The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that, starting in 2027, students eligible for free or reduced-price school meals will no longer incur processing fees. The USDA has also released guidelines for schools to help them transition smoothly to this new policy and is encouraging early implementation.
The goal is to eventually remove online payment fees for all families, ensuring fair access to school meals. Secretary Vilsack emphasized USDA’s commitment to equitable meal access for children, noting that this initiative is a step toward making healthy school meals free for all students.
“USDA and schools across America share the common goal of nourishing schoolchildren and giving them the fuel they need to learn, grow, and thrive,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “While today’s action to eliminate extra fees for lower-income households is a major step in the right direction, the most equitable path forward is to offer every child access to healthy school meals at no cost. We will continue to work with Congress to move toward that goal so all kids have the nutrition they need to reach their full potential.”
As part of a broader push to reduce “junk fees,” the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service distributed a memo to schools, reiterating that a free and accessible payment option must always be available for school meal accounts.
Aligned with the Biden-Harris Administration’s national strategy to improve child nutrition, this policy builds on existing efforts. Schools that already use the Community Eligibility Provision continue to provide free meals in high-need areas, while eight states now offer meals at no cost to all students.
“The Department of Agriculture’s action applies to the 1 million children who receive reduced priced meals and lays the foundation to eliminate these junk fees for all 30 million children that receive healthy meals at school every day,” said National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard.
Since 2021, the USDA has supported healthy school meal programs with nearly $13.2 billion in funding, reinforcing the agency’s dedication to child nutrition and health across the nation.
By this morning, Republicans had regained the White House and Senate, with Donald Trump slated to return to office in January as the 47th president, marking a historic comeback. Trump’s victory — secured through key battlegrounds like Wisconsin, Georgia, and North Carolina — saw him exceed the 270 electoral vote threshold needed to reclaim the presidency.
His opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, faced significant challenges in swaying voters who had grown dissatisfied with the current administration’s trajectory.
While Republicans celebrate their expanded influence, the balance of power in the House remains uncertain, with dozens of competitive races still being counted. This political shift sets the stage for potential changes that will ripple through numerous sectors, particularly agriculture, where policy and regulation are often tightly aligned with administration priorities.
Image via MSNBC
As the dust settles, agricultural organizations are weighing in on what the Republican win might mean for key issues, from farm subsidies and trade agreements to immigration and environmental policies.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duval
“Farm Bureau congratulates President-elect Donald Trump on his election to lead our great nation, as well as the representatives and senators elected to serve in the 119th Congress. We are committed to working with our nation’s leaders to strengthen agriculture and rural America, and we look forward to continuing that work in the days ahead.
“Now that the American people have spoken, it’s time to put politics aside and begin the work of ensuring families nationwide can prosper. Among the most pressing issues in rural America is the need for a new, modernized farm bill. The two-year delay is unacceptable. The new administration must also address the impending tax hikes, which would crush many of America’s farmers and ranchers when stacked on top of inflation, high supply costs, and market instability. Another big issue on farmers’ minds is the labor shortage and skyrocketing costs.
“There is no shortage of critical issues requiring immediate attention, and Farm Bureau stands ready to work with our elected leaders to tackle them. Clearing hurdles for America’s farmers and ranchers will contribute to the strength and continued growth of the entire nation.”
National Corn Growers Association President Kenneth Hartman Jr.
“On behalf of corn growers across the country, I want to congratulate President-Elect Donald J. Trump on his victory in Tuesday’s election. We look forward to working with the new administration and members of Congress to advance policy that is important to corn farmers. We especially appreciate President Trump’s recognition that homegrown fuels, like ethanol, are important for our nation’s energy security and rural economies. We are also eager to work with his administration and Congress to enact improved farm policies and programs, expand market opportunities, and build on the tax policies enacted during President Trump’s first term that are beneficial to corn farmers as they face a challenging financial outlook with low prices and high costs.”
Associated Equipment Distributor’s President and CEO Brian McGuire
“Congratulations to President-Elect Donald J. Trump on a successful, hard-fought campaign. AED looks forward to collaborating with the Trump administration and the next Congress to advance our pro-growth, job creating policy agenda.”
“Our country stands at a crossroads where bipartisan cooperation is not just necessary — it is essential. We must rise above gridlock and inaction. Together, Republicans and Democrats have the responsibility to maintain a tax code that fosters growth, to invest in our infrastructure and rural communities, and maintaining and nurturing the next generation of skilled workers who will shape our future. The prosperity of the United States depends on these commitments, and AED members are ready to play a key role in building, feeding, and fueling the country. Now is the time for our elected leaders to set aside partisan divides, prioritize these critical issues, and work hand in hand for the success and future of our nation.”
