Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says USDA is ready to roll out a number of programs that have been on hold pending review.
“We have completed our review and are releasing the funds for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program and the agriculture conservation easement program,” Rollins said. “We are releasing those funds back to all of you who participate in those programs.”
Rollins made the announcement Sunday in Denver at the 2025 Commodity Classic where organizers estimate 10,000 will be on hand for the three-day event. The annual gathering of corn, soybeans, wheat and sorghum farmers from across the country welcomed her address ahead of what’s likely to be another busy week for the 33rd Secretary of Agriculture.
New Emergency Commodity Assistance Program to Distribute Farmer Funds
Rollins also formally announced economic assistance will be distributed by March 21.
“The economic assistance program will be called the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, or ECAP,” Rollins said. “ECAP is the new program to help us distribute that $30 billion in funds that Congress passed in December. They gave us 90 days to start distributing that first $10 billion in economic assistance, and we are on track to beat that and get that money starting to move immediately.”
Rollins is also looking at the application process and asking her team to find ways to streamline the distribution of those funds.
“In cases where we have information already on file, a pre-filled application will be sent to you,” Rollins said. “FSA will use the 2024 acreage reporting data you previously filed to initiate that application process. This is just common sense.”
Farmers who might have missed the above window will be asked to review their information, sign and return a completed application to their local FSA Service Center. Rollins also stressed the development of new tools that will use fair and transparent standards for calculating payments.
“Just in case there was any doubt, it will not be based on DEI metrics. Instead, it will be based on need, regardless of your skin color or geographic location,” Rollins said.
Trade, market development and demand remain serious concerns for the Commodity Classic crowd. At the end of February, President Donald Trump confirmed 25% tariffs for Mexico and Canada will take effect March 4. Farmers are worried their grain and other ag goods could face retaliatory measures and eventually exacerbate the U.S. agricultural trade deficit.
During a press conference, Rollins was asked about tariffs on Canada given that 87% of the potash used in the Midwest come from the province of Saskatchewan.
“I have had conversations with [Trump] specific to that issue, and will continue, but also the other teams from U.S. Trade Representative, Jameson Greer, to Howard Ludnick, Commerce Secretary, are leading a lot of these conversations and negotiations on behalf of this White House,” Rollins said. “Our conversations are ongoing and will continue. I fully recognize the issue.”
You can watch a 16-minute video of Secretary Rollins’ remarks at Commodity Classic on Farm Journal TV. The new subscription video service offers the convenience of on-demand access to hundreds of hours of content, including “AgDay,” “U.S. Farm Report,” “Machinery Pete” TV, Farm Journal’s podcast network, event footage, educational programming and more.
Farm Bill Push to the Finish Line
A soft farm economy for grain growers is at the top of the list heading into the 2025 planting season. It’s also why Rollins told the crowd she’s pushing Congress to get to work on finishing a new farm bill.
“How do we get the farm bill across the finish line?” Rollins asked rhetorically. “It is inexcusable it has yet to happen, and I understand there are a lot of factors out of the control of those who are making the decision, but there’s a new game in town. My commitment to you is that we get a farm bill done by the end of this year and we can avoid punting a full five-year bill for a third time.”
She says a new farm bill is needed to provide certainty for farmers and shore up a sputtering farm economy.
“The state of the ag economy, especially for row crop producers, is perhaps the worst it’s been in 100 years,” Rollins said. “I hear you when you tell me the department’s latest net farm income update showed the decline in crop cash receipts over the last two years were the largest in recorded history.”
USDA data shows farm inputs are up nearly 30% over the past five years while corn, soybean, sorghum and wheat prices have fallen by 30% in the last three years alone.
“The agriculture trade deficit is set to hit a record $49 billion in 2025 — that is money directly from your bottom line,” Rollins said.
The Ag Secretary pledged to the crowd, it’s her goal to find new trading partners and open market access for producers in the next few years.
“I know firsthand how important trade is to your success, and I’m committed as a top priority to work with this President and travel the world to expand market access for all of our crops and all of our producers around America,” Rollins added.
