The Department of Agriculture officially has a new leader, and she is the only second female Agriculture Secretary in history.
She was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas shortly after the Senate approved her nomination. It is all business today as she begins her first full day on the job, and she says she wants to take USDA back to its original intent.
One big item she will need to address is the President’s spending freeze and staffing at the Department. This week, a federal judge cleared the way for President Trump’s government employee buyout. It is unclear how many of the 80,000 applications work for USDA.
Rollins says President Trump called to congratulate her shortly after her confirmation. He told her he stands with farmers, and will only make decisions that help them.
Rising import pressure and tougher export competition are likely to persist into 2026, supporting domestic supplies while capping export growth.
January 26, 2026 09:56 AM
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Without additional support, many soybean operations will continue to face financial stress as they prepare for the 2026 crop.
January 26, 2026 09:41 AM
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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
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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
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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
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Rural population growth and stabilizing economic indicators point to post-pandemic recovery, but uneven income, shifting industries, and regional divides remain key challenges for rural communities.
January 23, 2026 08:00 AM
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