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.

Want to track the upstream and downstream forces affecting Agri-Food? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Freight & Ports and Oil & Gas. Also consider subscribing to our Agri-Food - Ottawa edition covering critical GR news north of the border.

Dates: 2026-04-12 to 2026-04-18

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• Senate Agriculture Committee Considers Nomination for Under Secretary of Rural Development: The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee will hold a business meeting on April 20 to consider the nomination of Glen Smith of Iowa for Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development.
• House Rules Committee Meeting on Major Infrastructure and Rural Measures: The House Rules Committee will meet April 20 to discuss the American Broadband Deployment Act, Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act, Harnessing Energy at Thermal Sources Act, ESA Amendments Act, and a resolution supporting rural communities.
• Robots Made in America: Manufacturing and Automation Hearing: On April 21, the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology will hold a hearing titled 'Robots Made in America: Advancing U.S. Leadership in Manufacturing and Automation.'
• Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Reviews USDA, FDA, and Related Agencies FY 2027 Budget: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies convenes April 22 to examine the budget estimates and justification for FY 2027.

Federal Government News

USDA Rescinds Funding Opportunity for Rural Energy for America Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service published a notice on April 15 rescinding the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) announced in October 2024 for FY 2025-2027. The agency is implementing regulatory changes to the REAP program, and future funding availability will be announced following the adoption of new regulations. Applicants affected by this rescission that do not already possess a fully executed Financial Assistance Agreement must reapply under the updated application process. Grant processing will occur under new procedures to be posted after revised rules are issued.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Commerce Department Finalizes Countervailing Duty Review on Russian Phosphate Fertilizers

The U.S. Department of Commerce released final results on April 17 for the 2023 administrative review of countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizers imported from the Russian Federation, covering producer JSC Apatit and its cross-owned affiliates. The final countervailable subsidy rate for the period January 1 to December 31, 2023, is set at 12.71% ad valorem. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been directed to assess countervailing duties and collect cash deposits on related entries accordingly. Details on the calculation and changes from preliminary findings are available via Commerce’s Issues and Decision Memorandum.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

White House CEQ Launches Permitting Innovators Program

On April 15, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, working with NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, announced the new Permitting Innovators program. The initiative aims to modernize federal environmental reviews and permitting processes, seeking public-private collaboration to improve the pace of infrastructure development while upholding environmental requirements. CEQ’s Permitting Technology Action Plan identifies current technology gaps, and a forthcoming Call for Solutions will invite industry input. Selected technologies and process improvements will be presented at the Permitting Innovators Expo and catalogued for use by agencies and stakeholders.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Stability Testing for Veterinary Medicated Premixes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on April 16 the availability of a draft revised industry guidance concerning stability testing protocols for medicated premixes intended for animal feed. Developed under the International Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products, the draft (GFI #91, VICH GL8(R1)) updates recommendations for stability demonstration, including in-feed conditions. Electronic and written comments on the draft are being accepted until June 15, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FDA Requests Comment on Qualitative Data Collection for Food and Feed Research

The FDA opened a 60-day public comment window on April 17 for its request to extend its generic clearance for qualitative data used in social and behavioral research related to food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and animal food and feed. The collection supports studies involving interviews, focus groups, and observations of stakeholders such as manufacturers, producers, and consumers. Estimated annual burden is 3,870 hours across 10,664 responses.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025 (H.R. 1011)

The House-passed Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025 was received in the Senate. The bill concerns improvements to the Emergency Conservation Program.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Protecting America’s Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act (H.R. 8251)

This bill, aimed at addressing issues faced by U.S. orchardists and nursery tree growers, was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Sources: www.congress.gov

A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (S. 4286)

Introduced in the Senate, this measure would streamline nutrition access for older adults and adults with disabilities; it has been referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sources: www.congress.gov

A bill to maintain certain State and Tribal hemp laws (S. 4315)

Introduced in the Senate, this bill would amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to maintain State and Tribal regulations concerning hemp; it is now before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sources: www.congress.gov

GLRI Act of 2025 (S. 528)

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works conducted hearings on this bill to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Sources: www.congress.gov

State Government News

Texas Renews Drought Disaster Declaration for Multiple Counties

Governor Greg Abbott renewed a disaster proclamation for ongoing drought in numerous Texas counties, authorizing use of state resources and regulatory relief for emergency response.

Sources: gov.texas.gov

Illinois Prepares SNAP Recipients for Federal Assistance Cuts Starting May 1

Governor JB Pritzker announced that approximately 150,000 Illinois SNAP recipients risk losing benefits as of May 1 due to new federal work requirements under the Trump Administration’s budget bill.

Sources: gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com

What We're Reading This Week

• John Deere continues 189-year history of technological leaps: Story reviews John Deere's legacy and recent developments in agricultural technology.
• Exclusive: US is leading G20 initiative to ensure fertilizer access, sources say: The U.S. is reportedly heading a G20 campaign to maintain global fertilizer supply chains.
• Argentina wheat threatened by high urea fertilizer prices due to Iran war: Argentinian wheat growers face higher urea costs amid conflict-driven fertilizer price spikes.
• 'It looked like a ghost town': Analysis of agricultural community impacts in regions affected by population decline.
• Some American farmers bet on solar. Then Trump changed the rules: Policy shifts have complicated solar adoption for U.S. farmers following new Trump Administration rules.
• Kennedy touts new food policies but avoids vaccines in remarks to US Congress: Kennedy addressed Congress on food sector reforms without discussing vaccine issues.
• Climate reporting rules for food sector set high bar for regenerative agriculture: New climate disclosure regulations are introducing higher compliance standards for regenerative farming.

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