Articles by Lydia Johnson

As California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross prepares to retire at the end of 2026 after more than a decade leading the nation's largest state agricultural economy, she says farmers are facing some of the toughest conditions she's seen since the 1980s farm crisis. 

The costs states face in co-funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are comparable to the roughly $15 billion spent on transportation in fiscal 2025, the National Association of State Budget Officers tells Senate and House Agriculture committee leaders. USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety Mindy Brashears says 7,000 inspectors with the Food Safety Inspection Service are “leading the animal health charge” in the fight against New World screwworm, and the parasitic pest does not pose a threat to the food supply.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the $1.3 billion fight against a potentially deadly livestock pest includes federal funds reallocated from a local food buying program. Rollins said USDA is “stretched” on using the Commodity Credit Corporation because the $30 billion annual cap has not been increased since 1987. 

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins used her time with the International Fresh Produce Association to highlight the administration’s deregulation push, as well as efforts to reshape federal nutrition policy, expand export markets, lower labor costs and support specialty crop producers.

Speaking to attendees at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Washington Conference, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the UPF definition is currently under review at the Office of Management and Budget with a goal of unveiling a final publication in “the next couple of months.” 

The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to consider a farm bill during the work period between July 4th and August recesses, Chair John Boozman, R-Ark., says. The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced the nomination of Glen Smith to be undersecretary of agriculture for rural development along party lines, setting the stage for a Senate floor vote. 

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says while no one has a crystal ball, emergence of New World screwworm in Texas shouldn’t significantly diminish the U.S. cattle herd. Several lawmakers criticized USDA’s funding for specialty crop programs as inadequate, even though program assistance was raised to $1.6 billion last week.

A case of New World screwworm has been found in a 3-week-old South Texas calf, USDA officials confirmed Wednesday. The House is poised to vote Thursday on an agriculture and FDA funding bill that backers say ensures critical investments in research, rural development and the health of plants and animals.

The Agriculture Department is moving forward with a major overhaul of its loan and grant technology systems by launching a modernization effort that agency officials say will improve access to financing for farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

The Agriculture Department will seek comment later this year on proposals aimed at aligning new federal dietary guidelines with school meal standards, Deputy Ag Secretary Stephen Vaden says. Rep. Randy Feenstra suffered a surprising defeat in Iowa’s GOP gubernatorial primary Tuesday, losing to businessman Zach Lahn despite a late endorsement from President Donald Trump.