Agriculture Policy & Programs

USDA Launches New FSA Online Scheduling Tool for Farmers, Ranchers

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Following a successful pilot program, FSA is now using a digital appointment platform across the agency to allow producers to make farm program or farm loan appointments online at their convenience.

Farmers and Nature to Benefit from Newly Launched Agroforestry Project

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and partners today announced the launch of the Expanding Agroforestry Project (EAP), an effort to help U.S. farmers strengthen their operations, diversify revenue, and improve land health.

Trump’s Executive Order Prioritizes Precision Ag, Regenerative Farming

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Jonathan Lundgren, founder of the Ecdysis Foundation, along with Clarksville, Ind. no-tiller Rick Clark, Bluffton, Ga., rancher Will Harris and Foxholm, N.D. farmer Brendon Bock were on hand last Friday as Trump signed the order, which said funding should be “significantly increased” for regenerative agriculture practices, research and education.

U.S. Supreme Court Sides with Bayer, Backs Federal Labeling

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Bayer, which acquired Monsanto several years ago, said lawyers are still analyzing the ruling but added the decision is, “good for science, farmers, and industries that depend on regulatory clarity for innovation,” in a statement posted to the company’s website.

Continuum Ag & Aztalan Bio Prepare to Help Farmers Maximize Profits with the Pending 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Continuum Ag, a leader in Carbon Intensity (CI) measurement, reporting, and verification, and Aztalan Bio, an ethanol producer based in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin, are preparing for future opportunities tied to the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit.

New Members of CTIC Hall of Fame Inducted

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The honors came during the 19th annual Conservation in Action Tour in Raleigh, N.C.

NRCS Promises Farmers Will See Modernized Approach

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley told No-Till Farmer he is prioritizing field staff to improve field engagement and technical expertise.

What If a No-Tiller Wrote the Farm Bill

lessitef@lesspub.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

An innovative approach that offers major Farm Bill conservation and environmental benefits is really built around tripling the current no-till acreage.

NRCS Announces $65 Million for Conservation Innovation Grants

Wed, 27 May 2026 13:08:22 -0400

USDA today announced the availability of $65 million this year for new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program.

NRCS Chief Talks Goals for Agency as Ag Tech Evolves

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Buckley told No-Till Farmer Tuesday he will continue pushing to modernize the tools farmers have available through the NRCS and ensure the agency “gets back to basics” helping them succeed with their conservation goals.

CTIC seeking participants for new mentoring program

Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Through Success from the Ground Up, Cargill provides financial support to soil health organizations focused on providing access to training and technical information that can help remove barriers for row crop farmers who want to rebuild the health of their soils, plant cover crops, and make better use of their water. 

NRCS Chief Steps Down, ‘Youngest’ Leader in Agency History Takes the Helm

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Colton L. Buckley, who was serving as associate chief, will take the helm as the youngest NRCS chief in history at the massive agency, which provides technical and financial assistance to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners across the U.S. conserve natural resources.

U.S. House Passes Farm Bill 2.0, Pesticide 'Liability Shield' Removed

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The version approved Thursday removed controversial language that would have prohibited states and courts from, “penalizing or holding liable entities for failing to comply with requirements that would require labeling or packaging that is in addition to or different from the labeling or packaging approved by the EPA administrator.”

Important Deadlines Loom for Economic Assistance and Conservation Programs

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The USDA announced that Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) offers can be submitted during a second batching period that runs through May 1, 2026.

New Cover Crop Program Promotes Early Establishment of Cover Crops

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

IDOA is relaunching the Infield Conservation for Operationalizing Vital Ecosystem Resilience (I-COVER) Program to promote the early establishment of cover crops using new techniques and/or technology.

National Ag Day: 'We must make changes now'

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Trump administration officials tout progress on farm reforms, but American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says shorter-term solutions are needed to fix "terrible imbalance" between prices and inputs costs.

Want to Reduce Your Land Rental Expenses?

mlessiter@lessitermedia.com — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Award-winning no-tiller Mike Starkey educates his tenants on how he’s caring for their land – and was ‘perfect from the line’ in getting rent reductions in this tough economy.

White House Orders Increased Glyphosate Production — What’s Next?

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:48:53 -0500

In case you missed it, President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order mobilizing the Defense Production Act to, “protect domestic production of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides.”

U.S. House Committee Releases Draft of New Farm Bill

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:34:26 -0500

The Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026, being referred to by some as “farm bill 2.0,” addresses provisions that weren’t included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was passed last summer under budget reconciliation rules.

CIBO’s Data and Analytics Platform Helps Power Nutrien’s Sustainable Agriculture Programs

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Through this collaboration, CIBO will provide essential measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) services to Nutrien’s sustainable agriculture programs across the Midwest, helping expand farmer access to both private and public incentives while supporting credible, scalable outcomes.

The Agriculture Crisis Letter Gets the Diagnosis Right But Misses the Cure

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The question is not whether we can afford to invest in regenerative agriculture. The question is whether we can afford not to.

Indigo to Sell 2.85M Tonnes of Carbon Removal to Microsoft, Supporting Soil Health

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Under the 12-year agreement, Microsoft will purchase 2.85 million soil carbon removal credits from Indigo, supporting thousands of American farmers across millions of U.S. acres

Feds to Re-Evaluate Paraquat After Study States Link to Parkinson’s

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In a recent post on X, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said his agency’s goals were aligned with that of the Make American Healthy Again movement, which has been highly critical of herbicides used in the country’s food system.

[Video] Inside the 39 North Ag Tech Innovation Hub

mlessiter@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Dr. Rishi Masalia, program director, 39 North, takes us inside the ag tech and plant science innovation district in St. Louis. More than 35 growing ag tech companies call 39 North home, where farmers, scientists and innovators share ideas about cutting-edge equipment and technologies.

USDA Pledges $700M for Regenerative Ag Pilot Program

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0500

Protecting and improving soil health is critical not only for the future viability of farmland, but to the future success of American farmers, the agency said.

Solicitor General Backs Efforts to End Roundup Lawsuits

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

SCOTUS considered Bayer’s petition for writ of certiorari earlier this year but asked Solicitor General D. John Sauer for additional input on the case, Monsanto Co. vs. John L. Durnell.

Where is Our Generation’s 'Farm Aid'?

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Our government hasn’t adequately adapted to the changing realities of global trade. There needs to be more serious discussion in Washington about what practices our government chooses to incentivize.

Farm Bill Extension Draws Mixed Reviews

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:03:36 -0500

The package of spending bills fully funds the USDA for fiscal year 2026 and includes the extension of farm programs and authorities, not covered in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that were set to expire on Dec. 31.

TFI Statement on Trump's Fertilizer Tariff Exemption

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Following the announcement by President Donald Trump that many fertilizers will be exempt from reciprocal tariffs, The Fertilizer Institute President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch released the following statement.

Sustainable Agriculture Grants Now Available from North Central Region SARE

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) program currently has four open grant programs to fund research and education projects