STILLWATER, MN – Earlier this week, USA Rice staff participated in the 2025 Minnesota Ag Leadership Conference (MALC), where farmers, agribusiness leaders, policy experts, and elected officials met to discuss topics impacting agriculture in the state and across the nation. Hosted by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, the MALC provided a platform for dialogue, sharing insights from St. Paul, Minnesota, and Washington, DC, and connecting with fellow agricultural leaders.
A major focus of the conference was recent federal policy developments, including implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP), and Farm Bill 2.0 – or “skinny Farm Bill.”
The 2025 MALC featured federal elected and administration officials, key Congressional staff, expert economists, and agriculture policy experts who highlighted recent federal developments, as well as looked ahead at the landscape impacting the agriculture sector. USA Rice Vice President of Government Affairs Jake Westlin, a Minnesota native, participated on a “Key Allies Panel” along with senior staff from the National Corn Growers Association and the National Cotton Council. During the panel, Westlin provided a rice perspective about the economic challenges facing rice producers, discussed the importance of the farm safety net enhancements included in H.R. 1, and highlighted some rice priorities that could be included in a skinny Farm Bill later this year.
Several important lawmakers spoke at the conference, including Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representatives Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Brad Finstad (R-MN), and Pete Stauber (R-MN), giving their perspectives on the provisions included in the legislation, and what the prospects are for agricultural labor and trade in a potential skinny Farm Bill. A recurring theme was a common desire to close out the remaining titles of the farm bill, which weren’t addressed in the reconciliation process, and pass a bipartisan bill.
In addition to the lawmakers, there was a House and Senate staff panel that included Fitz Elder, staff director for the Senate Agriculture Committee, as well as other key staff from the offices of Senator Klobuchar, and Representatives Craig and Finstad.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was represented by Pat Swanson, the administrator for the Risk Management Agency, who gave an update on crop insurance issues and the work the agency will need to undertake to implement agriculture provisions in H.R. 1. Additionally, Steve Peterson, who is a senior advisor within the Farm Production and Conservation Mission Area, provided an update on the rollout of ECAP and SDRP. In particular, he noted that the USDA revised ECAP to allow acreage planted — or prevented from planting — on the same ground as the first crop to be eligible for ECAP payments.
The USDA extended the ECAP signup period from August 15 to September 30. The department said the adjustment reflects the “broad intent of the authorizing legislation to address the gap between the cost of production and market prices for all eligible commodities.” Peterson also provided an overview of the self-enacting and rulemaking actions the agency will undertake to implement reforms enacted in the legislation.
Last, but certainly not least, the conference hosted notable presentations from Dr. Bart Fischer, co-director of the Agriculture and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University; Jim Wiesemeyer, dean of Washington Farm Journalists; and Dave Wasserman, senior editor and election analyst with Cook Political Report.