While testifying on Capitol Hill, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins spotlighted efforts to defend farmers and ranchers, including the dismissal of charges against South Dakota ranching family Charles and Heather Maude, and how USDA launched a new portal to report similar injustices, receiving over 100 submissions in just days.
The government has dropped federal criminal charges against the couple, which had been placed by the previous administration, claiming that they stole federal land for personal use.
Now, the matter is returned to where things stood before charges were brought.
Roger McEowen with the Washburn School of Law spoke with RFD-TV’s Suzanne Alexander about the Small Tracts Act, how it benefits producers, and the big takeaways for rural landowners.
The proposal signals a renewed push to offset tariff-driven losses, stabilize nutrition programs, and broaden eligibility for farm aid, though its path forward will depend on congressional negotiations.
January 16, 2026 11:58 AM
·
The application deadline is March 8, 2026. The 1890 National Scholars Program aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue careers in food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences.
January 16, 2026 10:42 AM
·
January 16, 2026 09:57 AM
·
Soft equipment sales signal cautious farm spending as producers prioritize cash flow over expansion.
January 16, 2026 07:00 AM
·
Wind repowering offers a rare opportunity to renegotiate outdated leases and improve long-term land income for landowners who act early.
January 16, 2026 06:00 AM
·
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig discusses market conditions, policy priorities, and his outlook for agriculture moving forward.
January 15, 2026 01:36 PM
·
