June 14, 2026 to June 20, 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

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

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• House Agriculture Hearing: Implementation of Farm Safety Net, Disaster, and Conservation Programs: The House Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing on June 24, 2026, in Longworth 1300 to review the implementation of farm safety net, disaster, and conservation programs.
• Senate Appropriations Markup: FY 2027 Agriculture and Related Agencies Appropriations: The Senate Appropriations Committee will meet for an open session on June 25, 2026, in Dirksen 106 to markup the FY 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
• House Oversight Hearing: Combating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in SNAP: The House Oversight Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency will hold a hearing on 'Combating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in SNAP' on June 25, 2026, in Rayburn 2154.
• House Subcommittee Hearing: Partnerships for National Forest System Management: The House Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture will hold a hearing on June 25, 2026, in Longworth 1300 to review partnerships enhancing the management of the National Forest System.

Federal Government News

APHIS Notice of Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Suppression

On June 18, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced plans to prepare a new programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) covering grasshopper and Mormon cricket suppression efforts on rangelands in seventeen western states. The PEIS will update the previous 2019 analysis and detail integrated pest management (IPM) alternatives, including surveying, technical assistance, population mapping, biopesticides, and targeted insecticide use (carbaryl, diflubenzuron, chlorantraniliprole)—with conventional malathion application phased out in the preferred alternative. Site-specific risk to non-target species, soil, water, and cultural resources will be assessed, and the public is invited to comment until July 20, 2026. Cooperating agencies include the Bureau of Land Management and the US Forest Service, with final PEIS expected by August 2027.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

USDA Rescinds Disparate-Impact Provisions in Title VI Civil Rights Regulations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture finalized amendments to its Title VI regulations on June 17, 2026, removing all language prohibiting unintentional disparate-impact discrimination. This action aligns USDA enforcement with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Supreme Court decisions such as Alexander v. Sandoval, and Executive Order 14281. Provisions related to site selection, affirmative action, and employment now reference only intentional discrimination, reducing compliance costs and clarifying obligations for stakeholders. The revision is effective immediately and limits USDA’s liability to intentional acts under federal funding and program oversight.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

EPA Transfers Pesticide Data With Confidential Business Information to DOJ for Litigation

The Environmental Protection Agency announced on June 16 that it will transfer pesticide-related documents, including confidential business information (CBI), to the Department of Justice and parties involved in ongoing litigation concerning dicamba registrations. The action covers administrative record materials submitted under FIFRA and FFDCA in American Soybean Association v. EPA and National Family Farm Coalition v. EPA. The information remains under protective order, limiting disclosure and use strictly to litigation purposes. Any records designated as 'Protected Information' must be destroyed or returned to EPA post-litigation.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

USDA Proposes Increased Assessment Rate for California Dates

The Agricultural Marketing Service issued a proposed rule on June 18 to increase the assessment rate for domestic dates produced or packed in Riverside County, California, from $0.05 to $0.25 per hundredweight for the 2025-2026 crop year and beyond. The California Date Administrative Committee recommended the adjustment to replenish reserve funds and address operating expenses. The comment period for the proposal remains open through July 20, 2026, with industry participants and handlers affected by the shift.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

White House CEQ Announces Permitting Innovators Expo for Enhanced Review Technology

The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), in collaboration with NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, publicized the Permitting Innovators Expo scheduled for July 31, 2026, in Arlington, Virginia. The event will feature federal agencies and industry leaders reviewing promising technologies designed to modernize permitting and environmental review processes, with top-scoring solutions from CEQ’s earlier call for proposals included in a forthcoming Permitting Solutions Catalog. Registration is currently open and limited to leaders across government, industry, and policy.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Legislative Updates

Permanent Authorization for Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program

Bill 4842 seeks to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to permanently authorize the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program and establish regional food systems hubs. The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Revoking Registration of Paraquat Pesticide Uses

Bill 9357 aims to cancel the registration of all uses of the pesticide paraquat. It was referred to House Committees on Agriculture and Energy and Commerce for jurisdictional review.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Marijuana Agricultural Research Program at 1890 Institutions

Bill 9344 proposes amending the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to establish a marijuana agricultural research program at 1890 institutions. The measure has been referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Reissuance of SNAP Benefits Stolen by Skimming or Identity Theft

Bill 9359 would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to mandate reissuance of supplemental nutrition assistance benefits to households for losses due to identity theft or electronic skimming. The bill is before the House Committee on Agriculture.

Sources: www.congress.gov

New World Screwworm Grant Program for Outbreak Response

Bill 9377 proposes establishing a grant program to prepare for and respond to New World screwworm outbreaks. It is currently under consideration by the House Committee on Agriculture.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• War Hangs Over American Farmers as Fertilizer Prices Rise: U.S. fertilizer prices increase as global conflict strains supplies and farm input costs.
• Opinion | What the Cult of Efficiency Costs Us: Discussion of market efficiency's effects on pig farming and bacon production.
• Opinion | Report: Egg Police Shut Down Bagel Production: Regulatory enforcement affects bagel producers reliant on egg supplies.
• Indian officials survey farms around Tata iPhone parts plant after water pollution warning: Inspectors assess potential agricultural impacts of water pollution near industrial facility.
• Farmers backed Trump. Now some say they’re losing patience.: U.S. farmers express concerns on political support and government responses to agricultural challenges.

.