May 17, 2026 to May 23, 2026

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.

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

Federal Government News

USDA Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program: Information Collection Extension Announced

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service within USDA published a notice on May 21 regarding the extension of its information collection for the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP). The expanded collection aims to evaluate grant applications to determine eligibility and to assess technical and financial merit of proposed projects. Respondents include federally recognized tribes, producer-owned cooperatives, corporations, and government entities. Estimated annual burden is 12,049 hours for 2,796 responses from 233 respondents. Comments on the collection can be submitted via regulations.gov until July 20, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

EPA Initiates Renewal of Consolidated Pesticide Registration Submission Portal

The Environmental Protection Agency announced an information collection request renewal for the Consolidated Pesticide Registration Submission Portal with an estimated 15,023 respondents. The portal supports pesticide registration, sale, distribution, and tolerance determinations, as required by FIFRA and FFDCA. The annual burden for this collection is 2,234,433 hours, with annual costs of $172,873,497. Changes this cycle include an increase of 59,385 burden hours and the addition of plant-incorporated protectant responses. Comments must be submitted by June 22, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

USDA Announces SNAP Interstate Data Matching System Implementation

The Food and Nutrition Service is seeking public comments on new information collection activities related to the National Accuracy Clearinghouse (NAC) for SNAP. This interstate data system aims to mitigate duplicate participation by requiring state agencies to upload recipient data, query the system for potential duplicates, and verify questionable information. The collection involves 45,122 respondents and totals 1,337,741.5 annual burden hours. Notices must be submitted within 30 days of publication to reginfo.gov.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Fact Sheet: President Trump Reverses Refrigerant Regulations; Adjusts Beef Import Quotas

President Trump announced the reversal of Biden-era refrigerant rules, extending compliance deadlines for hydrofluorocarbon use and relaxing leak repair requirements. The EPA projects $2.4 billion in overall savings, affecting over 350,000 jobs in manufacturing and refrigerated goods transport. Additional deregulatory measures include increased SBA loan limits and tariff-rate quotas for lean beef trimmings. The EPA estimates refrigerated transporters will save $1.5 billion. These revisions are expected to reduce costs across the US food supply chain.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Proposes Renewing Laboratory Accreditation Collection

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a notice requesting comment on its intention to renew an approved information collection involving laboratory accreditation and transaction records for meat, poultry, and egg product facilities. The notice states 26,120 respondents are expected to supply an average 113,458 burden hours annually, ensuring compliance with FMIA and PPIA regulations. Comments are due by July 21, 2026 via the federal eRulemaking portal.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026

Bill 7567, covering agriculture and food policy, was received in the Senate. The act addresses food security issues and related federal programs.

Sources: www.congress.gov

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a subsidy program for direct-to-market beef revenue losses

Bill 8960 was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. It directs USDA to establish payments for producers facing revenue losses on direct-to-market sales of beef.

Sources: www.congress.gov

A bill to increase access to artificial intelligence through USDA programs

Bill 4627 was read twice and sent to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. It proposes new USDA initiatives to expand AI access in agriculture.

Sources: www.congress.gov

A bill to direct USDA to establish a rural childcare initiative

Bill 4628 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. The bill aims to address childcare availability, quality, and cost in rural communities.

Sources: www.congress.gov

To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act for zero-interest loans to rural hospitals

Bill 9005 was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. It allows USDA to issue temporary zero-percent loans under the community facilities direct loan program for rural hospital construction and renovation.

Sources: www.congress.gov

State Government News

Indiana Enacts Land Ownership Restrictions for Foreign Adversaries

Governor Mike Braun signed Senate Enrolled Act 256, banning companies from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia from owning land in Indiana and strengthening registration requirements for foreign agents.

Sources: www.indianasenaterepublicans.com

Indiana Legislative Action Targets Foreign Land Acquisition

SEA 256, co-authored by State Senator Randy Maxwell, prohibits foreign adversaries from owning land in Indiana; the law also mandates registration with the Attorney General for agents from hostile nations.

Sources: www.indianasenaterepublicans.com

Indiana Adopts Measures to Block Foreign Entities from Higher Education and Technology Contracts

State Senator Eric Koch's bill, now law, bars agents from foreign adversaries from land ownership, state-funded higher education programs, and sensitive technology contracts; agents must disclose funding sources.

Sources: www.indianasenaterepublicans.com

Consolidated Grain and Barge Corporation Expands Soybean Facility in Indiana

Senator Jim Tomes attended the groundbreaking for the CGB soybean expansion at the Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon, with new grain storage and unloading facilities to triple capacity.

Sources: www.indianasenaterepublicans.com

California Structural Pest Control Board Reappointment

Governor Newsom reappointed Mark Paxson to California's Structural Pest Control Board; Paxson is a former Senior Attorney at California Student Aid Commission and State Treasurer’s Office.

Sources: www.gov.ca.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• From pilots to practice: a new bid to scale regenerative agriculture: Industry stakeholders pursue broader adoption of regenerative farming methods beyond pilots.
• Global food and beverage giants join forces on regenerative agriculture: Major companies announce joint efforts to expand regenerative agriculture.
• A Cattle Ranch Is Doing What the Ivy League Can’t: Deep Springs College combines ranching operations and higher education.
• The missing ingredient in plant-based food isn’t taste or nutrition: Plant-based food products meet taste tests but face other challenges.
• Calls for ‘No Seed Oil’ Push Companies to Order Up Butter and Beef Tallow: Food companies respond to consumer preference by favoring animal fats over seed oils.
• XCF Global Highlights Long-Term Growth Drivers for Renewable Fuels as U.S. Biofuel Policy Evolves and SAF Demand Continues to Build: Renewable fuels sector sees continued growth amid evolving U.S. policy.
• In Spain's greenhouses, migrant amnesty brings hope of better conditions: Migrant workers in Spanish agriculture anticipate improved labor conditions following amnesty.
• UK urged to invest much more to tackle risks of drought, flooding, heat: Analysts call for increased investments to address climate impacts on agriculture.

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