Listeners, the biggest headline out of the Department of Agriculture this week is the sweeping reorganization announced by Secretary Brooke Rollins that will consolidate USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service from seven regional offices down to five and relocate national staff from DC, aiming to cut the workforce there by over half in the next two years. According to Secretary Rollins, this change is designed to create “leaner, more agile” delivery of nutrition programs, though child nutrition advocates warn it may slow technical assistance and risk program integrity.

On the policy front, USDA and HHS have released over $130 million in new grants to promote nutrition and have launched the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, calling for a shift toward whole, unprocessed foods across all child nutrition programs. Operators of child and adult care centers now face new rules for breakfast cereals and yogurts, capping added sugars in meals served, effective October 1. This update aligns meals with the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans and is part of a broader effort to address childhood chronic disease. For schools, participation in the National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Service now requires following the same, tougher CACFP meal patterns.

Another key development is in SNAP, America’s largest food assistance program. USDA has proposed new requirements for SNAP retailers, increasing mandatory food variety in each staple category from three to seven, effectively boosting options for participants to 28 healthy items per store. While bigger grocery chains are likely to adapt, small retailers may struggle and risk losing their SNAP certification—possibly limiting access for rural and underserved communities. As of last year, over 41 million Americans rely on SNAP, so these changes have broad impact.

RMA has rolled out historic enhancements to federal crop insurance, with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act delivering more subsidies and better coverage for beginning farmers, effective now. RMA Administrator Swanson says, “We’ve moved quickly to put American farmers first, ensuring protection when disasters strike,” urging producers to review new options with their insurance agents.

For state and local governments, the updated Area Eligibility Mapper for child care and summer feeding sites is now live, potentially redrawing where higher reimbursement rates kick in. Internationally, policy shifts—like potential changes to export promotion programs and regulatory enforcement—are under watch, as Congress negotiates FY26 spending priorities amid a government shutdown. USDA has pledged to continue core nutrition reimbursements at least through October, with possible delays if the shutdown drags past November.

If you’re a parent, educator, or food service operator, be sure to check out webinars like “Sweet Changes Ahead: Preparing for CACFP’s Added Sugar Rules” on November 6 for guidance on new regulations. Farmers should contact their agents about enhanced insurance options. For public feedback, USDA is collecting comments on the reorganization and new nutrition standards.

Keep watching for updates on federal funding—will Congress resolve the shutdown, or will changes to SNAP and school meals accelerate? For more details, visit usda.gov and follow alerts from your state department of agriculture.

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