Between low prices and talks of trade issues, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins has promised to make farmers whole in the coming year, but she could take a unique approach to make it happen.
Sources tell AgriPulse that Rollins could use Section 32 under the Commodity Credit Corporation, which allows the Department to purchase extra commodities for feeding programs. However, it is written to also reestablish farmers’ purchasing power by making payments.
During the first Trump Administration, USDA used Section 5 authority. However, there is little money left unless Congress refills the account.
Related Stories
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) says recent wins in markets like Malaysia and Cambodia help farmers focus on production rather than trade barriers.
Export strength is concentrated in corn and wheat, while soybeans and sorghum lag, keeping basis and logistics dynamics highly commodity-specific into late fall.
Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) interval selection—not just participation—drives protection levels as rainfall patterns become less predictable across the South.
If the House concurs and the President signs, USDA services and farm-bill programs resume at full speed with authorities extended for another year.
The DOJ’s new antitrust probe could reshape beef-packer behavior, with potential impacts on fed-cattle prices, processor margins, and long-term competition across the supply chain.
The Senate has cleared a path to reopen USDA, but full restoration of services depends on House approval and the President’s signature.