Union of Concerned Scientists
The Union of Concerned Scientists warns that a second Trump administration could significantly harm the U.S. food system. They predict increased immigration deportations that would disrupt the agricultural workforce, higher tariffs leading to rising food prices and economic instability for farmers, and new attacks on food assistance programs like SNAP.
UCS also fears that Trump’s policies would further favor large agribusinesses while undermining conservation programs and environmental protections, particularly through the rollback of climate action and the elimination of USDA policies addressing climate change and equity.
Image by Joe Rogan Experience
In a recent interview on Joe Rogan’s podcast, former President Donald Trump confirmed that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the former presidential candidate and advocate for the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, would have a significant role in his administration if Trump were to win the 2024 election.
During a campaign event in New York City on Oct. 27 Trump told the crowd, “‘I’m gonna let him go wild on health. I’m gonna let him go wild on the food. I’m gonna let him go wild on medicines,’” signaling a bold approach to health and food policy under Kennedy’s guidance.
Kennedy, who has already outlined plans to reform the agriculture system, emphasized the need for a shift in current U.S. policies that harm both the environment and family farms. “When @realDonaldTrump gets me inside the USDA, we’re going to give farmers an off-ramp from the current system that destroys soil, makes people sick, and harms family farms,” Kennedy said. He continued, highlighting the challenges small farmers face under the current system, adding, “America’s current ag policy is destroying America’s health on every level. It’s destroying the economic health of farmers by forcing them to get big or get out.”
When @realDonaldTrump gets me inside the USDA, we’re going to give farmers an off-ramp from the current system that destroys soil, makes people sick, and harms family farms.
Kennedy’s stance on banning agricultural chemicals has raised concerns. Critics like former Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst argue that some of Kennedy’s proposals may reverse the economic progress made during Trump’s first term, especially in terms of deregulation. Rod Snyder, a former EPA agricultural adviser, also voiced concerns about Kennedy’s reliance on personal views over scientific expertise in agricultural decisions. However, the Union of Concerned Scientists put out a blog post today supporting this stance, and taking a hard line against “big ag.”
On the scientific front, Kennedy has widely espoused positions against not only crop protection productions but also fluoride in drinking water and the use of seed oils in food products. He also positions himself as a “vaccine skeptic.”
This article will be updated as more farm- and food-focused organizations make statements about the presidential election results.
Authorities dismantled a multimillion-dollar theft ring smuggling California farm equipment into Mexico.
“Operation Tractor Pull” led to the arrest of seven suspects and the recovery of $1.3 million in stolen equipment.
The theft ring impacted California’s agricultural community, with some equipment still unrecoverable across the border.
DAILY Discussion
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office in California has dismantled what is being called a sophisticated criminal network responsible for the theft of heavy farm equipment in the San Joaquin Valley. The equipment, with a value estimated to be in the millions, was transported across the border into Mexico.
Dubbed “Operation Tractor Pull,” this multi-county investigation has led to the arrest of seven individuals suspected of involvement in a large-scale theft ring that has impacted California’s agricultural community.
According to Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, the theft operation has inflicted serious losses on local farmers and ranchers.
“This is a large-scale theft ring impacting our farmers, our ranchers, and agricultural community,” Boudreaux said.
Investigators have recovered at least 24 pieces of stolen farm equipment, including tractors, backhoes, and excavators, totaling an estimated value of $1.3 million. However, several pieces of equipment remain in Mexico and are considered unrecoverable. Altogether, the network is believed to have stolen more than $2.25 million worth of farm equipment.
Last week, authorities conducted early-morning search warrants in Tulare, Fresno, Merced, and San Benito counties, leading to the arrest of five suspects. Among those detained were Noe Guevara, Joel Avila, Isrrael Garrido Cortez, and Nicolas Ruiz Cruz, each facing charges of grand theft, conspiracy, and possession of stolen property. One of those arrested on that day was not yet identified.
Reports also pointed to two other people having been arrested in the case, Juan Carlos Murrufo, 22, and Endi Jesus Lopez Bustillos, 31. They were arrested when detectives found a stolen backhoe at a truck stop in Tulare.
Additional charges against Cortez are related to accusations that he operated a drug house for the sale of controlled substances. In addition to stolen equipment, authorities said they recovered $46,000 in cash, two truck-bed loads of processed marijuana, and multiple firearms during the operation.
Sheriff Vernon Warnke from Merced County noted the broader consequences of these thefts.
