Agriculture Deputy Secretary Stepping Down

On Thursday, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jewel Bronaugh announced she was stepping down in the coming weeks. The Deputy Secretary currently holds the second-highest role in the Department. Bronaugh previously served as the head of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and as the head of Virginia’s Farm Service Agency.

Senate Agriculture Committee Announces Farm Bill Hearing Schedule

This week, the Senate Agriculture Committee released its hearing schedule to solicit input from the Department of Agriculture as it prepares for the upcoming farm bill. Programs in the current farm bill begin expiring on September 30. See below for the Committee’s intended schedule.

• February 1: Trade and horticulture programs
• February 9: Commodity programs, crop insurance, and farm credit programs
• February 16: Nutrition programs
• March 1: Conservation and forestry programs
• March 16: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack testifies

Lawsuit Filed Against EPA’s WOTUS Rule

On January 19, 18 organizations representing agriculture, infrastructure, and housing collectively filed a suit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) over its rule regulating the waters of the United States (WOTUS). The suit alleges the rule overextends federal jurisdiction. EPA and USACE released a final rule with an updated definition on December 30, 2022. The rule is set to take effect on March 20.

Sens. Fetterman and Welch Join Senate Agriculture Committee

On Thursday, the Senate Democratic Steering Committee announced Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA) and Peter Welch (D-VT) would be added to the Senate Agriculture Committee. The ratio of senators on the Committee is expected to change from 11 Democrats and 11 Republicans to 12 Democrats and 11 Republicans for the 118^th congressional session. The Republicans are not expected to change their roster for this session. The additional open Democratic seat resulted from Sen. Pat Leahy’s (D-NY) retirement at the end of last session.