Sec. Rollins scraps and rebrands USDA’s Climate Smart Program

Secretary Rollins has renamed the program the ‘Advancing Markets for Producers’ initiative

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins is canceling the Biden-era USDA Climate Smart Program, calling it a “slush fund.”

It is being renamed and comes with major changes in how the money is spent.

Secretary Rollins says her Department went through the Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodoties program line by line and found farmers and ranchers were being left with little help after various fees. She has renamed the program the Advancing Markets for Producers initiative.

USDA will review any exisitng grants, making sure they meet certain critera. The largest being 65 percent of federal dollars must go to producers.

Rollins says the prior program was largely built as a “green new scam” that did not benefit American farmers.

Related Stories
Weekly export movement stayed solid, with corn and sorghum continuing to show the strongest overall pace.
Lewis Williamson with HTS Commodities joins us to break down the latest USDA crop progress report, share insights from growers, and discuss how global factors are shaping planting decisions this season.
RFD News correspondent Frank McCaffrey spoke with the Texas Shrimp Association at the Port of Brownsville about the future of the USDA’s new Office of Seafood.
Higher cow numbers and slightly stronger output per cow pushed milk production above last year.
Food inflation is still building in 2026, with beef leading pressure while eggs and dairy offer some relief.
March cold storage data showed generally tighter year-over-year stock levels across several key meat and dairy categories.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Kansas Congressman Derek Schmidt joins us to discuss House passage of the Farm Bill, its potential impact on farm profitability and stability, key policy compromises, and the outlook for Senate consideration.
The Purdue student team joins us to discuss how they developed Soy-Seal, their innovative soybean-based adhesive tape, and its potential ag impact.
John Mays with Central Life Sciences joins us to discuss the importance of pest management ahead of wheat storage and how protecting grain quality can support stronger marketing opportunities.
Roger McEowen joins us to explain the USDA appeals process and how farmers should navigate adverse decisions and crop insurance disputes.
Austin Rice with Specialty Risk Insurance shares guidance on handling storm damage, navigating the insurance claims process, and managing risk during a volatile planting season.
Eric Weaver with UNL joins us to share about a promising new HPAI vaccine, early test results, next steps in development, and its potential impact on the livestock industry.