September 20, 2026 to September 26, 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
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Federal Government News

USDA APHIS Proposes Reducing HPAI Waiting Period for Imports

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service proposed amending import regulations to reduce the waiting period for live birds and avian commodities exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza from 90 days to 28 days. This change aligns U.S. import requirements with updated World Organization for Animal Health standards and extends a 2022 bilateral agreement with Canada to other trading partners. The updated rule covers all foreign regions and applies to 9 CFR Parts 93 and 94. USDA estimates the change could deliver annual savings of $1.1 million to $4.4 million for the poultry sector, which was valued at $81.7 billion in 2025. Public comments are accepted until November 23, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Bayer Petitions USDA for Deregulation: MON 89151 Lepidopteran-Protected Cotton

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service received a petition from Bayer U.S.-Crop Science seeking nonregulated status for genetically modified MON 89151 cotton, engineered with three insecticidal proteins targeting lepidopteran pests. The petition and draft plant pest risk assessment are available for public comment until November 20, 2026. USDA’s draft assessment found MON 89151 is unlikely to pose increased plant pest risk compared to conventional cotton. Regulatory determination will follow the comment period, with updates posted on the USDA website.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Bayer Petitions USDA for Deregulation: Herbicide Resistant MON 96012 Cotton

A petition from Bayer U.S.-Crop Science requests nonregulated status for MON 96012 cotton, genetically engineered to tolerate multiple herbicides including glyphosate, glufosinate, dicamba, HPPD-inhibiting, and PPO-inhibiting compounds. USDA APHIS provided a draft plant pest risk assessment concluding the modified cotton poses no increased plant pest risk. Public comments are open until November 20, 2026, with regulatory determination to follow and notice in the Federal Register.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

USDA AMS: National Organic Program Information Collection Revision

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service announced its intention to extend and revise the National Organic Program information collection through 2027, including forms TM-10CG and NOP 2110-1. Changes aim to simplify instructions and revise burden estimates, integrating recent organic certification rulemakings. The annual collection will involve 56,827 respondents and total an estimated 4,274,732 hours of burden. Comments are requested by November 24, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Farm Service Agency Issues Corrections to Farm Loan Delivery Rule

USDA’s Farm Service Agency published corrections to a September 4, 2026 final rule amending Farm Loan Program regulations. The corrections address three technical errors in amendatory instructions for 7 CFR 765.153, 766.253, and 767.155. No substantive changes were made; the corrections ensure proper updates to definitions and section references ahead of the October 1, 2026 effective date.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

President Trump, First Lady Conclude Historic China State Visit

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump concluded an official state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan. Events included bilateral discussions on economic cooperation with specific focus on U.S. agricultural interests, an arrival ceremony, state dinner, and a visit to the National Archives commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence. The visit marked President Xi’s second formal state visit to the U.S, emphasizing ongoing economic ties and the importance of American leadership.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Following the herd: The push to make beef deforestation-free: Corporations and governments are advancing efforts to source beef from deforestation-free supply chains.
• Opinion | Here’s why the seafood on your plate had to be imported: U.S. fish farms lag global production and most seafood consumed domestically is imported.
• Opinion | Ending the ESG Dairy Heist: Legal action challenges USDA ESG rules impacting U.S. dairy farmers.
• War Throttles Black Sea Grain Exports, Threatening Food Supplies: Black Sea conflict disrupts grain shipments, raising concerns about global food availability.
• A carbon-credit land rush is hollowing out New Zealand farm country: New Zealand farmland is increasingly purchased for carbon credits, impacting traditional agriculture.
• US immigration crackdown hits Kansas, disrupts beef processing: Increased immigration enforcement in Kansas leads to workforce shortages in beef processing plants.
• IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE CENTER, CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, GET O: Ninth Circuit hears arguments on environmental regulations impacting biological diversity.

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