In her first 100 days as secretary of agriculture under the Trump Administration, Brooke Rollins has taken aggressive steps to refocus the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of her mission to put “Farmers First.”

The policy under Rollins has reprioritized some of the doctrine of Trump’s previous Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who adopted the slogan “Do Right and Feed Everyone” in his tenure. Rollins has zeroed in on the rollback of what she describes as the Biden Administration’s “woke Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion agenda,” aiming instead to build a USDA that emphasizes “unity, equality, meritocracy, and color-blind policies.”

“It is absurd that while the Biden Administration was driving up inflation, American taxpayers were forced to fund billions in woke DEI initiatives. American farmers and ranchers don’t need DEI, they need reduced regulations and an Administration that is actively putting them first,” said Rollins. “In the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, USDA has done exactly that, by cancelling over 3,600 contracts and grants saving more than $5.5 billion. I look forward to finishing our work of cleaning out Biden’s bureaucratic basement and moving forward with this Administration’s priorities that put American farmers first.”

Rollins also directed the USDA to review Inflation Reduction Act funding to ensure that it honors the obligation to American taxpayers — and to ensure that programs are focused on supporting farmers and ranchers, not “DEI programs” or “far-left climate programs,” according to the agency.

As a result, the USDA has terminated 597 grants, which totaled more than $3.45 billion and over 3,000 contracts totaling $1.8 billion. Between grants and contracts and other spending, the USDA says it has terminated more than $5.5 billion in what it has deemed to be unnecessary and wasteful spending. The USDA has identified and canceled nearly 1,000 employee trainings, more than 750 of which the agency said focused on DEI alone. The USDA said the other canceled trainings include topics on “environmental justice” and “gender ideology” classes.

Rollins said she is leading a new era of the USDA that she pledges will be the most efficient, nimble, and innovative department to serve American agriculture since its establishment in 1862.

In her first 100 days, Rollins sent a letter to Maine Gov. Janet Mills announcing the pause and an ongoing review of federal funding that the state of Maine receives from the USDA. Rollins also sent a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom announcing a review of federal funding his state receives intended for research and education.

Additionally, Rollins announced the cancellation of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, referencing it as part of what she calls the “Green New Scam.” Following a line-by-line review of each of these Biden-era partnerships, the USDA said that it became clear that the majority of these projects had sky-high administration fees which in many instances provided less than half of the federal funding directly to farmers.

Select projects may continue if it is demonstrated that a significant amount of the federal funds awarded will go to farmers. With this action, the USDA says it is cutting bureaucratic red tape, streamlining reporting, lowering the paperwork burden on producers and putting farmers first.

»Related: DOGE cracking down on leases for dozens of FSA, NRCS sites

Farmers can now submit nominations for the 2026 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, which comes with cash prizes — and, of course, bragging rights! This is the eighth year of the contest, which celebrates farm dogs and the many ways they support farmers and ranchers.

The grand prize winner — Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year — will win a year’s worth of Purina Pro Plan dog food and $5,000 in prize money. The winner will be recognized at a Farm Dog of the Year award ceremony at the American Farm Bureau Convention in Anaheim, California, in January 2026.

The 2026 Farm Dog of the Year will also be featured in a professionally produced video. The profile of 2025 Farm Dog of the Year Sirius can be viewed here. Since its inception, the contest has provided a link to the farm for pet-loving Americans who vote for their favorite farm dog online.

“Farm dogs play an important role on the farm and hold a special place in our hearts,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “They show up every day without complaint and are eager to pitch in. Many go above and beyond in caring for their farm families.”

Rounding up livestock, chasing off predators, opening gates, fetching or carrying tools/buckets and greeting visitors are among the many tasks performed by farm dogs.

Scientific research insights from a collaboration between Mayo Clinic and Purina reveal that interacting with pets can provide health benefits. For example, after spending just 20 minutes with a dog, people experienced a significant increase in levels of oxytocin, a hormone that plays a role in moderating stress. This was also associated with a decrease in heart rate and an increase in a self-reported sense of well-being. Following the interaction with the dog, people were in a more positive emotional state.

“We are proud to continue supporting and celebrating hard-working and loving farm dogs through the American Farm Bureau’s Farm Dog of the Year contest,” said Jack Scott, vice president, sustainable sourcing at Purina. “Purina sources nutritious ingredients from American farms to make our pet food, and we support the hard work and dedication of American farmers feeding generations of people and pets.”

Desired attributes for the Farm Dog of the Year include helpfulness to the farmer and his/her family, playfulness and obedience.

Farm dog owners must be Farm Bureau members to enter their dogs in the competition. Not yet a Farm Bureau member but interested in nominating your farm dog? Visit fb.org/join to learn about becoming a member.

Eligibility guidelines and submission requirements are available here. Farm Dog of the Year nominations, which include written responses to questions, at least one still photo and a video clip (optional), must be received by July 11, 2025, for consideration. The Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest is sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The People’s Choice Pup, a popular social media element of the Farm Dog of the Year competition, returns for 2026. Profiles of several dogs nominated for the contest will be shared beginning in September, with the public invited to vote. Bragging rights and a $2,500 cash prize from Purina will be awarded to the People’s Choice Pup.

Farm Service Agency staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture must now get approval from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, before issuing any farm loans exceeding $500,000, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters.

DOGE is at the forefront of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce federal spending and streamline government operations. Within the administration’s first 100 days, several agriculture-related initiatives — including programs supporting local food systems and climate-smart agriculture — have been paused or eliminated.

The memo, dated April 29 and signed by Houston Bruck, deputy administrator for FSA’s loan programs, explained that the new policy aligns with a recent executive order aimed at cutting costs in government.

The guidance, effective immediately, requires any loans or guarantees of $500,000 or more made to formal business entities such as corporations to be reviewed by both the the USDA Secretary’s Office and DOGE.

FSA loan programs are often a vital source of credit for farmers unable to secure financing from traditional lenders. These funds typically cover operational needs like seeds, fertilizer, equipment, or land. The borrowing cap for direct loans stands at $600,000, while guarantees through commercial banks can go up to $2.2 million.

“We recognize the potential impact that this effort may have on our customers, lending partners, and FSA staff, and are committed to ensuring minimal disruption to service delivery,” said USDA FSA administrator Bill Beam in a note that accompanied the memo.

According to the USDA, the added review is not expected to significantly delay processing and most direct payments to individuals are not subject to the policy.

“The USDA Efficiency Team reviews many loans, guarantees, and payments,” the agency stated. “The team does assess payments over $500k for fraud and national security concerns.”

Reuters indicated that requests for comment from the American Bankers Association and officials with the Farm Credit System were not immediately returned.