Department of Agriculture (USDA) News

Welcome to your weekly USDA update, listeners. This week's biggest headline from the Department of Agriculture is their stark revision to farm income forecasts: net farm income for 2025 slashed to $154.6 billion, down $25 billion from September estimates, with 2026 projected at just $153.4 billion amid persistent weakness, according to the USDA's Economic Research Service and American Farm Bureau reports.

Farmers face declining crop and livestock receipts—animal products down 5.8% to $273.9 billion next year—while production expenses hover near record highs at $477.7 billion. Government payments will surge to $44.3 billion in 2026, up $13.8 billion, including disaster aid and programs like Agricultural Risk Coverage, propping up incomes but not fully offsetting losses. Secretary Brooke Rollins announced new 2026 research priorities focused on boosting profitability through lower inputs and automation, explicitly ditching what she calls misguided DEI policies to tackle real farmer challenges.

On the regulatory front, the Product of USA labeling rule kicks in January 1, 2026, requiring meat to be born, raised, and processed here for those claims—clearer for consumers and a win for domestic packers. Other moves include February lending rates at 4.625% for operating loans to ease cash flow, a WIC fluid milk allowance boost signed by President Trump, and partnerships like shipping 211,000 metric tons of U.S. commodities via the UN World Food Programme to seven countries.

For American citizens, this means tighter grocery budgets as farm pressures could nudge food prices up, though nutrition resets with HHS aim to prioritize real food. Businesses get export financing expansions and labeling clarity, but many operations teeter below breakeven. States like South Texas benefit from water resource deals with State Secretary Marco Rubio, while international aid strengthens U.S. ties abroad.

Watch February 10 USDA crop reports for supply insights, and prep for labeling compliance deadlines. Dive deeper at usda.gov or local service centers—farmers, use their loan tools today.

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Welcome to your weekly USDA update, where we break down the latest from the Department of Agriculture and what it means for you.

This week's top headline: The Trump Administration just announced $12 billion in Farmer Bridge Aid payments for American farmers hit by unfair trade practices. According to the USDA press release, qualifying farmers can expect cash by February 28, 2026, as long as they file accurate 2025 acreage reports by December 19. Commodity rates drop end of this month—no crop insurance needed, though they urge using new OBBBA tools against price swings.

Key moves include the Expanding Access to Risk Protection Final Rule, modernizing crop insurance for 2026. Farm Credit East reports it boosts beginning farmers' premium subsidies up to 15% for their first two years, eases prevented planting rules, and streamlines reporting—cutting red tape for ranchers nationwide.

Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled 2026 research priorities, per her December memo, focusing on farmer profitability through lower inputs and automation, plus new markets for biofuels and biobased products. "This will help American farmers increase profitability while providing the safest, most affordable food," she said.

Trade's heating up: Under Secretary Luke Lindberg leads a mission to Jakarta starting today, with 41 agribusinesses pushing soybeans and dairy into Indonesia, building on $125 million in projected sales from last year's trips.

Impacts? Farmers get immediate relief and stronger safety nets amid a partial government shutdown—USDA's 2026 farm income forecast drops Thursday, projecting $180.7 billion net cash income after last year's 40.7% jump. Businesses see export wins and insurance tweaks; states gain from trade partnerships; citizens benefit from cheaper fuels via pro-biofuels pushes like E15 year-round.

New SNAP work requirements kicked in February 1 for more states, per LiveNOW from FOX, potentially affecting millions without exemptions.

Watch the Indonesia mission outcomes, USMCA review, and comment on EARP by January 27 at regulations.gov. For details, hit usda.gov press releases.

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**USDA Weekly Update: E-15, Trade Missions, and Energy Independence**

Good morning. This week the Department of Agriculture announced major moves to boost American agriculture and energy independence. Let's dive into what's happening and why it matters to your wallet, your job, and your country.

The headline dominating agricultural policy this week is President Trump's support for nationwide year-round sales of E-15, a gasoline blend containing 15 percent ethanol. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins called this move historic, saying it could allow up to 2 billion more bushels of corn to be consumed domestically. This is huge for farmers. The Trump administration is framing biofuels as a critical national security asset. American ethanol exports are already up 11 percent in the last year, and the administration has negotiated new purchase agreements with the UK, Japan, Malaysia, and Cambodia. For corn farmers in the Midwest, this means expanded markets and stronger demand for their crops.

Here's where it gets interesting for international trade. The USDA is launching a trade mission to Indonesia next week, led by Under Secretary Luke Lindberg. The mission includes 41 agribusinesses exploring opportunities created by the new US-Indonesia trade agreement. This follows successful 2025 missions that connected over 200 American companies with buyers, generating nearly 125 million dollars in projected sales. The USDA is planning similar missions to the Philippines, Turkey, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam throughout 2026.

