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Momentum Building for Economic Assistance for Growers for 2025 Crop

The Chairmen of the House and Senate Agriculture committees, USDA Secretary Rollins, and President Trump have all made public comments recently on the potential need and likelihood that some form of economic assistance will be developed for row crop farmers for the 2025 crop year. It remains uncertain when the assistance will be provided and what framework will be established or used to determine the level of aid for growers. Secretary Rollins indicated in an interview that an announcement could be coming from the Administration as early as next week, while Sen. Hoeven (R-ND), who is Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee, indicated in a separate interview that he is exploring legislative changes to USDA’s spending authority that would enable them to provide the economic assistance. Again, it remains unknown how much, when, and how the assistance will be provided.

The USDA lowered its forecast for farm earnings in 2025 as declines in the crop sector offset strong incomes for cattle producers. Crop receipts are projected to fall to $236.6 billion, the lowest since 2007. Overall, the estimates for net farm income and net cash income this year are above the 20-year average, due to the livestock markets and an influx of government payments to row crop producers. Net farm income is forecast at $179.8 billion for 2025, an increase of $48.8 billion, or 37.2%, over 2024 when adjusted for inflation, according to the recent forecast issued by the USDA Economic Research Service. Direct government payments are projected at $40.5 billion in 2025, a $30.4-billion increase from 2024 and the highest since 2020. Congress provided farmers with $10 billion in economic aid last year, which was delivered by the USDA through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP). Congress also provided nearly $22 billion for natural disaster losses in 2023-24, which became the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP). The Reconciliation Bill, enacted in July, will also provide additional support through the farm safety-net programs; however, that assistance will not reach growers until fall 2026.

At the same time that farmers are seeing lower crop prices, production expenses are increasing. According to USDA data and a recent Farm Bureau report, total production expenses are forecast to increase $11.9 billion, from $455.5 billion in 2024 to $467.5 billion in 2025. USDA Secretary Rollins, in remarks at an agricultural conference this week, noted that the cost of fertilizer has climbed 37% in roughly four years, while seed prices are up 18%, fuel and oil costs are up 32%, labor expenses are up 47%, equipment and vehicle costs are up 45%, and interest expenses are up 73%.

EPA Issues Supplemental Notice on RFS Small Refinery Exemptions

On September 16, the EPA announced a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for its SET 2/2026-2027 RFS Volume Requirements Proposed Rule, which was issued in June. This supplemental takes into consideration the expected impacts of small refinery exemption (SRE) decisions issued as part of the August 2025 SRE Decisions Action.

On August 22, EPA granted or partially granted 172 small refinery exemptions going back to 2016, including 56 for 2023 and 2024. Now they must decide whether to reallocate those waived volumes to other refiners. The EPA is proposing a supplemental “SRE reallocation volume” to be added to the 2026 and 2027 volumes, which will account for the exemptions granted from 2023 to 2025. They are proposing to account for either 50% or 100% of the exempted volumes and requesting public input.

The biofuels industry generally viewed the supplemental as positive since the focus was on reallocation of 100% or 50% of the SREs. Refinery groups generally criticized the supplemental. However, it is important to note that while the supplemental offers two primary options of 100% and 50% reallocation of SREs, EPA also invited comment on other potential options such as 75%, 25% or no reallocation at all. In other words, any outcome is still possible.

The USCA included the following comments on SREs in our August 8, 2025, submission to EPA on the SET 2/RFS Volume Requirements:

Small Refinery Exemptions

The USCA is also concerned with the uncertainty created by the proposed rule regarding the disposition of pending and future SREs within the final RVOs. The USCA urges EPA to stand by its regulations to re-allocate any volumes exempted by virtue of SREs to the obligated party pool or else the very intent of the program – supporting domestic production and use of renewable fuels – will be undermined. As EPA highlighted in its proposal, the magnitude of SREs in any given year could range from zero to as much as 10% of the overall volume. This could have a significant impact on renewable fuel volumes. If the EPA underestimates SREs in the final rule compared to those ultimately granted for 2026 and 2027, the actual renewable fuel volumes would be significantly lower. The uncertainty surrounding EPA’s handling of past and future SREs remains a significant issue for the market. We urge EPA to ensure that SREs do not erode the U.S. market for BBD and canola.

