WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — The Senate has approved a continuing resolution to reopen the federal government and fund several key departments — including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) — through next September. However, the plan still requires House passage and President Donald Trump’s signature to take effect.
The measure would end the shutdown once enacted, restoring full USDA operations from farm-program offices to market reporting, inspections, and nutrition programs after weeks of scaled-down service. It also guarantees back pay for federal employees and stabilizes agency budgets that producers depend on year-round.
For agriculture, the bill’s structure matters: it provides full fiscal-year funding for USDA rather than a short rolling extension, giving FSA, NRCS, AMS, and RMA clearer financial direction through harvest and into 2026. Loan servicing, disaster assistance, market reports, and grading and inspection programs would resume immediately after enactment. Nutrition programs like WIC and SNAP — which have been operating under court-directed contingency funding — would also regain secure appropriations.
Markets are watching for House action, where timing and amendments could still affect final passage. If the House clears the bill and the President signs it, USDA will return to normal operations and begin working through backlogs in payments, data releases, and delayed sign-ups. Until then, agencies remain in limited-service mode as producers wait for the final steps.
Farm-Level Takeaway: The Senate has cleared a path to reopen USDA, but full restoration of services depends on House approval and the President’s signature.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
Roger McEowen with the Washburn University School of Law joined us to provide legal analysis on key cases shaping the agricultural landscape heading into the year ahead.
January 14, 2026 01:49 PM
·
RFD News correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports from Texas on the ongoing water dispute and its implications for U.S. farmers.
January 14, 2026 12:17 PM
·
RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney discusses the latest developments in the Supreme Court, trade tariffs, and the future of the USMCA under President Donald Trump.
January 14, 2026 11:54 AM
·
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2026 agenda centers on labor stability, biosecurity, and economic resilience for family farms. Expanded DMC coverage improves risk protection for dairy operations facing tighter margins.
January 14, 2026 11:19 AM
·
A high-stakes legal case in a South Dakota federal court concerning misleading country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL), such as “Product of the USA,” on food products, will significantly impact U.S. agricultural policy for years to come.
January 14, 2026 09:00 AM
·
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today unveiled a bold plan to protect the nation’s prime farm and ranchland from the rapid spread of data centers.
January 13, 2026 03:36 PM
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said permanent access to the higher ethanol blend would provide farmers with much-needed certainty while supporting domestic crop demand.
January 13, 2026 01:31 PM
·
Leadership development and bipartisan engagement remain central to advancing agriculture’s priorities in 2026.
January 12, 2026 11:40 AM
·
How the Public Trust Doctrine Threatens Agricultural Property Rights
January 10, 2026 07:00 PM
·
