USDA Releases Details on $12 Billion Bridge Payments for Farmers With the announcement of the $12 billion bridge payment program, farmers across the country now have clearer insight into how this financial assistance will be distributed. According to USDA, $11 billion of the total funding will go directly to producers of major row crops, offering short-term relief as growers navigate …
State Ag Commissioners Applaud Trump Administration’s Bridge Assistant Payments
State Agriculture Commissioners Praise USDA Bridge Assistance Payments Following the Trump Administration’s announcement of USDA bridge assistance payments, state commissioners of agriculture across the Southeast are applauding the move as a critical lifeline for producers facing ongoing financial strain. Alabama Commissioner Rick Pate Applauds Critical Relief Rick Pate, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, commended the administration’s …
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Testifies Against Frivolous Lawsuits
NCBA Highlights Concerns Over EAJA Abuse at Congressional Hearing The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing earlier this week examining the Abuse of the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA). The session focused on how the law—originally designed to help citizens challenge federal actions—has shifted over time due to increased litigation from environmental groups. Testifying …
Baseline Production Figures Released Early
USDA Releases 2026 Baseline Acreage Estimates Earlier Than Usual In a rare move, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its baseline acreage figures for the 2026 crop year ahead of schedule this week. Typically, these projections are unveiled during the Ag Outlook Forum in February, but this year’s early release is raising eyebrows across the ag sector. Possible Government Shutdown …
The Missouri River: A Key Chapter in American Agriculture History
The Missouri River: A Pillar of American Agriculture History Early Settlers and the Great Plains The Missouri River has played a pivotal role in shaping American agriculture and westward expansion. As Mark Oppold explains in an American Agriculture History Minute, early settlers who crossed the Mississippi River often found themselves facing the Missouri River as they entered the vast expanse …
NCBA Highlights The Keynote Speakers for CattleCon 2026
CattleCon 2026: NCBA Announces High-Energy Keynote Speaker Lineup The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is gearing up for CattleCon 2026, and this year’s event brings exciting updates to the convention experience. We caught up with Kristen Torres with NCBA to learn what attendees can expect from the general sessions and the impressive roster of keynote speakers. According to Torres, one …
Trump Announces Farmer Bridge Assistance Program
USDA Announces $12 Billion in One-Time Bridge Payments for American Farmers President Donald Trump, joined by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bissett, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, Senator Deb Fischer, Senator John Hoeven, and Representative Austin Scott, has announced a major new effort to assist American farmers still struggling from years of …
More Details on the Emergency Bridge Payments to Farmers
The earlier mentioned one-time bridge payments to American farmers are intended in part to aid farmers until investments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes a 10 to 21 percent increase in reference prices, are set to reach eligible farmers on October 1, 2026. Farmers who qualify for the FBA Program can expect payments to be released by …
Kansas State University: The First Morrill Act Land-Grant College and Its Civil War Origins
A Pioneering Beginning During the Civil War Kansas State University—originally named Kansas State Agricultural College—was formally established on February 16, 1863, in Manhattan, Kansas. As described in Mark Oppold’s American Agriculture History Minute, its founding took place during the American Civil War, a period marked by national upheaval yet also visionary public investment in education. Despite the challenges of wartime, …
USDA Expands Crop Insurance For Ag Producers
Expanding Access to Risk Protection Final Rule Modernizes Crop Insurance for 2026 The U.S. farm community is preparing for important changes after U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that updates are coming to federal crop insurance processes. The Expanding Access to Risk Protection Final Rule is designed to streamline requirements across multiple crops, improve program efficiency, and respond directly …










