NEPA Regulations

US Secretary of Agriculture to Revise NEPA Regulations

The US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced earlier this week that USDA is revising the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. The Department, in a press release, states that this will “reduce unnecessary red tape that is killing jobs and raising prices for Americans.” The department is issuing one set of department-wide NEPA regulations, rescinding seven agency-specific regulations allowing …

corn

Corn Plantings Rise, Soybeans and Cotton Fall in 2025

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2025 – The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its annual Acreage Report today, showing key shifts in U.S. crop planting for 2025. Corn continues to dominate the landscape, while soybean and cotton acreage fell compared to last year. According to the report, U.S. farmers planted 95.2 million acres of corn in 2025, marking a 5% …

agricultural trade deficit

June Is Dairy Month

Mark Oppold spotlights June Dairy Month and Dale Sandlin shares a few insights on US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins Italy Trade Trip. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark Research ProjectsApril 3, 2026United Dairy Farmers of Florida Director Encouraged About the FutureMarch 27, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provided Opportunity To Highlight Difficult Farming SubjectMarch 20, 2026Valley Helps …

action

USDA Employee And Others Arrested After Alleged Food Stamp Fraud

An employee of the US Department of Agriculture was arrested last week along with five others after allegedly misappropriating $66 million in food stamp funds. The US Attorney’s office, in conjunction with the FBI and the USDA Office of Inspector General charged the six individuals in one of the “largest food stamp frauds in US History.”  According to a press …

wildland firefighters

USDA Provides $1 Billion In Drought or Wildfire Impacted Livestock Producers

Last week the US Department of Agriculture announced the release of Congressionally mandated funds under the Emergency Livestock Relief Program to cover grazing losses on eligible wildfire or drought events in 2023 and/or 2024. In an effort to streamline payment calculations and quicken the arrival of relief payments to producers, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency is using the existing Livestock …

domestic

New World Screwworm Partnership Strengthened

The ongoing effort to combat the new world screwworm was strengthened earlier this week with the announcement of additional funding to renovate a fruit fly facility in Mexico. The $21 Million investment in the facility in Metapa, Mexico, will produce an additional 60-100 million additional sterile New world screwworm flies weekly in an effort to push the current fly population …

exports

USDA Provides Funding Increase for Meat and Poultry Inspection Programs

The US Department of Agriculture has announced that they will be providing a funding increase for reimbursements to states for meat and poultry inspection programs. The $14.5 Million in reimbursements will allow states to continue their own inspection programs ensuring food safety and reducing pressure on state budgets to support local slaughter and meat processing facilities.  In a press release, …

justice

Agriculture Industry Reaction To Make America Healthy Again Proposal

The agriculture community is reacting to the release of the report by the Make America Healthy Again Commission headed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. While the report includes items like vaccines, the use of digital devices and the lack of physical activity, many in the agriculture industry are weighing in on how the report impacts …

meat sales

USDA Releases 2026 Meat Production and Demand Trends

The US Department of Agriculture has released next year’s forecasts for meat production and demand. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski shares these trends starting with beef. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark Research ProjectsApril 3, 2026United Dairy Farmers of Florida Director Encouraged About the FutureMarch 27, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provided Opportunity To Highlight Difficult …

USDA Releases Details of Make Agriculture Great Again Initiative

The US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rolllins has released the first set of policy proposals under her Make Agriculture Great Again Initiative. The goal of these proposals is to improve the longevity and viability of small-scale family farms, outlining a toolkit of actions which includes Ensure Simple Streamlined and Transparent Tools and Applications; Ensure Reliable Access to Credit; Ensure Working …