The Department of the Interior is planning to end the Bureau of Land Management’s 2024 Public Lands Rule, which put conservation on equal footing with recreation and grazing on federal lands.
In this week’s Champions of Rural America, we review what the move holds for ag communities and U.S. energy. Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) joined us for his perspective on the regulatory changes.
In his interview with RFD-TV’s own Suzanne Alexander, Rep. Simpson shared how the rescission of the Biden-era rule will empower local decision-making in Idaho and rural America as a whole.
He also provided insight on the conservation issues he expects will be resolved by the rollback, and how overturning the rule will impact the Trump Administration’s “Unleashing American Energy” order.
Simpson also discussed how the agricultural community can help expand his state’s economy with restored access to public lands, and how these changes will benefit the working class in his state.
Eliza Petry joins the RFD News team with a strong connection to agriculture and a commitment to covering the people and issues that matter most to rural America.
January 29, 2026 01:31 PM
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Todd Janzen with Janzen Schroeder Ag Law explains the updated ag data use agreement model and what it means for farmers and companies alike.
January 29, 2026 01:25 PM
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Roger McEowen explains the concept of “lawfare” — the use of legal systems to intimidate or financially exhaust an opponent — which grew into a central theme of U.S. ag law in 2025.
January 29, 2026 07:00 AM
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Reliable waterways lower costs, protect export demand, and support long-term farm profitability.
January 29, 2026 06:00 AM
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Justin Wheeler with the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers joined us with insight into current farmland values and what to watch in the year ahead.
January 28, 2026 02:42 PM
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Tennessee 4-H members Jayden Hesson and Matthew Rochford joined us to discuss how 4-H is helping young leaders plan for the future of agriculture.
January 28, 2026 02:34 PM
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