December 09, 2025
White House Announcing $12 Billion in Farm Assistance
President Donald Trump was expected to announce a $12 billion aid package on Monday afternoon. Administration officials told the AP that it will be a boost for farmers struggling to sell their crops due to a months-long trade war with China and many other overseas markets. Trump was expected to unveil the plan at a White House roundtable with Treasury and Agriculture Secretaries Scott Bessent and Brooke Rollins, as well as lawmakers and farmers who grow commodities like corn, soybeans, cotton, and many others. Up to $11 billion is set aside for the USDA’s Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, which the administration says will offer a one-time payment to farmers of row crops of all kinds. The rest will be for U.S. farmers growing crops not covered under the bridge assistance program. It’s to help offer certainty to farmers as they market the current harvest and plan for next year.
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USDA Reorganization to Finish Next Year
USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden said the reorganization of more than half of the current USDA staff in the Washington, D.C., area to five regional hubs across the country will be finished by 2026. In comments to Agri-Pulse, Vaden said the reorganization process, led by Vaden, will have moved over 2,000 USDA employees to five cities, including Raleigh, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Salt Lake City, Utah. However, Civil Eats reported that several provisions in the recently passed agriculture funding bill may make it harder to implement the USDA’s reorganization plans. Several provisions require the agency to get Congressional approval before closing field offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rural Development, and the Farm Service Agency county offices or farm loan officers. Another provision said the Ag Secretary cannot eliminate programs or projects, or relocate offices, programs, and employees, without approval from Congressional appropriations committees.
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White House Pushing for Food Price Investigation
The White House ordered an investigation into food price-fixing. Axios (AXE-ee-ohs) said President Donald Trump is facing rising pressure about the inflation of food prices at the nation’s grocery stores. The President issued an executive order last weekend directing the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to establish task forces on anti-competitive behavior in the food supply chain. The order directs them to specifically look at whether control of food-related industries by foreign entities is increasing the cost of food products in the U.S. or creating a national or economic security threat to Americans. The task forces are expected to be ready to brief Congressional leaders within six months. The order calls on the DOJ to pursue criminal charges if it finds evidence of price fixing in the U.S. food industry. Of the Big Four Meatpackers, two are subsidiaries of Brazilian companies, and Smithfield is controlled by China’s WH Group.
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Clean Fuels Comments on CARB Land Use Changes
Clean Fuels Alliance America, along with the California Advanced Biofuels Alliance, submitted formal comments to the California Air Resources Board following the agency’s public forums on biofuels and land use change. In the filing, Clean Fuels emphasized the importance of using the most accurate science to inform land use change modeling and policy decisions under California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. The comments highlight substantial improvements in agricultural productivity, updated economic and carbon modeling, and the need for regulatory approaches that reflect real-world environmental outcomes. “Our members represent the majority of the clean diesel fuel used in California today, and we remain committed to working collaboratively with CARB to ensure the LCFS continues to deliver real near-term emissions reductions,” said Cory-Ann Wind, Clean Fuels Director of State Regulatory Affairs. ‘Modernizing land use change modeling is a critical step toward aligning policy with today’s data and market realities in 2026 and going forward.”
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AFT Supports PFAS Relief for Farmers
American Farmland Trust strongly endorses the bipartisan, bicameral “Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS (PEE-fahs) Act. Introduced in both the House and Senate, the bill would provide much-needed federal funding for states to support farmers and ranchers impacted by the contamination of their land by PFAS, also referred to as “forever chemicals.” Tim Fink, vice president of policy for AFT, said the discovery of PFAS contamination can be devastating for farms, farmers, and their families, and through no fault of their own. “However, the state of Maine has proven that with the right financial and technical support, most farms can remain safely in operation,” Fink said. “It’s time that this essential financial, technical, healthcare, and research support be available to impact farmers across the nation.” PFAS are a synthetic class of chemicals widely used in consumer and industrial products, and are known for their persistence in the environment.
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Global Investors Betting on Nebraska
Five major global gas companies announced a major new partnership to build a large-scale e-methane production facility in Nebraska. Biogenic CO2 sourced from ethanol producers is a critical feedstock for e-methane production, and the ability to secure CO2 delivery via pipeline is the primary reason this project targeted Nebraska. It’s a clear signal that international capital is flowing into the Midwest to secure reliable, low-carbon fuel sources for export markets. Methane, also known as natural gas, is usually drilled out of the ground, but can also chemically be formed. When burned, synthetic methane emits greenhouse gases but is considered less polluting due to its cleaner production process and re-use of CO2. A final investment decision is expected in 2027 on the facility, with startup scheduled for 2030. A statement from the five companies said the Live Oak Project will leverage Nebraska’s abundant biogenic CO2 resources, captured from bioethanol plants.
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