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Administration Unveils $8 Billion Harvest Fuel Relief Program to Ease Producer Input Costs

President Donald J. Trump, alongside U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture will make $8 billion available for one-time payments to American farmers this harvest season to provide relief during temporary market disruptions and increased input costs.

“President Trump is the most pro-farmer president of my lifetime and he is continuing to put Farmers First every day,” said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “Today, I am proud to announce alongside President Trump more targeted relief is coming to our farmers through the Harvest Fuel Relief program.

This $8 billion dollar investment will help bring certainty to our farmers during this harvest so they can continue to feed our nation.” For Oklahoma producers, this relief package comes at a critical window as winter wheat planting wraps up and fall cattle turn-out and forage harvesting get underway across the state. 

Trey Myers, a member of the Perkins-Tryon FFA chapter in Oklahoma, is wrapping up a year of national service as the ninth national FFA president from Oklahoma. In a conversation with Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays ahead of the 99th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Myers reflected on his journey through FFA, the mentors who shaped his leadership and the agricultural experiences that continue to influence his perspective.

Oklahoma has produced 24 national FFA officers during the organization’s 99-year history, including nine national presidents. For Myers, reaching the highest level of student leadership was something he never imagined when he first joined the organization in eighth grade. “It’s been an absolute dream come true,” Myers said. “It’s been a lot of weight, as you mentioned, but there’s no way I would have been here without the help of so many people, like pouring into me.”

During his travels as a national officer, Myers said he has seen how FFA chapters with different resources and backgrounds find ways to serve their communities.

He recalled visiting a chapter in North Carolina during National FFA Week, he marveled at their ingenuity in building an aquaponics system in its agricultural shop.  “They just used some ragtag old stock tanks, and they built it with PVC pipes, and they grow tilapia in there, and then sell it to their community,” Myers said. Our coverage of the 2026 National FFA Convention is powered by Hilliary Communications, Always Innovating, Because Every Community Matters

Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays continues his conversation with Dr. Shalene McNeill, a registered dietitian working with the Beef Checkoff, about the new dietary guidelines, the growing focus on protein and the role beef can play in healthy diets.

McNeill says the guidelines have created new opportunities to communicate beef’s nutritional value, but she emphasizes that continued research will be important as nutrition recommendations and consumer interests evolve. Part one of this conversation can be found here.

McNeill says protein has remained a major topic in nutrition for years, and she believes consumers’ experiences with high-protein foods have helped sustain that interest. She said protein is one of the hottest nutrients in nutrition today, but researchers are beginning to ask whether the focus has gone too far.

Ben Hale: Strong Feeder Cattle Demand Supports Oklahoma National Stockyards Market

Hale said the Oklahoma National Stockyards saw on October 19th a strong market despite cattle numbers running below year-ago levels. Recent rainfall across Oklahoma may have slowed cattle deliveries, with some producers dealing with muddy conditions.

Hale described the market as “pretty snappy,” particularly for feeder cattle, noting that some of the best-quality feeder steers and heifers brought stronger prices.

Hale said demand for feeder cattle remains strong as feedlots look to fill their pens. “They must be getting a little short because they’re wanting some cattle,” Hale said. He added that buyers are actively competing for available cattle in Oklahoma City, with “just about everybody” having a place for them. While fewer lightweight calves have been coming to market, Hale said there is still plenty of interest when those cattle arrive.

In OSU Crop Marketing specialist Todd Hubbs weekly newsletter he says Grain prices continued to fall last week as the bearish fundamental picture put in place by USDA’s recent series of reports settled into the market.

Geopolitical events remain key market drivers as Black Sea and Iran conflicts continue to rumble on. Price weakness over the near term appears probable.

Wheat Market Outlook: December HRW future prices moved another four cents lower on Monday to close at $6.99 per bushel.

As shown in Figure 1, nearby futures dropped to levels not seen since mid-July and broke through the previous range set in late July and early August. Since October 6, nearby futures have lost over 55 cents and appear to be falling into the range last seen in early summer.

The Texas cattle feeding industry is navigating challenges ranging from Mexican cattle imports and New World screwworm concerns to labor disruptions and the need for long-term herd rebuilding.

Laphe Laroe, outgoing chairman of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA) and director of operations at Smith Cattle Company, discussed these issues with senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays following the opening general session of the association’s convention in downtown Oklahoma City.

Laroe said his year as TCFA chairman brought several challenges, including volatile cattle markets, tariff issues and the extended closure of the Mexican border to live cattle imports. Although a phased reopening has begun, he said the effects of the closure will take time to overcome.

In a recent cow calf corner article Mark Johnson writes: Information is increasingly important in marketing cattle of all types. Historically, selling ag commodities has involved moving raw farm products such as grains, livestock and dairy from production to consumption with ag producers acting as price takers.

Because ag commodities have been largely interchangeable, individual farmers and ranchers have had little control over market prices.

In regard to the cattle business, documented information about genetic potential, vaccination protocols and backgrounding management have and are proving to be increasingly important to cattle producers interested in moving beyond the status of price takers. Actual marketing of cattle requires a willingness to invest the time and effort to differentiate your cattle and substantiate their distinct value to the next owner.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall commented on President Trump’s announcement to provide $8 billion in relief for farmers facing higher diesel prices this fall. “Farmers and ranchers welcome the administration’s announcement of $8 billion in relief through the Harvest Fuel Relief program to help farmers struggling with high diesel prices. We appreciate President Trump and Secretary Rollins recognizing that higher diesel prices have squeezed farmers’ bottom lines. 

National Sorghum Producers welcomes President Donald Trump’s announcement of $8 billion in assistance through USDA’s Harvest Fuel Relief program to help farmers manage higher fuel and input costs. “Sorghum farmers are facing tight margins, and higher diesel costs put even more pressure on our ability to bring a crop to market,” said NSP Chairman Garrett Love, a sorghum farmer from Montezuma, Kansas. “We thank President Trump and Secretary Rollins for responding to those challenges.

The National Cotton Council appreciates the Trump Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement to provide additional assistance to agricultural producers through the Harvest Fuel Relief program. “The NCC commends Secretary Rollins and the USDA for taking steps to provide timely assistance to producers as they navigate ongoing economic challenges,” said NCC Chairman Nathan Reed. 

Checking the Markets...

Although traders may have acted skeptical about where they should take the market throughout Tuesday's trade, by the day's end there was no question the market was going higher and in a confident manner. October live cattle closed $1.95 higher at $229.45, December live cattle closed $2.15 higher at $230.17 and February live cattle closed $2.17 higher at $233.10. 

Boxed beef prices closed higher: choice up $1.72 ($373.30) and select up $1.63 ($361.54) with a movement of 98 loads.

And upon seeing the live cattle contracts turn higher and rally throughout the day, it didn't take much convincing to entice the feeder cattle contracts to follow suit. October feeders closed $1.47 higher at $345.90, November feeders closed $2.37 higher at $346.30 and January feeders closed $2.70 higher at $342.62.

Click here for our Markets Page on OklahomaFarmReport.Com- there you will find our latest reports on cattle auctions, boxed beef, cash grains and market analysis.

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