USDA Reinstates Prevented Planting Coverage

In response to comments submitted by USCA and other ag groups, as well as strong pushback from Members of Congress led by Sen. Hoeven (R-ND), USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) has reinstated the option for insured producers to purchase an additional 5% prevented planting coverage beginning with crops associated with the August 31, 2026, filing date for the 2027 and succeeding crop years. This added coverage enhances producers’ ability to manage risk in situations where extreme weather or other conditions prevent normal planting.

Producers should contact their local crop insurance agent or visit the RMA website for guidance on how these updates may affect coverage options.

Farm Bill Draft Stuck in Senate Ag Committee


The Senate Ag Committee was unable to advance the Farm Bill out of committee on August 6. Chairman Boozman indicated the committee will revisit the bill at a future date. At the beginning of the mark-up an “en bloc” amendment was adopted that included 34 uncontentious amendments that were filed by both Republicans and Democrats. Among those included in the en bloc amendment was Sen. Thune’s amendment to remove the 30-million-acre cap from the base acre expansion enacted in 2025. Aside from that, all of the amendments offered by Democrats during the mark-up were defeated on party-line votes. It is possible that Republicans will be able to move the bill out of committee in September if Sen. McConnell returns from his medical absence. However, eventually getting a final bill through the full Senate (with the 60-vote filibuster threshold) will require bipartisan support.

Attorney General Ken Paxton Investigates "Heart-Healthy" Claims

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into major food manufacturers that market their products as “heart-healthy." Since 1995, the AHA's red heart-and-checkmark symbol has served as a trusted shorthand for consumers seeking heart-healthy food choices, appearing on everything from snack foods to cooking oils. Companies under investigation so far include Frito Lay, Flora Food Group, and ACH Foods.

“I won’t allow corporations to slap a ‘heart healthy’ symbol on their food labels as an attempt to market seed oils and other chemical-filled foods as healthy,” said Attorney General Paxton. “I have seen that many products with this ‘heart healthy’ label can actually impair heart function. I am committed to Making America Healthy Again, and this is another piece of that broad effort to protect Texans' health and well-being.” 

Read the letter from Attorney General Ken Paxton on X: https://bit.ly/4qOaOlY

EPA Announces Desiccation Innovation Challenge

As part of President Trump's June 2026 executive order on advancing regenerative agriculture, EPA has launched a $30 million national Innovation Challenge to identify alternatives to conventional pesticide-based crop desiccation. EPA has issued a Request for Information (Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OPP-2026-3862) seeking public input on current desiccant use, existing non-chemical alternatives, and the standards any new alternative should meet before it can be considered viable. USCA intends to submit comments on behalf of canola growers to help ensure EPA preserves access to the desiccant tools farmers currently rely on, and comments are due by September 30, 2026.

Read the news release from the EPA: https://bit.ly/4hEMq3p

USDA Holds Webinar on Regenerative Ag for Biofuels

On August 18, USDA held a webinar on its voluntary framework for quantifying, reporting and verifying the carbon intensity (CI) of biofuel feedstocks produced using regenerative agricultural practices. While the rule is closely connected to the federal 45Z clean fuel tax credit, USDA emphasized that the framework is “policy-agnostic” and can be used by other clean transportation and sustainability programs as well. The final rule covers field corn, soybeans, sorghum and spring canola.

For producers, key requirements include documenting tillage and cover-crop practices, developing a nutrient budget, reporting actual yields and nitrogen application, and providing a Biofuel Feedstock Report when reduced-CI crops are sold. The system includes annual third-party audits at aggregation and intermediary points, as well as sampling of farms for on-farm verification. The USDA Feedstock Carbon Intensity Calculator (FD-CIC) is available as an Excel-based calculator.



The full rule was published on June 29, 2026, and can be found here:

https://bit.ly/46txNcy

Rail Merger Opposition

On August 13, the National Grain & Feed Association (NGFA) submitted comments to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) opposing the merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk South. In their comments NGFA indicated that based on their review the recent UP-NS merger filing fails to consider rail-to-rail competition in its attempt to satisfy the agency’s “competition enhancement” criteria for a merger. 

Earlier this week, state attorneys general in Montana, Iowa, Kansas, Florida, North Dakota, South Dakota and Tennessee submitted a letter urging the STB to deny the merger application arguing that the proposal cannot enhance competition since it does not give any shipper access to a new railroad. They also charged it would raise rates for many eligible shippers. 

Formal opposition was also expressed by a coalition that included the Fertilizer Institute, the Alliance for Chemical Distribution, American Chemistry Council, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, and the National Industrial Transportation League. BNSF railway also filed comments last week opposing the merger. 

The STB in May accepted Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s proposed merger application for consideration but called on the two railroads to submit supplemental information with details regarding impacts to competition, public benefits and market share projections.