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Lawmakers Consider Additional Farm Aid as Emergency Spending Package Takes Shape

U.S. lawmakers are exploring the possibility of including additional agricultural assistance in a broader emergency spending package currently under discussion in Washington. The potential funding is being tied to a larger national security and military support bill, but farm policy leaders are pushing to ensure agriculture is included in the conversation.

Producers across the United States have been dealing with rising input costs, volatile commodity markets, and ongoing financial pressure. As discussions around federal spending move forward, lawmakers are evaluating whether additional support for agriculture should be included alongside other priorities.

Early proposals being discussed could involve billions of dollars in additional aid aimed at helping producers manage higher operating costs and ongoing economic uncertainty.

Cost Pressures Continue Across Agriculture

The debate comes at a time when many producers continue to face elevated costs for fuel, fertilizer, equipment, and other production inputs. These challenges are affecting farm profitability across multiple sectors and are raising concerns about the financial outlook for the upcoming production season.

Farm leaders have emphasized that rising input costs are making it more difficult for producers to maintain margins, particularly after several years of market volatility.

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Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard

Video: Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard

On Friday, April 24, 2026, from 12 noon–1:00 ET, the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s (PDA) Agricultural Business Development Center (ABDC), presented this webinar in the Understanding Agricultural Law Educational Series, a course designed to develop subject matter literacy and competence on fundamental issues of agricultural law for attorneys and business advisors who work with or represent agricultural or rural clients but may not necessarily specialize in agricultural law:

“Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard”

The Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program requires transportation fuel sold in the United States to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, or advanced biofuels. Established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and later expanded by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the RFS is implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collaboration with the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This webinar provides an overview of the legal authority and structure for the RFS program and explain how it works, including the program’s system of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) and categories of renewable fuels. Additionally, this webinar addresses EPA annual volume requirement rulemaking and associated recent legal issues.