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: 2026-04-05 to 2026-04-11

📋 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 Schedules USDA Budget Hearing: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies will convene a budget hearing with Secretary Brooke Rollins of USDA on April 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
• House Agriculture Committee to Hear from CFTC Chairman: The House Agriculture Committee will receive testimony from Michael S. Selig, Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, on April 16 at 2:00 p.m. ET in Room 1300 of the Longworth House Office Building.

Federal Government News

USDA Seeks Public Input on 2026 RMA Organic Price Survey

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a request for comments on its 2026 RMA Organic Price Survey, targeting all certified organic farms nationwide. The survey, managed by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in cooperation with the Risk Management Agency (RMA), aims to collect annual price and sales data on a range of organic crop commodities. Information gathered will inform organic-specific price elections for crop insurance programs and support national and state-level estimates. With a targeted respondent base of 27,000 farmers, the survey emphasizes voluntary reporting, and the resulting data will play a role in shaping organic crop insurance policies.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

NASS Seeks Feedback on Objective Yield Surveys for Major Crops

NASS issued a notice for comments regarding its Objective Yield Surveys, used to produce predictive estimates for corn, cotton, soybeans, wheat, citrus, and walnuts. The latest revision includes the reinstatement of the Cotton Objective Yield Survey, discontinuation of the California Almonds and Oregon Hazelnuts surveys, and a reduction in data waves for the Florida Citrus survey. Participation is drawn from 12,000 farm and business respondents via annual or monthly reports. Survey outputs are used to forecast production and assist in informing supply expectations for processors and marketers.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

APHIS Requests Comments on Revisions for Movement of Plants and Plant Products From Hawaii and Territories

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has proposed revisions and an extension to information collection procedures governing the movement of fruits and vegetables from Hawaii and the U.S. Territories into the continental United States. The aim is to prevent the spread of plant pests and noxious weeds. The notice details updated requirements for permits, inspection protocols, compliance agreements, and recordkeeping standards. APHIS cites a decrease in reporting respondents but an increase in responses and total burden hours due to regulatory changes.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

USDA Announces Extension for Rural Housing Simple Transfer Pilot Program

The Rural Housing Service has extended the Multi-Family Housing Simple Transfer Pilot Program to December 31, 2027. The program streamlines ownership transfers in Section 514 and 515 rural rental housing, aiming to reduce transaction costs and processing delays for simple transactions. Modifications include new exception criteria for restrictive use requirements and additional streamlined transfer options, particularly for heirs or nonprofit acquirers of properties. The agency will assess program effectiveness and may propose future regulatory codification.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

NASS Requests Input on Current Agricultural Industrial Reports (CAIR) Surveys

A Federal Register notice solicits comments on NASS's Current Agricultural Industrial Reports (CAIR) surveys, which are integral to the Census of Agriculture. The surveys, now mandated under the Census of Agriculture Act, collect data on utilization of crops, livestock, and poultry across industries, supporting monthly, quarterly, and annual analyses. CAIR data is used to assess consumption trends and estimate agricultural product flows into various consumer and industrial goods. The reporting involves 635 business respondents with variable frequency based on the specific survey.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Bill 8229 Targets Use of Algorithmic Pricing in Agriculture

H.R. 8229 proposes to prohibit certain applications of algorithmic decision systems for individualized pricing in food, groceries, and agricultural commodities. The bill was referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and the Judiciary for further consideration.

Sources: www.congress.gov

SEED Act Advances to Union Calendar

H.R. 5334, titled the SEED Act, addresses taxation policy relevant to the sector and has been placed on the Union Calendar as Calendar No. 520, marking a step towards possible House floor action.

Sources: www.congress.gov

National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act Progresses

H.R. 4219, the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act of 2025, aims to address management of invasive species on public lands. The bill has been referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026 Referred to Subcommittee

H.R. 8195, the Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026, was referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries. The legislation focuses on cormorant population control measures affecting water resources.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act Introduced

H.R. 7288, the Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act, seeks to authorize feasibility studies for water resource development projects in South Dakota. The bill has moved to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Iran war’s impact on fertilizer and fuel: Geopolitical conflict in Iran is affecting global fertilizer and fuel supply chains, with direct implications for agricultural input costs.
• Chinese pigs fed new menu as Beijing weans farmers off US soy: Chinese pig producers are adjusting feed formulas as China reduces reliance on U.S. soy imports.
• World Food Programme warns Lebanon facing food security crisis due to Iran war: The Iran conflict is exacerbating Lebanon's food security risks, according to the World Food Programme.
• A Spanish startup is targeting the 'hybrid meat' market: A Spanish company is entering the hybrid meat sector, combining plant and animal proteins for new food products.
• More cuts to rural and food programs?: Federal discussions continue about possible funding reductions to U.S. rural development and food programs.
• Opinion | Strong Farms Start With Legal Foreign Labor: Opinion piece argues that legal foreign labor remains essential to U.S. agricultural productivity.

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