BOONE, Iowa (DTN) -- Farm-state politics and policy took center stage Wednesday as the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and the USDA secretary took center stage at the Farm Progress Show.

Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Pa., the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, was asked by a reporter about what would change if Vice President Kamala Harris were to win the White House.

"I don't think anything is going to be different. In the end, she's flipping on everything she said she was going to do and now she's really copying President Trump's talking points on everything," Thompson said.

Thompson added he served with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in Congress, adding "I consider him a friend, but Tim was pretty far left when he was in the House and on the Ag Committee and then he went off the rails when he went to Minnesota to become governor." Thompson also criticized Walz for describing farm country as "the land of rocks and cows," adding "and that was not meant as an endearing description."

Thompson also criticized how the Biden administration has changed forms for financial aid to look at assets versus income. Thompson said that hurts farm families applying to colleges for financial aid. "Kids from farm country are not going to be able to access financial assistance to go to college," he said.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also spoke at the Farm Progress Show, and highlighted challenges with farm income while defending the administration on trade even as the agricultural trade deficit widens.

Vilsack also highlighted:

-- More funding was released for new fertilizer plants in seven states.

-- Vilsack said at least one company is now conducting trials on an H5N1 vaccine for dairy cattle.

-- Vilsack announced USDA is moving to tighten claims made by companies for raising animals, such as labels stating, "Raised Without Antibiotics," "Grass-Fed" and "Free-Range," as well as environment-related claims, such as "Raised using Regenerative Agriculture Practices" and "Climate-Friendly." The secretary pointed to a recent survey showing 20% of food products claimed as "antibiotic-free" actually were not.

"So that has led us to tighten the guidance and strengthen the guidance to the industry about claims that are being made," Vilsack said.

FARM BILL

On the farm bill, Thompson held a forum with members of Iowa's congressional delegation. He said he hopes there is time after Congress returns in September to pass his committee's farm bill through the full House.

"I really want to get this done in September. I think our members need it. There's an election coming up," Thompson said.

Any farm bill likely now won't be finalized, or "across the finish line," until after the election, he said.

Clearing the bill out of committee in May helped his members with primaries, Thompson said.

"And I also think our farmers and ranchers and all of the folks in rural America need hope. They need to know people have their back."

Asked about political dynamics, Thompson said, "My goal is to get it signed by the current president and executed by the next president."

Speaking to reporters, Vilsack said there are multiple levels of optimism about the farm bill, "and the chairman probably has the highest level." Vilsack said he's optimistic the lawmakers involved in the bill understand the importance of getting a bill done.

"I'm convinced they will eventually get it done," he said.

Vilsack, though, suggested Thompson "needs to be more practical," in looking at the programs he has put together and the costs of them.

Asked about changes to the farm bill, Thompson said, "I'm not going to compromise the safety net."

Noting the Senate doesn't have a farm bill, "but 90 pages of ideas," Thompson said, the House bill "would give the senate a gift."

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., has criticized the House bill for taking $30 billion from spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as well as offering too much to commodity programs. Thompson pushed back on those criticisms.

"I've had that discussion with her on putting her own bill together as opposed to criticizing what really is a bill universally supported throughout farm country," Thompson said.

Still, the chairman said he and his staff are talking with House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott, D-Ga., along with the chairwoman and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee about how to begin negotiating out differences between the two chambers, even though the Senate doesn't actually have a bill.

"Our teams are talking about a pre-conference," Thompson said. "So, that's a move in the right direction."

Also see, "Ag Groups Look for Farm Bill Support,"

https://www.dtnpf.com/…

RECORD AG TRADE DEFICITS

USDA economists on Tuesday projected U.S. agriculture would see a record $42.5 billion trade deficit for fiscal-year 2025. That will top this year, which forecasts a $30.5 billion trade deficit.

U.S. agricultural exports are expected at $169.5 billion in FY 2025, down $2 billion. Meanwhile, imports will grow by $8 billion to a record $212 billion.

Vilsack downplayed the record trade deficits under the Biden administration even as the president's team has rejected attempts to negotiate new deals. Vilsack said one reason the trade deficit is so high is that every other country wants to sell into the U.S. market.

"It's not surprising we have a trade deficit for the following reasons," Vilsack said. "One, we have the strongest economy in the world by far -- not even close -- which means more things are happening here than there are anyplace else, which means that there is a somewhat declining demand for stuff in other places where the economy isn't as strong."

Yet, Vilsack noted agricultural exports to China "have dropped significantly." He said one reason is Chinese officials "pay attention to what's being said and what's being done here in this in the country." He added, "And they are sensitive to the criticisms that they hear from the United States, and they're basically expressing that dissatisfaction in terms of the purchasing decisions that they make."

Vilsack pointed to the $300 million USDA has provided to agricultural groups under the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). That funding is going to help commodity groups and others expand trade in countries that are not already the top buyers for commodities.

"The idea behind it is to provide resources to expand the map of export opportunities to get away from the Chinas and the Mexicos and the Canadas and the UKs and the EU, as important as they are to us, and figure out ways in which we can expand opportunity in other markets, in Southeast Asia and Africa and Latin America," Vilsack said.

Thompson said the ag-trade deficit is one reason he has moved to double funding for the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Program (MAP and FMD) in the House farm bill.

Thompson criticized the Biden administration for waiting two years before nominating an agricultural trade ambassador and a USDA trade undersecretary.

He said there was no one at the table to hold either Canada and Mexico's feet to the fire under that trade agreement or China under that trade agreement.

H5N1 DAIRY VACCINE TRIALS

The Agriculture secretary also talked about the H5N1 virus affecting dairy producers. A number of companies are working on vaccines, Vilsack said, and at least one company now has gotten approval for the first field trial.

"It's the next step in the development of a vaccine, which hopefully we'll be able to develop near term," Vilsack said. He later added, "Our scientists have done an amazing job and the fact that we now have a field trial period with safety, that's remarkable acceleration for a vaccine in terms of a dairy cow."

That vaccine work is being overseen by the Center for Veterinary Biologicals out of Ames, Iowa.

The H5N1 virus now has infected 193 dairy herds in 13 states. At least four dairy workers also have tested positive for the virus.

USDA OFFERS MORE FERTILIZER MONEY

Vilsack also announced USDA had approved $35 million for fertilizer projects across seven states. That includes $4.7 million for an Iowa company that will convert dairy waste into fertilizer. Vilsack said the Iowa project would produce about 540,000 tons of fertilizer per year.

USDA overall has spent $286 million on 64 fertilizer projects across 32 states.

Also see, "Former Trump Officials Slam Biden Administration on Trade and Regulatory Policies," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

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