All morning, Agriculture Secretary nominee Brooke Rollins has been in the hot seat before the Senate Ag Committee.
California Senator Adam Schiff had the chance to ask Rollins some questions, one including whether firefighters will receive necessary compensation for their work on the raging wildfires in the West if confirmed.
“100% yes. To watch the devastation in your beautiful state has been heartbreaking for all of us...I think that hopefully, if there’s any good that comes from this, if I’m confirmed, we can figure out how to be an even better, more impactful resource the next time this happens, and hopefully be able to work more closely, more quickly, with those on the ground across red states and blue states.”
As of last week, the Palisades Fire has scorched more than 23,000 acres.
The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has issued final Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) payments totaling more than $1.89 billion.
February 16, 2026 10:55 AM
Specialty Crops Acreage Reporting Deadline for 2025 is March 13
February 13, 2026 04:12 PM
In the U.S. and Canada, reduced planted acres—not yield losses—led to a decline in potato production, while Mexico saw modest gains due to increased yields and harvested areas.
February 12, 2026 05:11 PM
·
AFBF Economist Samantha Ayoub discusses the latest data on Chapter 12 farm bankruptcy filings and what the troubling trend signals for the farm economy. At the same time, bigger loans and higher rates are squeezing working capital and increasing financial risk.
February 12, 2026 04:26 PM
·
The USDA says the framework is about “ending abusive government overreach” and “protecting farmers, families, and private property.”
February 12, 2026 02:05 PM
·
Farm numbers still favor small operations, but production, resilience, and risk management are increasingly concentrated among fewer, larger farms.
February 12, 2026 12:16 PM
·
