantial changes to its Agricultural Surveys Program. Key changes include increasing the sample size for Crop Acreage and Grain Stocks surveys, reinstating the Agricultural Coverage Evaluation Survey (ACES), and updating the June Area Survey to meet updated statistical policy directives for race and ethnicity data. The changes will increase respondent and burden hours, with 596,600 respondents and 206,959 anticipated burden hours. These programs support industry stakeholders through expanded data on crop and livestock production and grain storage.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

USDA Food and Nutrition Service Seeks Public Input on Data Collection for Food Distribution Programs

The Food and Nutrition Service issued a notice inviting public comments on renewal of data collection activities for several USDA Food Distribution Programs, including the National School Lunch Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. The information collection supports regulatory compliance and effective use of federal funds for distribution to state agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations. Forms and records under consideration relate to program operations, inventory, agreements, and rule revisions. Total expected burden is 884,482.86 hours across 815,362 respondents.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Bill 4148: Grants and Loans for Domestic Fertilizer Production

A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants and direct or guaranteed loans to increase domestic fertilizer production for U.S. farmers was introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on March 19, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 4152: Mandatory Price Reporting Program for Fertilizer

A bill to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to establish a mandatory price reporting program for fertilizer has been read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. The bill text is available in the Congressional Record S1369-1370.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 4101: Grocery, Farm, and Food Worker Stabilization Grant Program

A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a stabilization grant program for grocery, farm, and food workers was introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 8028: SNAP Fraud Data Reporting by States

A bill requiring states to provide data on fraud within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 7947: Agricultural Management Assistance Act of 2026

The Agricultural Management Assistance Act of 2026 was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Crop Aid Nutrition - The First 30 Days Decide Yield: Early-season crop nutrition is essential for optimizing yield potential, according to an analysis from Crop Aid Nutrition.

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