Welcome to the USDA Update Podcast. I'm your host, bringing you the latest news from the Department of Agriculture.

Our top story this week: USDA has canceled over $1 billion in local food purchasing programs for schools and food banks. This decision impacts two initiatives that provided financial assistance to source food from regional farms and ranchers. States have been notified they will not receive 2025 funding for schools to buy food from nearby farms through the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program. Additionally, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program aiding food banks has been eliminated.

This move marks a significant shift in policy under the new administration. Secretary Brooke Rollins, who took office just over a month ago, has been moving swiftly to advance priorities focused on efficiency and agricultural prosperity. In her first 30 days, she's announced a $1 billion strategy to combat avian flu, directed enforcement of rules restricting SNAP benefits to U.S. citizens and legal residents only, and worked to streamline USDA operations.

The cancellation of these local food programs has drawn criticism from some state leaders. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said her state would lose $12 million intended for school districts, calling it "another detrimental cut impacting families."

In other news, USDA released its March World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. The outlook for 2024/2025 U.S. wheat shows larger supplies, unchanged domestic use, lower exports, and higher ending stocks. Wheat ending stocks were increased more than expected to 819 million bushels.

On the regulatory front, USDA recently finalized its third new regulation under the Packers and Stockyards Act, aimed at creating fairness and transparency for contract farmers. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, "These regulatory improvements give us the strongest tools we've ever had to meet our obligations under the Packers & Stockyards Act."

Looking ahead, the USDA will continue work on the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Secretary Rollins is also focusing on international trade, having met with counterparts from Mexico and Canada to discuss tariffs and trade priorities.

For those interested in agricultural programs, enrollment for the 2025 Agriculture Risk Coverage, Price Loss Coverage, and Dairy Margin Coverage programs is currently open. Deadlines vary by program, so check the USDA website for specific dates.

That's all for this week's USDA Update. For more information on any of these stories, visit usda.gov. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time.

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