POLICY
USDA will deliver $11 billion in one-time bridge payments to help farmers offset 2025 trade disruptions and rising costs. Eligible producers must verify 2025 acreage reports by Dec. 19, with payments expected by Feb. 28, 2026.
Awaiting word on USDA ‘bridge assistance’
The government should get out of American farmers’ way and allow market forces to work. Don’t give us handouts. Let us sell what we grow to the people who want to buy it, at home and abroad.
Because of this administration’s trade war, however, our traditional customers are now turning to growers in countries that have chosen to engage in economics rather than to play politics. They are starting to give their business to Australia, Spain, and elsewhere.
Federal government will cut the bureaucracy to support the dairy industry, focused on tougher measures to stop major animal disease problems and improve labor availability.
The U.S. government shutdown has delayed the release of key economic data, including the October consumer price index and jobs reports.
To overcome this challenge, it will take farmers like me. We can’t fight in the court of law, but we can make our voices heard in the court of public opinion.
Educating girls is good for the global economy
Farmers will receive more payments under the changes to ARC and PLC programs, and the increase could be significant.
In the heart of California’s Central Valley, generations of farm families are facing a new kind of crisis: what farmers argue is a man-made drought. It’s mounting water regulations that could determine whether the most fertile farmland in the nation survives.
Wisconsin farmer says “wolf is at the door” of young corn and soybean growers.
Agriculture Secretary Rollins previously said USDA is examining high fertilizer costs and exploring options for farmer relief.
NCBA’s Colin Woodall says the “significant plan to help rebuild the American cattle supply” does not currently include a direct payment but rather the possibility of addressing regulatory burdens.
The House and Senate Ag Committees are planning to work on language yet this fall on a Farm bill 2.0., but at least one Washington ag lobbyist says he expects it will be difficult to get passed.
Ag-state senators have asked to meet with President Trump on China’s trade retaliation against U.S. soybeans.
If EPA allows these waivers and the backlog of SREs from 2023 to 2025, without increasing the volumes in 2026 and 2027, it will mean lower biofuels production.
EPA has already announced granting dozens of SREs and partial exemptions.
Combined, this rule will impact over two billion gallons of renewable fuels demand.
Market analysts says the September WASDE did not fully account for the disease pressure and dry finish in the East in both the corn and soybean crop.
Auction barn license fees would increase nearly 1,700% as state ag department cites program deficits.
Consumers may think that food inflation helps farmers because they assume we’re getting more money for our crops and our livestock. Yet this is not true. We don’t receive the shop price. A lot of what consumers spend goes to retail overhead, fuel and transportation, tariffs, and more.
Labor costs continue to rise for California farmers, but skilled labor isn’t something growers are able to find with the current H-2A program. Labor experts, economists and farmers agree the current immigration system is “broken,” but a solution could be on the horizon.
A federal court has vacated the Biden-Harris administration’s rule that listed the lesser prairie-chicken as an endangered species.
Hypoxic Zone in Gulf of Mexico is focus of scientists
The National Corn Growers Association has issued a call to action to Congress and the Trump administration to help find demand for the 16.7 billion bushel corn crop.
If USDA predictions hold true, a massive U.S. corn crop is on the way.
The White House said on Monday to not expect public release of the Make America Healthy Again policy recommendations on Aug. 12
September will bring another funding cliff for USDA and the rest of the federal government.
EPA has released a proposal to void it’s 2009 endangerment finding that declares greenhouse gas emissions no longer be a threat to the environment. Under the Trump administration, the move signals EPA is going to de-emphasize carbon in energy and environmental policies.
Senator Marshall highlighted four pillars of the legislation including increased efficiency in agriculture; healthier, more nutrient-rich food; affordable access to primary care healthcare; and addressing mental health challenges among young people.