This week, as the government shutdown passes the 35-day, setting a record for longest shut down in history, little progress has been made in resolving the impasse. Senate Democrats are demanding that Congress address Affordable Care Act subsidies now before they will support a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund government operations. Republicans are insisting on opening the government before addressing other issues.
US DOT’s October 3, 2025 Interim Final Rule (IFR) directing states to discontinue implementing the disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) program by using race or gender-based presumptions to determine DBE status has created a great deal of uncertainty for states and contractors in meeting DBE mandates. While U.S. DOT is taking comments on the DBE IFR through Nov. 3, states have been implementing the program in a variety of different ways. US DOT last week released FAQ guidance to clarify many of the implementation issues. While the FAQ gives some guidance on proceeding with the program much confusion still exists.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that under the terms of a new U.S.-China trade deal, Beijing has pledged to continue buying soybeans in similar volumes to recent years. Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins touted tariff reductions on U.S. commodities and opportunities for sorghum and hardwood.
The faceoff between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate shows little progress in finding a compromise that would allow the Federal government to reopen shuttered offices as the impasse enters its third week. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) continues to bring the House passed continuing resolution(CR) up for a vote in an attempt to get the eight democrat votes needed to pass the measure. Democrats, however, insist they will not support a funding measure that fails to include an extension of subsidies for health insurance obtained through the Obamacare marketplace. Republicans want to pass a clean CR to reopen the government and address the health subsidies in separate legislation. House Speaker Mike Johnson, (R-La) continues to keep the House out of session while the shutdown is ongoing. The House last held votes on Sept. 19, when Republicans pushed through the CR that has stalled in the Senate.
LICA and Minnesota LICA are participating in an effort to dissuade the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) from attempting to regulate public agricultural drainage systems under the State Disposal System (SDS) permit program. LICA has joined the effort initiated by the Agriculture Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) requesting that a petition from a coalition of environmental groups for the permitting requirements be declined. LICA believes that if such a permit requirement where to be adopted in Minnesota it could have National implications and the practice could spread to other states. The letter explains that agricultural drainage has never been treated as wastewater under Minnesota law and should not be. The groups petition’s proposed interpretation would conflict with legislative intent, established precedent, and the long-standing role of local drainage authorities. According to Jennifer Breberg, Executive Director of MNLICA, “This is just another of the many challenges we face here in Minnesota. The legislature, and more specifically special interest groups, are always trying to challenge everything related to agriculture in the state. It makes little sense in a prominently ag state. We have very strict rules already in place for ag drainage and they cover all areas, but foremost they are there to protect the environment."
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Oct. 15 he will withhold $40 million from California because it is failing to enforce English-language requirements for truckers. DOT launched an investigation into state commercial driver’s license (CDL) requirement enforcement following a deadly Florida crash involving a foreign truck driver who made an illegal U-turn. The driver was licensed in California. Duffy said the investigation found significant failures in the way California is enforcing rules that took effect in June after one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders. California had issued the driver a commercial license, but these English speaking rules were issued after the crash.
President Donald Trump listed rare earths, fentanyl and soybeans as the U.S.’s top issues with China just before the two sides return to the negotiating table and as a fragile trade truce nears expiration.
As the government shutdown enters its second week there is no deal in sight to end the impasse. Punchbowl news reports the Senate will vote this week - for the fifth time - on advancing the House-passed Continuing resolution (CR) to fund federal agencies through Nov. 21. However, there is no indication that the eight Senate Democrat votes needed to pass the bill can be found. Senate GOP leaders continue to believe that eventually enough votes will emerge as the standoff continues and pressure mounts to get a deal done. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) intends to continue to bring the measure up for additional votes. Speaker Johnson (R-LA) has kept the House in recess for an additional week believing that he has done his job and it is now up the Senate.
<brView MoreMore than 200 national and state agricultural organizations this week appealed to President Trump for economic assistance pointing out that while the budget reconciliation bill signed into law this summer included “significant” changes to commodity programs, farmers won’t see the resulting payments until October 2026. “In the meantime, growers will continue to face enormously challenging market conditions,” the letter says.