Welcome to USDA Now You Know, your weekly update on the latest from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I'm your host, and today we're diving into some big changes coming to farm programs and school meals.

Our top story: The USDA has announced enrollment periods for key safety-net programs in 2025. Starting January 21st, producers can sign up for Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage, which provide financial protection against drops in crop prices or revenues. And from January 29th, dairy farmers can enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage to offset milk and feed price differences. FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux urges farmers not to delay, saying, "Our safety-net programs provide critical financial protections against commodity market volatilities for many American farms."

In other news, significant updates are coming to school nutrition standards, but not right away. The USDA is taking a gradual approach, with required changes to school meal patterns not beginning until the 2025-26 school year. These updates aim to align with the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans and will be phased in through 2028. Schools, however, can start using new menu flexibilities as early as this July to cater to student preferences.

On the policy front, there's been some controversy surrounding Project 2025, a conservative initiative that proposes major changes to USDA programs. The plan calls for narrowing the department's focus primarily to agricultural production and suggests moving nutrition programs like SNAP to the Department of Health and Human Services. It also recommends increasing work requirements for SNAP recipients and eliminating certain eligibility expansions. Critics argue these changes could harm food security for vulnerable populations.

In financial news, the USDA has announced February 2025 lending rates for agricultural producers. Farm Operating Loans are set at 5.125%, while Farm Ownership Loans are at 5.500%. These loans provide crucial access to capital for farmers looking to start, expand, or maintain their operations.

Looking ahead, mark your calendars for March 24th, 2025 - that's the deadline for public comments on recent USDA guidance, including updates to infant feeding requirements in child care programs and new grain requirements for school meals.

That's all for this week's USDA Now You Know. For more information on any of these topics, visit usda.gov. And remember, your voice matters in shaping agricultural policy - so stay informed and engaged. Until next time, I'm your host, signing off.

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI