November 14, 2025
Shutdown Ends as Farm Bill Programs Extended
Late Wednesday, the government shutdown ended as President Donald Trump signed into law a measure that brought the standoff to a close. Trump signed a bill that fully funds the USDA and FDA for fiscal year 2026. It also ends a legal battle over partial or full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for November. The measure also extended farm bill programs that expired on September 30. While two Republicans voted against the bill, six Democrats stepped across party lines to vote in favor of it. Reports say that farmers can expect full services to return to their local Farm Service Agency offices, including processing loan applications for farm ownership or home loans that have been frozen since the start of the government shutdown. The Natural Resources Conservation Service is also expected to reopen for business. A report from Politico said that millions of low-income Americans should receive their full food benefits this week.
***********************************************************************************
Ag Groups React to the End of the Government Shutdown
American agriculture groups reacted positively to the official end of the government shutdown this week. “American cattle producers need their government running at full capacity to provide critical services and market data,” said Ethan Lane, the senior vice president of government affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. “The shutdown caused widespread disruptions, and we’re glad it’s over.” The American Farm Bureau also applauded the House for ending the stalemate. “Farmers and ranchers rely on critical USDA services and disaster relief programs during these tough economic times, as do Americans who need access to food assistance and other critical programs,” said AFB President Zippy Duvall. National Farmers Union President Rob Larew said the reopening is the bare minimum. “We’ve already lost too much time,” Larew said. “The farm safety net is outdated and can’t keep up with today’s economic realities, input costs are too high, and trade relationships remain uncertain.”
***********************************************************************************
Rollins Leads Trade Trip to Mexico City
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins led the largest USDA agribusiness trade mission in the history of the U.S. to Mexico City last week. During the trip to Mexico, 41 U.S. businesses, 33 cooperators and agriculture advocacy groups, six state departments of agriculture, and 150 participants conducted more than 500 business-to-business meetings over three days. This was a critical opportunity for American businesses to further trade ties, and for the USDA to continue its aggressive response to the New World Screwworm in Mexico. “Whether it’s securing the Southern Border from illegal immigration, combating the New World Screwworm, or expanding market access for American agricultural products, we are working every day to put American interests first,” Rollins said. Mexico was the top market for U.S. agricultural exports in 2024, with shipments valued at $30.2 billion. Products like meat and meat products, dairy, processed foods, fruits, and beverages constituted almost 50 percent of that.
**********************************************************************************
Hemp Farmers Upset About Hemp Ban in Shutdown Bill
The Hemp Industry and Farmers of America organization is unhappy about a misguided hemp ban passed by the House of Representatives this week. The group points out that President Trump and Congress legalized hemp, delivering more jobs and opportunities to American farmers and small businesses in 2018. “This week, swamp politicians like Mitch McConnell and Andy Harris forced Congress to betray the America First Agenda by putting through a draconian hemp ban that will ultimately devastate American farmers, business owners, veterans, and seniors,” the group said in a statement. HIFA said the ban kills over 325,000 American jobs and destroys the industry that’s been built by hemp farmers since 2018. “The industry is calling on Congress and the administration to reverse this reckless betrayal and implement a common-sense solution in the coming days,” the group added. The ban ignores the 72 percent of Americans who supported a regulated hemp market.
***********************************************************************************
Dairy Industry Well-Positioned for More Growth
America’s dairy farmers are thriving in the marketplace, even as labor shortages and a volatile policy environment remain challenges. Those were the thoughts of dairy industry leaders at the National Milk Producers Federation’s annual meeting. U.S. dairy is “well-positioned” for growth, said Federation President Gregg Doud during remarks at the meeting held jointly by NMPF, the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, and the United Dairy Association. “I love where we are at in this industry right now, folks,” Doud said, noting $11 billion in new dairy-plant investments currently underway nationwide. “Yes, there is going to be uncertainty – my goodness, is there uncertainty – but we’re in an expansion mode, and I love it.” During the past year, dairy producers have wrestled with workforce instability and a shifting trade environment, even as consumer demand has remained strong, and the benefits of dairy are increasingly recognized in the nutrition and policy communities.
***********************************************************************************
Farm Families Coping with Dementia Workshop in Early 2026
If you’re concerned about someone in the farming community showing signs of dementia, you may be eligible for a free online series called Farm Families Coping with Dementia. FFCD is a series created to support caregivers of individuals living or working on or near farms who are showing signs of memory loss or confusion. Over a series of four weekly one-hour sessions, attendees will learn about the basics of dementia, farm safety and dementia, improving safety with dementia, and caregiving and communication. It takes place from January 26–February 16, 2026, and it’s an online Zoom presentation. If interested and ready to register, call 319-384-3817 to complete a brief eligibility survey. The presentation is a collaboration between the Iowa College of Public Health, the University of Illinois Chicago, the University of Illinois Extension Service, and the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health. Get up to $50 for surveys and feedback, if you’re eligible.
***********************************************************************************