A House Ag ranking member says that farmers in her home state of Minnesota claim that Farm Service Agency officers are way understaffed.
More than 1,000 FSA staffers reportedly took the government buyout option.
Congresswoman Angie Craig explains what farmers are telling her.
“I had a group in my office yesterday telling me there’s literally half a PTO, half a person, half-time at one of those offices. I think when farmers are coming through my office and telling me they can’t get the work done at their local community level, I think that the cuts have gone through the bone.”
FSA offices play a key role in providing technical help to farmers serving loans.
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says that she has signed a memorandum to ensure they are fully staffed, including rehiring some officers who were let go.
Congresswoman Craig argues the administration is moving too fast to downsize the government.
“If you’re going to support family farmers, you’ve got to support them with good policy. You’ve got to support them with technical assistance. You need to keep these local offices open, and look, this is what happens when you don’t measure twice and cut once.”
Some 15,000 USDA employees have accepted deferred resignations, all part of the Trump administration’s plan to downsize and reform government agencies.
Placements and marketings beat expectations, but declining on-feed totals and feeder constraints keep the supply story supportive for cattle prices into 2026. Dr. Derrell Peel, with Oklahoma State University, joined us to break down cattle-on-feed numbers and provide his broader market outlook.
January 23, 2026 04:40 PM
·
USDA Rural Development Director for Kentucky, Travis Burton, joined us to discuss the Princeton facility (formerly Porter Road Meats), now backed by the USDA, and its role in expanding domestic meat processing capacity.
January 23, 2026 03:39 PM
·
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer joined us to break down the recent Fifth Circuit Court decision overturning a prior Tax Court decision on self-employment tax for limited partners, the ruling’s impact on farmers, and potential next steps in Congress.
January 23, 2026 02:00 PM
·
Americans for Prosperity Arkansas Director Ryan Norris talks energy infrastructure, regulatory reform, and the role of critical minerals in supporting rural America.
January 23, 2026 01:54 PM
·
Congressman Adrian Smith of Nebraska joined us with the latest on efforts to secure year-round E15 sales.
January 23, 2026 01:12 PM
·
Nearly everyone in the South Texas ag community appears extremely worried about the potential of a New World screwworm epidemic, according to a local veterinarian. RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports.
January 23, 2026 11:56 AM
·
