July 26, 2026 to August 01, 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
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Federal Government News

USDA Interim Rule on Wetland Conservation Certification

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued an interim rule amending regulations under the Food Security Act of 1985 to clarify that wetland determinations certified after November 28, 1990, are sufficient for establishing ineligibility for USDA program benefits under Wetland Conservation provisions. The rule addresses procedural inconsistencies for determinations made between November 1990 and July 1996, following a federal court ruling in February 2024. Certification requires notifying affected individuals and informing them of appeal rights. Implementation aligns USDA regulations with statutory provisions and congressional intent, provides certainty for producers relying on certified determinations, and reduces administrative burden. The rule is effective July 29, 2026, and public comments are invited until September 28, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

EPA Correction to Epyrifenacil Pesticide Tolerance Levels

The Environmental Protection Agency published a correcting amendment to tolerances for epyrifenacil residues on corn, soybean, and wheat. The initial final rule from June 30, 2026, set error tolerance levels at 0.005 ppm for all commodities; the correction raises tolerances to 0.01 ppm for corn (forage, stover), soybean (forage, hay), and wheat (forage, hay, straw). The revised levels are effective July 28, 2026. EPA determined that there are no toxicological or exposure considerations precluding registration of the herbicide for these crops. Enforcement methods are available, and the agency considered international residue limits, with no Codex MRL established for epyrifenacil.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

NOAA Request for Information on Aquaculture Opportunity Areas

NOAA announced a request for information on identifying the next geographic regions for Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in U.S. waters, pursuant to Executive Orders promoting American seafood competitiveness. Stakeholders are invited to provide input on siting parameters, technical requirements, and regional concerns. Responses will inform identification of AOAs and subsequent environmental review processes, including Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements. The public comment period extends through September 13, 2026, with three webinar-based listening sessions scheduled in August.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

BIA Issues 2027 Irrigation Assessment Rates and Responds to Comments

The Bureau of Indian Affairs published adjusted irrigation assessment rates for multiple Indian irrigation projects, effective January 1, 2027. The final rates reflect current costs for administration, operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation. BIA received nine written comments concerning the Colorado River Indian Irrigation Project and Flathead Indian Irrigation Project, including concerns about rapid rate increases, deferred maintenance, reliability of water service, and staffing. BIA responded by stating that rate adjustments are necessary to address infrastructure needs and maintain service continuity, referencing findings from past GAO and Inspector General audits on funding deficiencies.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

EPA Information Collection Renewal for Pesticide-Producing Establishments

EPA is soliciting public comments ahead of submitting a renewal of its information collection request for registration and reporting by pesticide-producing and device-producing establishments. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act requires registration and annual production reports from such establishments. The renewal, under EPA ICR No. 0160.14 and OMB Control No. 2070-0078, covers approximately 20,762 respondents annually with an estimated burden of 33,307 hours. No changes are proposed in estimated burden per form, but overall respondent costs are projected to rise due to increases in labor rates and respondent counts.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Spotted Lanternfly Control Research Initiative

Bill 5200 proposes amendments to the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to designate spotted lanternfly control research and development as a high-priority initiative. The legislation was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Summer Meal Delivery Vehicle Pilot Program

Bill 5184 seeks to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a pilot program for summer meal delivery vehicles. The measure was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Wildfire Research Coordination Act of 2026

Bill 9998, the Wildfire Research Coordination Act of 2026, was referred to the Committee on Armed Services and additionally to the Committees on Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Science, Space, and Technology.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Mountain Pine Beetle Coordination Act

Bill 9999, titled Mountain Pine Beetle Coordination Act, was referred to the Committee on Agriculture and, by extension, to the Committee on Natural Resources for further consideration.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Emergency Mountain Pine Beetle Response Act

Bill 10000 focuses on emergency response measures for mountain pine beetle infestations. It was referred to the Committee on Agriculture and additionally to the Committee on Natural Resources.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Feeding the circular economy: The rise in upcycled food: Reuters reviews trends in upcycled food and circular economy models in agri-food supply chains.
• USDA to fund Arizona facility to fight flesh-eating livestock pest: USDA will finance a new facility targeting control of flesh-eating pests impacting livestock in Arizona.
• How Diamonds, Paprika and Fertilizer Won Relief From Trump’s Tariffs: The New York Times reports on tariff exemptions for agricultural inputs including fertilizer under recent policy changes.
• New UK PM Burnham urged to put food on a par with defence and energy: Reuters covers British policy debates on prioritizing food alongside defense and energy sectors.
• Vana Specialty Packaging Examines How Sustainable Packaging Materials Influence Packaging Performance, Manufacturing Efficiency, and Brand Objectives: USAToday highlights research into sustainable packaging and its effects on food manufacturing performance.
• F.D.A. Official Says Food Supply Is Safe as Cyclosporiasis Cases Climb: The New York Times reports FDA assurances regarding food safety amid rising cases of cyclosporiasis.

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