DC News

U.S. farmers planted a record combined 183.5 million acres of corn and soybeans in 2026, according to the USDA’s August crop reports, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already closely watched grain market. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates farmers planted 96.7 million acres of corn and 86.8 million ...

(Washington, D.C.)–U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers (SPUR) Program on June 26th that will provide temporary support for eligible beef processing establishments. Under SPUR, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide up to $500 million in payments to eligible entities to support ...

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 8, 2026 — Today U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced President Donald J. Trump has appointed John Bellinger as the new senior advisor for New World Screwworm Preparedness. In this role, Bellinger will integrate into USDA’s team to help further drive its robust effort to explore ...

With fertilizer costs and global supply concerns still weighing heavily on American agriculture, the Trump administration is moving to accelerate domestic production. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced three new initiatives May 19 aimed at expanding U.S. fertilizer manufacturing, speeding up project approvals and increasing market transparency for farmers. Speaking alongside Republican lawmakers ...

(Edinburg, TX, April 17, 2026) — Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Lieutenant General William H. “Butch” Graham, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) commanding general, led the groundbreaking for the new sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas. USDA is partnering with USACE ...

(Washington, D.C., April 7, 2026) – USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics Under Secretary Dr. Scott Hutchins today announced the launch of the USDA National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech (NPG-Ag), a nationwide initiative designed to rigorously evaluate agricultural technologies under real-world U.S. farming and ranching conditions. “Agricultural research in the United States has ...

Washington, D.C., March 24, 2026) – Today, on National Agriculture Day, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the launch of a national public awareness campaign to inform meat, poultry and egg producers of the “Product of USA” voluntary labeling standard which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2026 and increases ...

(Washington, D.C., Mar. 9, 2026) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced a construction contract with Mortenson Construction to build a new sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas. This facility is a key component in Secretary Rollins’ sweeping 5-prong ...

(Washington, D.C., February 19, 2026) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) intent to purchase up to $263 million in dairy and agricultural products from American farmers and producers to distribute to food banks and nutrition assistance programs across the country. These purchases ...

California’s Proposition 12, which regulates space requirements for farm animals, should be struck down, said Stephen Vaden, deputy secretary of agriculture. Prop 12, as it’s known, was passed by California voters in 2018. The regulation has two components. First, it bars confinement of specific types of farm animals in “a cruel manner” within ...