There is a Public Comment period that ends October 31, 2025. The supplemental notice is attached and can be found here: https://bit.ly/488O7le

Senate Confirms Three New Positions

The Senate recently confirmed a slate of President Trump’s nominees to key leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, filling several high-level roles. Confirmed nominees include Dudley Hoskins as undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Scott Hutchins as undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics, and Richard Fordyce as undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation.

Ben Carson Joins USDA as Health and Nutrition Adviser

Former HUD Secretary Ben Carson has taken on a new role at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he will serve as a senior adviser on nutrition, healthcare, and housing. His appointment aligns with the Trump administration’s broader MAHA initiative, which seeks to reshape public health through changes in diet, lifestyle, and access to care. Carson will work closely with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as USDA moves to tighten nutrition standards, including updates to the Dietary Guidelines and new restrictions on SNAP purchases. He will also act as the department’s lead voice on rural health and housing issues, signaling an expanded focus on community wellness across federal nutrition programs.

Methods for Determining Farmworker Wage Rates in Flux


The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) announced plans earlier this month to update the way it calculates the adverse effect wage rate used in the H-2A guest worker program. A court ruling has scrapped the Labor Department’s 2023 rule that reclassified some farm occupations in the H-2A program, resulting in higher wage rates. The DoL Office of Foreign Labor Certification said that in light of the ruling, it will use the methodology contained in the 2010 H-2A rule, which requires the use of the USDA’s Farm Labor Survey (FLS), not the Labor Department’s Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. However, the FLS is also being challenged in a separate lawsuit brought by the National Council of Agricultural Employers, and the USDA has indicated it plans to stop collecting data for the Farm Labor Survey. The survey and wage rate are intended to prevent the H-2A program from undercutting wages for domestic labor.

White House Releases Final MAHA Report with Policy Recommendations


The MAHA report, released earlier this month, represents a significant improvement over the initial version published just a few months ago. Notably, unlike the first report, there was no mention of seed oils—a major win for groups like the U.S. Canola Association (USCA), which advocated for science-based conclusions. USCA, along with many other agricultural organizations, submitted strong scientific evidence that helped debunk earlier claims about the alleged unhealthiness of seed oils.

The final report centers on four primary drivers of chronic disease: poor diet, chemical exposure, lack of exercise, and overmedication. Pesticides were mentioned briefly, but the language was vague and not particularly alarming. The report states: “The EPA, working with food and agriculture stakeholders, will ensure the public understands and trusts the EPA’s thorough pesticide review process, which focuses on minimizing risks for users and the public while driving ongoing improvements.”

Read full report: https://bit.ly/4kMcurZ

NOPA Endorses Seed Oil–Based Omega Fatty Acids in Infant Formula Review

The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), representing over 99% of U.S. soybean crushing capacity, has voiced strong support for the inclusion of seed oil–based omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in infant formula. In a letter to HHS and FDA, NOPA emphasized that seed oils—such as soybean, canola, and sunflower—are the most effective and bioavailable sources of essential fatty acids critical to infant neural and visual development. The association underscored that every U.S. infant formula already contains omega-6 fatty acids from seed oils, aligning with international standards, and urged that updated nutrient guidelines remain grounded in rigorous, evidence-based science. With the majority of U.S. infants consuming formula, NOPA stressed the importance of maintaining nutritional integrity through seed oil–derived linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which the body cannot produce on its own

Read the article from Oil & Foods International: https://bit.ly/4pMpC3n

The Truth About Seed Oils: Insights from The Economist

The Economist recently examined the controversy around seed oils, noting that much of the backlash is rooted in misinformation and oversimplified science. The article explains that oils like canola are not harmful when consumed in typical amounts and, in fact, can support heart health when used in place of saturated fats. Experts stress that seed oils provide essential fatty acids and help improve cholesterol levels, while many of the negative claims, such as causing inflammation or containing dangerous residues, are not supported by scientific evidence.

Read the article: https://bit.ly/4ncOJLi

USCA 2025 Fall and 2026 Spring Meetings are scheduled. For more information and to reserve your room, go to: https://bit.ly/3UPpdiv

Hurry!

The deadline for the USCA Fall Meeting room block is Oct. 20.

USCA works to support and advance U.S. canola production, marketing, processing, and use through government and industry relations. Since its establishment in 1989, the association has helped domestic canola acreage grow from virtually zero to about 2 million. To learn more about USCA, go to: www.UScanola.com

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