Year in review: Trade, budget reconciliation, input costs, outbreaks, USDA reorganization dominate ag news

President Donald Trump was inaugurated in January and quickly followed through on many of his campaign promises – an aggressive trade agenda, a renewed focus on food inflation, and the use of a Republican-controlled House and Senate to enact a sweeping budget reconciliation bill that included major new agriculture spending.

Farm policy news didn’t stop there. Agri-Pulse followed the administration's crackdown on illegal immigration, efforts to reduce input costs, and actions to prevent the spread of animal health threats like New World screwworm and bird flu.

The Trump administration also unveiled $42 billion in farm aid to support the struggling farm economy and ongoing lack of export markets. At the same time, the Agriculture Department underwent significant downsizing even as the administration prepared to carry out a major reorganization plan in 2026. 

Here’s a look at the top news stories for each month — lightly edited to avoid a few cases of duplication — based on Agri-Pulse web traffic analytics.  

JanuaryPresident-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office as he is sworn in as president during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP)

USDA sets enrollment periods for commodity programs

USDA’s Farm Service Agency announced that applications will be accepted for the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs to April 15. Enrollment for the Dairy Margin Coverage program will run through March 31.

Also in the news:

• Trump's effort to claw back IRA funding faces roadblocks 

• Photos: 2025 Bipartisan Inaugural Ag Ball 

• USDA drops bundling requirement, expands farming practices for 45Z biofuel credit

• Watch Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Farewell to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack 

February 

Farmers left in dark as USDA withholds climate project payments

The incoming Trump administration stopped payments to at least one major climate-smart commodities project, raising questions about whether farmers across the country will be reimbursed for practices they implemented under the $3 billion Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities initiative.

Also in the news:

• Mass firings strike USDA across agencies, including field staff 

• House GOP budget plan requires $230B in Ag Committee cuts, putting SNAP at risk 

• U.S. fertilizer buyers, not Canada, would bear brunt of threatened tariffs 

• Watch Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Seth Meyer from USDA Ag Outlook Forum 

March 

USDA prepares for state, county office lease terminations

Lease terminations are officially underway for 58 Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service offices, including some where employees are currently housed, according to the Department of Government Efficiency's website. The Agriculture Department notified some building owners of plans to terminate office leases as the Trump administration seeks to cut back on agency spending.

Also in the news:

• USDA suspends food bank funding source, cites 'unsustainable' expectations

• Workforce cutbacks strip many NRCS offices of staff

• Trump administration canceling local food initiatives

• Watch Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Rep. Kat Cammack on reconciliation, farm bill, producer payments 

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins takes a question from Agri-Pulse's Oliver Ward during media availability at Commodity Classic in Denver. Rollins' chief of staff, Kailee Tkacz Buller, watches on. (ZimmComm photo)April 

USDA employees head for the doors as potential RIFs loom

Thousands of USDA employees are planning to leave the agency through a deferred resignation program that could challenge the department’s ability to fulfill critical functions such as food import and export inspections.

Also in the news:

• Bird flu, screwworm monitoring among foreign aid programs killed by Trump 

• Fifteen USDA programs under review, Klobuchar says 

• Rollins overhauls, renames climate-smart commodities initiative 

• Watch Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins at White House Easter Egg Roll

May 

Rollins: USDA reorganization plan coming next week, says less 'drastic' than some fear

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday the department will unveil its reorganization plan next week and it won’t be as “drastic” as many have feared. Speaking to members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, Rollins confirmed that about 15,000 USDA employees had taken buyouts since President Donald Trump took office but said the department normally loses about 8,000 to 10,000 annually through normal attrition.

Also in the news:

• Rollins: No additional buyouts planned at USDA

• Trump budget slashes USDA programs, international food aid  

• MAHA report takes aim at ultraprocessed foods, seed oils and pesticides, but calls for more research 

• 15,000-plus USDA employees to leave agency through buyouts 

• Watch Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Sen. Roger Marshall on reconciliation, MAHA, dietary guidelines 

June 

Trump administration withdraws offers for some USDA conservation projects

USDA has rescinded Regional Conservation Partnership Program award offers to several organizations previously selected to receive Inflation Reduction Act funding, according to agency notices and interviews with affected recipients. 

