USDA Press Releases

USDA and USACE Break Ground on $750M Texas Sterile Fly Production Facility

USDA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers broke ground on a new $750 million sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas. The facility will produce sterile New World Screwworm flies using sterile insect technique to protect U.S. livestock, wildlife, and public health. Initial operational capability targeting 100 million sterile flies per week is expected by November 2027, scaling to full capacity of 300 million sterile flies per week.

USDA Creates Office of Seafood to Support Fishermen

USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins announced the creation of the USDA Office of Seafood on April 15, 2026, in coordination with the Departments of Commerce and the Interior. The new office will serve as a centralized point of contact for American seafood cultivators, producers, and processors to access USDA programs. This marks the first time a dedicated USDA office will focus on the seafood industry, which Senator Collins noted generates over $5 billion in income and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs.

USDA Announces 2026 Pima Cotton and Wool Trust Fund Payments

USDA announces 2026 payments under the Pima Agriculture Cotton Trust Fund and Agriculture Wool Apparel Manufacturers Trust Fund. The Pima Cotton Trust provides $16 million annually through 2031, distributed as 25% to cotton associations, 25% to yarn spinners, and 50% to shirt manufacturers. The Wool Trust provides up to $30 million annually to domestic worsted wool fabric manufacturers. These payments compensate domestic textile manufacturers for tariff inversion disadvantages.

Over $275M Specialty Crop Grant Funding Available

USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins announced over $275 million in grant funding for FY2026 for specialty crop producers through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), and Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP). Funding through the Working Families Tax Cuts doubled SCRI from $80M to $175M annually and increased SCBGP/SCMP combined funding from $85M to $100M annually. NIFA will implement SCRI with a new $20M setaside for mechanization and automation research.

USDA National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech Launch

USDA announces creation of the National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech (NPG-Ag), a nationwide initiative to evaluate agricultural technologies under real-world U.S. farming and ranching conditions. Spearheaded by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in coordination with Grand Farm as National Program Manager and land-grant universities as research partners. The network aims to provide farmers and ranchers with trusted, data-driven performance information on agricultural technologies, including digital and AI-driven tools, to reduce investment risk and support informed technology adoption decisions.

USDA Finalizes Historic Regulatory Reform in National Environmental Policy Act Final Rule

USDA finalized a rule modernizing NEPA regulations, consolidating seven agency-specific regulations into a single department-wide framework and reducing regulatory volume by 66 percent. The rule affects federal environmental review processes for USDA agencies and aims to streamline permitting for farmers, ranchers, loggers, and rural communities.

USDA Guidance Portal: Searchable Indexed Database of Departmental Documents

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the creation of the USDA Guidance Portal, a searchable indexed database containing tens of thousands of guidance documents issued by the Department and its 29 agencies and staff offices. The portal replaces and improves upon a prior version deleted during the Biden administration, consolidating previously scattered guidance into a single accessible location. The announcement fulfills the Trump Administration's commitment to transparency and follows the Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework issued in February 2026.

Forest Service Moves Headquarters to Salt Lake City

The USDA Forest Service announced it will relocate its headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Salt Lake City, Utah, and implement a sweeping organizational restructuring to position leadership closer to western forests and communities. The move aims to improve mission delivery for an agency whose lands and operational challenges are concentrated in the West, while supporting timber production and fire management.

USDA-DOI MOU to Support Ranchers and Lower Beef Prices

USDA and DOI signed a Memorandum of Understanding on March 31, 2026, formalizing collaboration between the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to improve grazing management on federal lands. The MOU aims to reduce bureaucratic delays, streamline permitting processes, and strengthen coordination with ranchers who hold grazing permits on public lands.

Secretary Rollins Op-ed Praising American Farmers and Rural America

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins published an op-ed in Agri-Pulse emphasizing the essential role of farmers, ranchers, and rural communities in powering the nation. The piece highlights that American agriculture supports nearly 49 million jobs and generates over $10.4 trillion in economic activity. The op-ed references the administration's support for rural America, including increased reference prices and $12 billion in farmer bridge payments.

USDA Food Safety Steps for Spring Holiday Meals

The USDA has issued guidance on food safety practices for spring holiday meals, including Easter, Passover, and Mother's Day. The notice emphasizes following the 'Four Steps to Food Safety' to reduce the risk of foodborne illness during holiday gatherings.

USDA Promotes Voluntary 'Product of USA' Label for Meat, Poultry, Eggs

The USDA has launched a public awareness campaign for its new voluntary 'Product of USA' labeling standard, effective January 1, 2026. This standard is exclusively for meat, poultry, and egg products from animals born, raised, harvested, and processed in the United States, aiming to increase transparency and consumer trust.

USDA Op-Ed on SNAP Healthy Foods and Retailer Standards

U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services published an op-ed highlighting the need to strengthen SNAP retailer stocking standards. The piece discusses how modernizing SNAP will promote healthy eating and responsibly steward taxpayer dollars by ensuring low-income Americans have access to nutritious food options.

US Forest Service Advances Resolution Copper Project Land Exchange

The U.S. Forest Service has completed the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and issued the final record of decision for the Resolution Copper Project. This action advances domestic mineral production and is projected to create 1,500 jobs and significant tax revenue for rural economies.

USDA Awards $26.8M for Local Agriculture Market Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced over $26.8 million in grant awards through the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP). These funds will support projects aimed at connecting farmers to local markets, expanding producer-to-consumer sales, and strengthening regional food systems.

USDA One Farmer, One File Initiative

The USDA has launched the "One Farmer, One File" initiative, replacing hundreds of outdated systems with a single digital record to streamline processes for farmers. Secretary Rollins highlighted this modernization effort in an op-ed, emphasizing its role in cutting red tape and accelerating program fund delivery.

USDA and Army Corps Build Sterile Fly Facility for Screwworm Preparedness

The USDA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have awarded a contract to build a new sterile fly production facility in Texas. This facility is part of a strategy to combat the New World Screwworm and enhance domestic preparedness for invasive pests.

USDA Launches Dietary Guidelines Education Partnerships

The USDA announced new partnerships to educate the public on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and highlighted an impending rule for SNAP retailers regarding stocking standards. The agency also signed four new SNAP restriction waivers for Kansas, Nevada, Ohio, and Wyoming.

USDA Launches 'One Farmer, One File' Initiative

The USDA has launched the 'One Farmer, One File' initiative to create a single, streamlined record for farmers across USDA systems. This modernization aims to reduce administrative burden, improve efficiency, and save time and resources for both farmers and agency staff.