California Democrat Rep. Jim Costa has announced his bid to replace Rep. David Scott of Georgia as the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee. Costa, the second-highest-ranking Democrat on the committee, made his intentions clear during a California delegation meeting on Wednesday. His candidacy comes as Scott, who has faced ongoing health challenges, receives treatment in Georgia and remains absent from Congressional votes until December.

Costa, a veteran lawmaker with a deep background in agriculture, is known for his hands-on experience in the sector, including growing up on a dairy farm and farming almonds in California’s San Joaquin Valley. He has been in Congress since 2005 and played key roles in shaping the 2008, 2014 and 2018 farm bills. Costa’s supporters believe his stamina and expertise will better position Democrats to counter Republican proposals, particularly as GOP dominance in Congress looms over the next farm bill.

Scott, who became the committee’s first African American chair in 2021, has been praised for his historic leadership but has faced questions about his ability to effectively lead amid health-related absences. An aide to another committee member noted that the push to replace Scott is not solely due to health concerns but also reflects frustrations with the party’s ability to advance its priorities in the current farm bill.

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Costa has championed specialty crops and rural development, securing a separate horticulture title in the 2008 farm bill and founding the Congressional Specialty Crop Caucus. If successful, Costa’s leadership may signal a more aggressive Democratic approach to farm policy in the face of Republican control. 

Meat Institute president calls for action on trade barriers

Julie Anna Potts, president and CEO of the Meat Institute, recently submitted formal comments to the U.S. Trade Representative addressing the challenges posed by foreign trade barriers to the U.S. meat and poultry industry. In her remarks, Potts emphasized the critical role of international trade for the sector, which supports over 532,000 jobs and contributed $23.6 billion in exports in 2023. However, she warned that non-tariff barriers—such as burdensome registration processes, outdated sanitary rules and retaliatory tariffs—continue to limit market access for U.S. exporters. 

The comments highlighted persistent issues with China, which has not fully upheld commitments under the U.S.-China Phase One Agreement. Barriers include stringent ractopamine testing and the slow approval of U.S. facilities for export. Potts also criticized retaliatory tariffs, which hinder the competitiveness of U.S. pork and beef, and called for their removal to reduce costs for both exporters and domestic consumers. 

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Beyond China, Potts pointed to obstacles in other key markets, including Vietnam, South Korea and Australia, urging USTR to enforce existing trade agreements and pursue new market opportunities. She advocated for a comprehensive trade strategy to combat the expanding influence of competitors like the EU and China, which have outpaced the U.S. in securing free trade agreements. 

Potts concluded by urging USTR to eliminate trade barriers, strengthen global partnerships and secure access to critical markets, emphasizing the importance of these actions for the long-term viability of the U.S. meat and poultry industry. 

Vilsack highlights climate investments at UN Conference

At the annual UN climate summit this week in Baku, Azerbaijan, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the Biden administration’s climate achievements and investments in agriculture over the past four years. Highlighting the Inflation Reduction Act, Secretary Vilsack noted its impact, nearly doubling conservation funding and fostering climate-smart agricultural practices. The USDA has invested nearly $40 billion, helping over 28,500 farmers adopt sustainable practices, financing rural clean energy projects and reducing wildfire risks across millions of acres.

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Secretary Vilsack also celebrated the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative, which has invested $3 billion since 2022. These efforts span over five million acres, producing more than 40 “climate-smart” commodities such as beef, rice and sustainable biofuels. The program supports farmers of all sizes, expanding market opportunities and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

Vilsack further lauded the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate, a global initiative that has mobilized $29.2 billion in climate-smart investments from 56 countries and over 800 partners. AIM for Climate’s latest efforts include $80 million for U.S. nitrogen fertilizer production through sustainable methods.

 Beyond U.S. borders, USDA showcased its International Climate Hub, which offers global farmers climate resilience tools and resources. Since its launch in 2023, the Hub has reached 26,000 users worldwide and plans to expand with new initiatives like the AgroClimate Atlas and a farmer interview series.