Behind the scenes, significant organizational changes are underway. The USDA is relocating more than 2,000 employees from Washington DC to regional hubs in Raleigh, Kansas City, and other cities by the end of 2026. Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden confirmed these moves are already being implemented. However, Congress has added requirements that the USDA needs approval before closing field offices or relocating staff in rural areas, potentially slowing the reorganization.

On the research front, Secretary Rollins announced new development priorities focusing on farmer profitability, expanding markets for American commodities, and supporting bioenergy projects. The administration is also emphasizing whole foods in updated dietary guidelines, which benefits producers of real food over processed alternatives.

For listeners wondering how this affects you, higher ethanol blends could mean cheaper gas, expanded agricultural exports mean job stability in rural communities, and reorganization could change how rural farmers access USDA services. Keep an eye on Congress as it works through the E-15 nationwide legislation over the coming weeks.

For more information on USDA programs and opportunities, visit usda.gov. Thank you for tuning in to this USDA weekly update. Be sure to subscribe for next week's developments. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

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Welcome back, listeners, to your weekly USDA update. This week’s top headline: Secretary Brooke L. Rollins launched the New World Screwworm Grand Challenge, unleashing up to $100 million for innovative projects to boost sterile fly production and stop this devastating pest from spreading north from Mexico and Central America.

USDA’s USDA press release quotes Rollins saying, “This is a strategic investment in America’s farmers and ranchers... to protect our food supply and our economy, rebuilding our cattle herd to lower grocery prices.” It’s a direct hit against a threat that could ravage livestock, echoing fights against spotted lanternfly and citrus greening.

Other big moves include appointing Philip Cowee as Nevada’s Farm Service Agency State Executive Director on January 5, part of Rollins’ push to put farmers first in rural America. USDA also rolled out a new online portal for reporting foreign-owned ag land deals, boosting transparency. And Rollins signed off on 2026 research priorities—think boosting farmer profits through automation, cracking trade barriers for record yields, soil health for lasting lands, and precision nutrition for healthier eats.

These shake things up: Farmers get tools for profitability and pest defense, shielding jobs and cutting food costs for everyday Americans. Businesses tap new markets and bioenergy uses, while states like Nevada see streamlined local leadership. Internationally, it strengthens ties in pest battles across borders.

Data point: Senators warn USDA’s crop insurance tweak hits 67 million acres, urging a reversal for 2027 planting deadlines. WIC families now get more fluid milk through a fresh policy boost.

Watch the next WASDE report February 10 for crop outlooks. Dive deeper at usda.gov. If you’re a farmer, apply for Grand Challenge funds soon.

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Good morning. This is your USDA update, and we're opening with major changes to how the Trump administration is reshaping American agriculture and nutrition policy.

Just this week, the USDA announced sweeping new research priorities that signal a fundamental shift in how federal farm dollars get spent. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins signed a memorandum establishing four core areas: increasing farmer profitability, expanding markets for American crops, strengthening agricultural security, and improving human health through better nutrition. What makes this significant is what's being deprioritized. The administration is moving away from what they call misguided policies focused on diversity initiatives in agricultural research, arguing those programs diverted resources from the real challenges farmers face.

On the nutrition front, Secretary Rollins and HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Junior unveiled what they're calling a historic reset of federal dietary guidelines. The new 2025 to 2030 guidelines emphasize whole foods over processed products, recommending Americans prioritize protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains. This aligns with broader efforts to support domestic farmers and ranchers producing these commodities.

The administration is also backing this up with concrete support. The USDA announced expanded enrollment for the 2026 Dairy Margin Coverage program, raising tier one coverage to six million pounds and allowing producers to lock in coverage for up to six years at discounted rates. Additionally, USDA committed to purchasing up to eighty million dollars in almonds, grape juice, pistachios, and raisins for distribution through nutrition assistance programs.

On the personnel front, Patrick Bell recently joined as the new State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency in Washington, joining a broader slate of Trump administration appointees reshaping leadership across the department.

For farmers specifically, the January lending rates are now in effect, with farm ownership loans at five point six two five percent and emergency loans at three point seven five percent. These rates provide critical access to capital during volatile market conditions.

The real impact here listeners is twofold. For farmers, this means more direct support for profitability and market expansion rather than compliance with environmental mandates. For consumers, the dietary guidelines emphasize nutritional quality, potentially shifting what appears on grocery shelves toward less processed American-grown products.

Watch for enrollment deadlines for dairy coverage through February twenty sixth and upcoming details on the agricultural outlook forum where Chief Economist Justin Benavidez will present the 2026 outlook for the agricultural economy.

For more information, visit usda dot gov. Thank you for tuning in, and please subscribe. This has been a quiet please production. For more, check out quiet please dot ai.

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