SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says lowering input costs is a top priority for the department as producers prepare for the 2026 planting season. Speaking at Commodity Classic, Rollins told attendees that while some costs remain elevated, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts show several key inputs beginning to moderate.
“We are going to continue lowering the cost of inputs,” Rollins said. “Thankfully, they are starting to moderate, some even coming down. As a result of this president’s policies, fertilizer prices are forecasted to decrease 1.4%. Not enough, but at least we’re going in the right direction. Seeds are forecasted to decrease 1.3%. Fuel expected to decrease almost 7%. And pesticides forecast to decrease 8.3%. That’s according to all of our number crunchers at USDA. When adjusted for inflation, the altogether average cost of production is going to go down in 2026 for the first time in five years,” Rollins said.
Rollins added that the department is still working to understand why some input costs spiked so dramatically in recent years. She pledged continued deregulatory efforts and said investigations into potential anti-competitive behavior will remain a focus.
EPA Blending Proposal Lifts Market Outlook
Rollins also addressed biofuels after the House E15 Council missed its deadline to introduce legislation allowing permanent, year-round E15 sales.
“We are asking Congress to step up to answer the call and to finally get nationwide year-round E15 legislation passed that will continue to drive domestic crop demand, a clear win-win for farmers and consumers,” Rollins said.
The Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy are also urging lawmakers to move more quickly. It remains unclear when—or if—a proposal will be introduced.
A new blending proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency is already creating movement in several ag markets. Analyst Brian Hoops says the rule could provide long-term support for corn, ethanol, and soybean oil.
“This has bullish long-term implications for corn, for ethanol, for soybean oil certainly. If you’re in an area that has ethanol plants, basis levels should improve off of this if this in fact passes because what it does in effect, it tightens the RFS compliance requirements without raising the headline mandate,” Hoops said.
Under the proposal, EPA would require large oil refiners to cover at least half of previously waived blending volumes—about two billion gallons. Corn ethanol volumes are proposed at 15 billion gallons for both this year and next, with a final rule expected in March.
USDA Launches Modernization Project: “One Farmer, One File”
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins also announced the USDA’s “One Farmer, One File” initiative at Commodity Classic. The goal is to reduce duplicate forms and improve customer service, which means farmers may see less paperwork and faster service as the USDA moves to create a single producer record that works across major farm programs.
The project will unify the systems used by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Risk Management Agency (RMA) so that a single record follows a producer across USDA services.
“Let me be absolutely clear, for some of you in the audience, this may make you a little bit nervous, right? Like, does this mean I have to do everything on a computer? No, these FSA offices will stay open. You will always have someone to walk into and sit down with to help with paper applications and traditional acreage reporting. This is not a mandate to digitize,” Rollins said.
Operationally, the change is designed to eliminate repeated data entry for items such as farm numbers, acreage reporting, conservation enrollment, crop insurance, and disaster programs. USDA says retiring legacy systems should also reduce staff time and technology spending.
Work began in 2025, with major advances planned in 2026 and completion targeted for 2028. The initiative is part of broader USDA modernization and program streamlining efforts. Once complete, Rollins says producers will be able to access their USDA data through a single, secure platform built to meet today’s cybersecurity standards.
Producers will watch rollout details for accuracy, privacy safeguards, and smooth transitions during system integration. Rollins emphasized that producers who prefer in-person assistance or paper forms will continue to have those options, while others will gain access to a modern digital system.
Farm Bill Movement in Both Chambers
Attention is also turning back to Capitol Hill as work continues on the next Farm Bill. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman told Agri-Pulse that his committee plans to take up its own Farm Bill in the months ahead, depending on progress in the House.
The House version is scheduled for markup next week. House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson has said he is confident there is enough support to move the bill forward this year.
