WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it will issue roughly half of November’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits following a series of federal court orders directing the government to continue payments during the ongoing shutdown. The partial funding announcement ensures that some benefits will be distributed while legal and budgetary questions remain unresolved.
Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden said last week that USDA does not have enough money to cover the full November SNAP obligations, with current resources only sufficient to fund about half of the program’s monthly cost. He emphasized that the agency is complying with the court orders using limited contingency funds while awaiting further guidance from Congress and the White House on long-term appropriations.
Officials said state agencies are being notified of the partial funding and that payment schedules may vary. SNAP, which provides food assistance to more than 40 million Americans, typically costs over $8 billion per month to administer nationwide.
Farm-Level Takeaway: USDA will meet part of November SNAP benefits under court direction, citing insufficient funds for full payments.
Secretary Rollins also met with specialty crop producers at a local strawberry farm to discuss workforce needs and the Trump Administration’s recent wins related to significantly cutting the cost of H-2A labor for California farmers.
January 13, 2026 03:25 PM
·
Brent Graves, auctioneer and mentor, shares his journey supporting youth in agriculture, livestock competitions, and how he is turning junior livestock auctions into a classroom for youth in agriculture.
January 13, 2026 02:43 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
·
This simple but powerful tool from Nutrien enables farmers to keep track of highly personalized input costs and expenses involved in running their operation.
January 12, 2026 09:00 AM
How the Public Trust Doctrine Threatens Agricultural Property Rights
January 10, 2026 07:00 PM
·
Prompt removal of Christmas trees and careful handling of decorations reduce winter fire risk during an already high-demand season for emergency services.
January 09, 2026 08:00 AM
·
AFBF Economist Faith Parum provides analysis and perspective on the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program—what commodity growers should know and potential remedies for producers facing crop losses where that aid falls short.
January 08, 2026 02:45 PM
·
Federal nutrition policy is signaling a stronger demand for whole foods produced by U.S. farmers and ranchers. Consumer-facing guidance favors animal protein, but institutional demand may change little under existing saturated fat limits.
January 08, 2026 11:42 AM
·
Farmer Bridge payments are being used primarily to reduce debt and protect cash flow, not drive new spending. Curt Blades with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers joined us to provide insight into the ag equipment market and the factors influencing sales.
January 08, 2026 08:00 AM
·
