Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 2/19/19

Now that the threat of another funding lapse this fiscal year is over, a series of USDA events and congressional hearings over the next two weeks could deliver new clues about the Trump administration's ag plans for 2019, especially in terms of implementing the farm bill, H.R. 2 (115) , working with Congress to bolster the farm economy, and handling agency reorganization efforts.

What's on tap: The farm bill should be a major topic at USDA's annual Agricultural Outlook Forum starting Thursday, given the way the shutdown prevented the department from getting a quick start on implementation. Trade headwinds and their impact on the farm economy will also be a focus, considering the meeting's theme of "growing locally, selling globally."

— USDA also plans to hold a listening session Feb. 26 to gather public input on programs in the 2018 farm bill, and Perdue is scheduled to testify before the Senate Ag Committee on Feb. 28 about implementation efforts. Ag groups will be listening closely for word on timing and details of new initiatives, like the reboot to dairy margin coverage.

The final Ag-FDA spending bill enacted last week, H.J. Res. 31 (116), also set up a potential clash in the coming months between lawmakers and Perdue over reorganizing and relocating the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The appropriations measure included report language calling for Perdue to provide further analysis before moving ahead with the proposal. Democrats followed that up by proposing standalone legislation that would block the controversial plans.

Fallout from the five-week shutdown continues to affect the logistics of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. More than 35 states and territories plan to issue March food stamp benefits on an accelerated schedule, to lessen the gap between payments following the early release of February benefits, Pro Ag's Helena Bottemiller Evich reports.