“Not only have the cartels been human trafficking, narcotics, and guns, it has now hit our agricultural community where everybody in here likes to go to the store and grab something to eat,” Warnke stated, adding that these agricultural crimes ultimately drive up produce prices for consumers.
Boudreaux discussed the challenges offered California’s classification of these offenses as non-violent crimes. Due to those classifications, prosecutors may face difficulties in ensuring lengthy sentences for the suspects.
“We can’t put them in jail for an extended amount of time, which sends no message of accountability,” Boudreaux said.
October saw a 27-point rise in sentiment, with higher future expectations despite ongoing concerns about current conditions.
Input costs and output prices remain top issues, while fewer producers worry about interest rates.
The Farm Financial and Capital Investment indices rose, suggesting farmers expect stronger performance in 2025.
DAILY Discussion
October provided a surprising pre-election bounce in farmer sentiment as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index climbed to 115, 27 points higher than in September. The biggest driver of the sentiment improvement was an increase in producers’ confidence in the future, as the Future Expectations Index jumped 30 points to 124.
The Current Conditions Index also rose in October but by a smaller amount. With a reading of 95, the Current Conditions Index confirmed that farmers think economic conditions this year are worse than last year and weaker than during the barometer’s base period of 2015-2016, which was in the early days of a multi-year downturn in the U.S. farm economy. Producers this month expressed some optimism that economic conditions will improve and not precipitate an extended downturn in the farm economy. The October barometer survey took place from October 14-18, 2024.
The overall improvement in farmer sentiment is better understood by examining responses to the individual questions used to generate the barometer. Much of the sentiment improvement was attributable to producers possessing a less pessimistic view of the U.S. agricultural economy. For example, the percentage of producers who expect bad times for the U.S. agricultural economy in the upcoming year declined from 73 percent of respondents in September to 53 percent in October.
Cotton harvest extends into the evening at Ernie Schirmer Farms in Batesville, Texas. (Image by USDA)
Similarly, the percentage of producers who expect bad times for U.S. agriculture in the next 5 years fell from 48 percent to 33 percent. Looking at a related question, fewer producers this month said they expect their farm’s financial condition to worsen over the next 12 months, with just 23 percent looking for conditions to worsen compared to 38% who felt that way in September.
Despite the improvement in the main barometer indices, it’s clear producers’ financial situation deteriorated in 2024. For example, over half of the October respondents said their farm’s financial condition was worse than a year earlier. That was lower than reported in September but matches the response to this question in August.
The last question on each month’s survey provides respondents with an open-ended question asking them to share what’s on their minds. Unsurprisingly, politics was mentioned quite often, with the elections looming just a few weeks into the future. Perhaps more importantly, it’s clear that many producers were thinking about possible policy shifts that could impact their farms and the agricultural economy.
Mentions of regulation, environment, and taxes were featured prominently, along with concerns about prices. When asked explicitly about their biggest concerns for the upcoming year, producers still point to higher input costs and lower output prices as their biggest concerns. The trend of fewer producers citing interest rates as a top concern continued this month. Just 15 percent of producers, down from as much as 26 percent of producers in late 2023, chose interest rates as one of their biggest concerns in October.
One of the biggest surprises arising from this month’s survey was the increase in the Farm Financial Performance Index. The index is based upon a question that says, “As of today, do you expect your farm’s financial performance in the next 12 months to be better than, worse than, or about the same as in the past 12 months.”
The October reading of 90 jumped 22 points above September’s and was just 2 points lower than a year earlier. High fall crop yields and a stress-free fall harvest season in the Corn Belt and Plains states likely contributed to the index’s rise. However, those two factors alone don’t account for the index’s sharp rise. The index’s improvement provides another indication that farmers’ optimism about the future shifted in October, leading to an expectation of better financial performance in 2025 than in 2024.
Image by Jakub Krechowicz, Shutterstock
Coincident with the rise in the financial index was a modest improvement in the Farm Capital Investment Index,which, at 42, was 7 points higher than in September, another signal that producers in October might be viewing 2024’s weak income prospects as transitory.
The Short-Term Farmland Value Expectations Index tends to be correlated with financial performance expectations, and that was the case this month, with the index climbing up to 120, 25 points above the September reading.
The long-term index also rose, improving to 159 versus 147 a month earlier. Once again, the rise in both farmland value expectation indices suggests that producers retain some optimism about the agricultural economy’s future strength, which, in turn, could support farmland values.
Lizzie Schafer of Taylorville FFA has completed five bovine research projects and has been inspired by the challenges she encountered on her family’s stock farm.
