U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins was in one of the New World Screwworm infested zones last week and provided an update on the efforts so far to address this pest. “Continue to note that our food supply is completely safe. There’s no compromising of that. Our great American beef, this is an issue. It is a pest that we will continue …
Special Envoy For Landowners Appointed By President Trump
President Donald Trump has appointed John Rich as Special Envoy for American Landowners. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “As Special Envoy, Rich will serve as a leading advocate for America’s farmers, ranchers, and private landowners, helping ensure their concerns are heard and their rights are protected. He will engage directly with landowners across the country and work to …
Trump Appoints Senior Advisor for New World Screwworm Preparedness
President Donald Trump has appointed a new Senior Advisor for New World Screwworm Preparedness. John Bellinger has been appointed in this role and according to USDA, “will integrate into USDA’s team to help further drive its robust effort to explore all available technologies to combat the New World Screwworm.” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said, “I want to thank …
USDA Announces Modernization of Loan Systems
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the modernization of their loan and grant systems that support farmers, ranchers and rural communities. Sam Berry, USDA Chief Information officer said, “At the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we are leveraging innovative technology to deliver faster, more secure services in alignment with the Secretary’s vision for a modern and customer-focused USDA. In 2026, …
USDA Highlights Long History of Animal Insect Research
Last week the USDA opened a new Livestock Insect Research Lab in Kerrville, Texas, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is highlighting their long history of research in animal insects at their facilities in Texas. Kim Lohmeier, Director of the Knippling Bushland U.S. Livestock Insect Research Lab, shares details on this effort “ARS has a really long history of working …
USDA Opens State-of-the-Art Livestock Insect Lab
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service has opened the Knippling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Kerrville, Texas. In a press release posted by the USDA, the goal of the facility is to “provide the U.S. cattle industry with innovative tools and advanced technologies to manage and eliminate the invasive fly and tick pests that threaten the …
USDA Prevents Solar Panel Projects on Farmland
The U. S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, recently joined up with the Tennessee Governor, Bill Lee, to try to slow down putting solar panels in the farming land areas across the country. According to the report, they said that USDA now will no longer fund taxpayer dollars to solar panels on productive farmland or allow solar panels manufactured by foreign adversaries to be …
Secretary of Agriculture Announces Removal of USDA Rural Development Lenders
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the removal of lenders from the USDA Rural Development Lending program. The lenders removed from participation in the OneRD Guaranteed Lending program include portfolios with approximately $620 million in delinquent loans. According to the department this accounts for approximately 47% of Rural Development’s delinquent loans. Secretary Rollins said, ““The Trump Administration has absolutely …
USDA Finalizes Rule Regarding SNAP Retailers Stocking Standards
USDA has published the final rule regarding stocking standards for retailers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. According to the Department, the final rule requires that retailers “must now carry seven varieties of items across four categories of staple foods: protein, grains, dairy, and fruits and vegetables. This change more than doubles the requirement of available foods, emphasizes more …
USDA Announces Investment To Address Plant Pests and Diseases
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced an investment of funding to support projects to address plant pests and diseases. The announcement included more than $90 million under Section 7721 of the Plant Protection Act and includes 441 projects that “ will strengthen the nation’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to invasive plant pests and diseases; safeguard the U.S. nursery …










