July 28, 2025  

Outcry as USDA to Cut Salaries and Relocate Staff

Critics are decrying the reorganization plan for USDA announced last week by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.  In a written statement, Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic ranking member of the Senate Ag Committee, condemned the plan as a “half-baked proposal” and called for USDA officials to appear before Congress. “A reorganization of this scale will impact USDA’s ability to provide critical services to Americans and undermine the agency’s trusted expertise that farmers and families count on … we must have an immediate hearing before more damage is done.” Rebecca Wolf, senior policy analyst at Food & Water Watch Senior Food, a non-profit research and advocacy group, said, “(The) move further guts the government’s ability to protect public health, the environment and food safety. The real-world consequences will be severe, directly affecting people’s lives.” The reorganization is at least partly a cost-cutting measure, according to Rollins, and the relocated staff could see significant salary reductions due to lower rates paid outside the capital due to differences in the cost of living.

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Scattered Corn Pollination Problems Emerging

There are some reports surfacing from farmers and agronomists of corn pollination issues resulting from the “overly tight tassel wrap” phenomenon. The condition is not widespread, but there are some pictures and commentary posted on social media and other websites. Reigning world corn-yield record holder David Hula reports he is seeing the issue in some Virginia fields and also hearing reports along the eastern seaboard. Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie says he is seeing the issue occur in parts of Illinois as corn reaches about V6 or V7 up through tassel – as the crop goes through rapid growth. “This corn is growing like crazy, putting on an inch and a half of root a day, putting on a node every three days, that type of thing. The tassel can get wrapped really tight, and usually it’s triggered by some type of stress,” said Ferrie.

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FDA to Define ‘Ultra Processed’ Foods

The Food and Drug Administration is working to create a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods, opening the door to regulating one of the main targets of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement. The agency, in partnership with HHS and the USDA, is asking stakeholders for information and data that will help establish a federally recognized definition of ultra-processed foods. There is no single authoritative definition for ultra-processed foods for the U.S. food supply, the FDA said. A definition could help shape future regulation, including what types of food can be eligible for school lunch or food assistance benefit programs. Ultra-processed foods such as chips, sodas and packaged bread make up more than half of the total dietary energy consumed in high-income countries, including the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health.

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Corn Sales Strong Last Week, Soybean Sales Struggled

USDA’s latest grain export sales report, covering the week through July 17, held mixed but mostly solid results for traders to digest. Corn volume led the way once more, staying on the higher end of analyst estimates. Wheat sales improved 50% from the prior four-week average, besting all trade guesses in the process and hitting a “marathon-esque” number. Soybean sales struggled, in contrast, after old-crop sales slumped 41% lower week-over-week. Corn exports found 54.2 million bushels in combined old and new crop sales last week. Old crop sales eased 2% lower week-over-week, while total sales were on the higher end of analyst estimates, which ranged between 19.7 million and 63.0 million bushels. Cumulative sales for the 2024-25 marketing year remain noticeably above last year’s pace after reaching 2.369 billion bushels.

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Pulse Farmers Setting Sights High

Last week during the USA Pulses Summit in Spokane, Washington, the group set a lofty goal: to double production and demand by the year 2030. These crops are mainly grown in the Northern Plains, as well as the Pacific Northwest today. But Tim McGreevy, a farmer and CEO of USA Pulses, says the crops can be grown across the country. And with prices for crops like corn, soybeans and wheat so low today, pulse crops could be a good option for farmers searching to try something new. “Farmers can raise these crops all over the country,” McGreevy says. “Our issue is we’ve got to raise demand.” He says prices for pulse crops are surprisingly good. If farmers across the Midwest who are struggling with low corn, soybean and wheat prices are looking for a crop to add to their rotation, he says pulse crops may be worth a try.

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Flood, Carter Reintroduce SAF Information Act

Reps. Mike Flood, R-Neb., and Troy A. Carter, Sr., D-La., have reintroduced the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Information Act. The SAF Information Act directs the EIA to include data on SAF in its Petroleum Supply Month report and its Weekly Petroleum Status Report, including data related to the type, origin and volume of feedstock used in the production of SAF, along with the total amount of SAF produced domestically and imported. Rep. Flood stated, “SAF represents just one of many promising ways to grow the biofuels sector and boost our rural communities. Our straightforward, commonsense bill requires the EIA to include SAF in its published data, giving industry leaders and stakeholders better insight into production trends. I’m grateful to my colleague for partnering with me once again to support the growth of the SAF industry.” Flood and Carter introduced a previous version of the bill in August 2024.

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