Amid negotiations over a year-end spending package and a path forward for the expired farm bill, Congressional Democrats selected their agriculture committee leaders for the upcoming session. When the new Congress gavels in on Jan. 3, both the House and Senate ag panels will be led by female lawmakers from Minnesota.

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) will take over leadership from retiring Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.). However, due to a shift in the balance of power in the Senate after the November elections, Klobuchar will serve as Ranking Member alongside incoming Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.). The 64-year-old Klobuchar was recently elected to her fourth term in the Senate and has served on the Agriculture Committee throughout her entire tenure in Congress.

In the House, Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) defeated Jim Costa (D-Calif.) and current Ranking Member David Scott (D-Ga.) to lead the minority on the panel next year. Scott had faced growing concerns about his ability to adequately represent the party’s positions due to ongoing health issues. He dropped out the evening before the final vote, leaving Craig and Costa competing for the position. Craig, 52, was born and raised in a rural area of Arkansas. She has represented southern Minnesota in Congress since 2019 and has served on the Agriculture Committee in all three of her terms. 

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FDA updates definition of “healthy” for nutrition labels

The FDA has finalized a new rule updating the definition of the “healthy” nutrient content claim on food packaging, aiming to provide more accurate and helpful nutrition information for consumers. The update aligns with the agency’s broader strategy to address diet-related chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer, which are leading causes of disability and death in the U.S.

Under the revised definition, foods must contain a certain amount of at least one food group identified in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, such as fruits, vegetables, protein, dairy or grains. They must also adhere to updated limits on saturated fat, sodium and added sugars. These changes expand the range of foods eligible for the “healthy” label, now including items like nuts, seeds, higher-fat fish, olive oil and water.

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf emphasized the role of the “healthy” claim in helping consumers make informed choices, stating, “Food must be a vehicle for wellness. Now, people will be able to look for the ‘healthy’ claim to find foundational, nutritious foods for themselves and their families.”

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The FDA is also developing a “healthy” symbol to complement the claim, aiming to make nutritious choices even more accessible, particularly for consumers less familiar with nutrition labels. In addition, the FDA is working on new front-of-package labeling and sodium reduction initiatives as part of a whole-of-government effort to combat diet-related diseases and improve public health. 

USDA announces $300 million in trade promotion grants

USDA has allocated $300 million in a second round of Regional Agricultural Promotion Program grants, benefiting 67 partners across the country. These grants aim to diversify export markets, focusing on regions with rising demand such as Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. The grants bring total 2024 RAPP funding to $600 million.

RAPP, established in 2023 with $1.2 billion in funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation, aims to expand U.S. agricultural exports beyond established markets like China, Mexico and Canada. This second round underscores USDA’s focus on market diversification, with $25 million specifically set aside for projects targeting Africa. Proposals exceeded available funds, with over $1 billion in requests submitted by trade organizations, state agencies and agricultural cooperatives.

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“RAPP is a critical tool for helping U.S. producers and agribusinesses stay competitive in today’s global trading environment,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. He highlighted that U.S. agricultural exports reached record highs in recent years, including nearly $196 billion in 2022. USDA and the USTR have secured $26.7 billion in agricultural market access since 2021.

The program builds on previous efforts like the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program, offering U.S. producers opportunities to tap into emerging markets while reducing dependency on a few large markets. With this funding, USDA aims to support rural economies and strengthen global food security while opening new pathways for U.S. agricultural exports.