Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), a fourth generation rice farmer who represented much of California’s rural north in Congress, died suddenly this week. He was 65. LaMalfa represented California’s 1st Congressional District from 2013 to 2026, serving as Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and served on the House Agriculture Committee.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, marking the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in decades. The new Guidelines deliver a clear, common-sense message to the American people: eat real food.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins congratulated Dr. Seth Meyer for his years of service to our country and announced Dr. Justin Benavidez as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Chief Economist.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the next phase in the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program (FBA), the eligible commodity per-acre payment rates. As announced earlier this month by President Trump and Secretary Rollins, $12 billion will be paid to American farmers in 2026. Of that amount, $11 billion consists of one-time FBA program payments. This is in response to four years of disastrous Biden administration policies that created record-high input and production costs, zero new trade deals, and a forgotten rural America.
The American Farm Bureau Convention welcomes U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to the closing general session stage on Monday, Jan. 12. Sec. Rollins will speak about the challenges and opportunities ahead for American agriculture. A congressional panel entitled “Shaping the Future,” will take place during the mid-general session on Sunday, Jan. 11. The chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), and Ranking Member on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) will be joined by the chair of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.), and Ranking Member of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) to discuss their vision for the future of U.S. agriculture and their plans for 2026.
Members of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists are invited to apply for a seat at the IFAJ Executive Meeting and Press Tour in Brazil, March 15–20, 2026, organized by Agrojor Brazil. The week includes visits to soybean, cattle, orange, sugarcane, coffee, poultry, flower, and biologicals production, plus expert briefings and cultural highlights around São Paulo. Click here to apply by January 9.
U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) announced the promotion of two staff members to key posts in Southeast Asia and the addition of two international staff members. The shifts reflect a shared commitment across USW’s global operations to build on recent momentum, continue to grow demand for U.S. wheat and drive innovation in the organization’s market development activities.
Producers can improve the bottom-line of their farming operation with knowledge, connections and information gained at the 49th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference, held at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center, Jan. 15, 2026. The show hours will be 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Peanut farmers and those involved in the peanut industry will be able to learn more about the latest products, services and peanut research at the show, which is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the eligible commodity per-acre payment rates for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program (FBA). Eligible peanut producers can expect to receive $55.65 per acre by February 28, 2026.
AgCareers awarded the fourth annual USA Feed Your Future Scholarship to Sarah Witte, a University of Arizona student. Witte is studying Systems Engineering and minoring in Food Science, Fermentation, and Biosystems Engineering. AgCareers created the Feed Your Future $1,000 scholarship to assist financially a post-secondary student studying agriculture or intending to pursue a career in agriculture. The application process required students to respond to essay questions, including: “Why did you decide to pursue a career in agriculture or food?”