Also in the news:

• USDA analysis: More farmers trying conservation practices, but may not continue with cover crops 

• Ranchers' grim memories of screwworm: ‘Here we go again’ 

• Trump: We can't deport farmworkers

• Watch Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Sen. Rafael Warnock on reconciliation SNAP, Medicaid cuts 

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. celebrate National Ice Cream Day with ice cream provided by the International Dairy Foods Association at the Department of Agriculture. (USDA photo)

July 

USDA reorganization closes buildings, creates regional hubs 

The Agriculture Department plans to close major facilities in the national capital region, including the USDA South Building, and reorganize regional operations into five hubs around the country – Raleigh, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Collins, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Senators quickly called for a hearing on the reorganization plan. 

Also in the news: 

• Thompson eyes fall for ‘farm bill 2.0’ 

• Rollins eyes steps to 'claw back' land held by Smithfield, Syngenta 

• RFK Jr., Rollins stress improving soil health at first Capitol Hill MAHA roundtable 

• Trump nominates Callahan for USTR chief ag negotiator 

• Watch Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Farm economy, ag trade with Christy Seyfert & Dan Basse 

August 

USDA considering 'bridge' payments for farmers

The Trump administration is discussing some type of “bridge” financial assistance to help farmers make it into 2026, says Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden while speaking to reporters at the Farm Progress show in Decatur, Illinois. 

Also in the news: 

• Vaden: Farmers will feel ‘heard’ in second MAHA report

• Judge orders USDA to restore five terminated grants 

• EPA clears backlog of RFS refinery exemptions, will reallocate some waived credits 

• Watch Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Meet USDA RMA Administrator, Pat Swanson 

September Deputy Ag Secretary Stephen Vaden speaks to reporters at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois. He teased a form of "bridge" financial assistance to support farmers into 2026, which would later be unveiled as the Farmer Bridge Assistance program in December. (Agri-Pulse photo)

USDA appointee becomes talk of the town 

One of President Trump’s political appointees at USDA, Tucker Stewart, had a colorful Capitol Hill history, and now a sexually explicit story he supposedly wrote is making the rounds. As first reported by Politico, the 28-page story, focusing on a cowboy who moved to D.C. and shares his detailed sexual exploits, was shared with fellow Hill staffers when Stewart worked for Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan. Now, Stewart is a deputy assistant secretary for congressional relations.

Also in the news:

• Rollins: 'Golden age' for American farmers is 'around the corner'

• Trump administration pledges to scrutinize farm input costs, USDA chief says 

• Rollins says USDA thinking hard about financial relief for farmers 

• More than a dozen House Republicans oppose Prop 12 fix 

• Watch Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: 'Farm bill 2.0' & tariff-funded farm aid with Chairman Thompson 

October 

USDA to distribute commodity program payments, reopen FSA operations

The Trump administration is moving forward with distributing commodity program payments due to farmers this month and also plans to “resume Farm Service Agency core operations,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced. The payments have been held up by the partial government shutdown, which has largely closed FSA field offices and operations.

Also in the news: 

• Farm-state senators raise tariff woes with admin in closed-door meeting 

• Nearly half of USDA workforce to be furloughed in shutdown 

• Farm groups appeal for aid; top official says announcement due ‘really soon’ 

• Newton rejoins AFBF to oversee policy advocacy, economics team 

• Watch Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: ASTA's Andy LaVigne on seed costs, R&D pipeline & tariffs 

November 

Farm bill extension included in measure to end shutdown 

A new stopgap spending bill that would reopen the government includes a one-year extension of farm bill programs that were left out of a budget reconciliation bill earlier in the year. The continuing resolution, which would keep the government funded through Jan. 30, also would suspend the permanent agricultural laws that are left on the books to prod Congress to continue reauthorizing commodity programs.

Also in the news:(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

• Supreme Court justices probe limits of tariff powers 

• USDA funding deal restricts hemp, requires study of Food for Peace transfer

• Prop. 50 approval will redraw California’s farm country 

• Watch Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Sen. Klobuchar on SCOTUS tariffs case, shutdown, farm aid 

Thompson: At least $10B in additional farm aid needed

Congress needs to provide at least $10 billion in additional aid to farmers to supplement the $12 billion being provided by the Trump administration through its Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, says House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson. In an interview with Agri-Pulse, he said lawmakers need to provide payments to sectors such as dairy, timber and specialty crops.

Also in the news:

• USDA to spend $700M on regenerative agriculture 

• Vaden: USDA reorganization to be complete in 2026

• The Trump administration announced new ‘bridge’ payments that will be offered in early 2026. Lawmakers and farm groups reacted. 

• Lawmakers, farm groups react to Trump farm aid

• Watch Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Farm aid, trade, USDA reorganization with Deputy Ag Secretary Stephen Vaden

For more news, go to Agri-Pulse.com.