Addressing a capacity crowd at the 102nd Agricultural Outlook Forum, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins delivered a candid assessment of the American farm economy while detailing a rapid-response strategy to restore profitability to the sector and the path to Ag prosperity. Rollins described the current state of agriculture as “dire,” citing it as perhaps one of the most challenging periods in the last 50 years.
Immediate Financial Relief: The Farmer Bridge Program
The centerpiece of the Secretary’s address was the formal opening of the enrollment period for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program. The program provides $11 billion in one-time payments to row crop producers to help them navigate market disruptions and elevated input costs as they enter the 2026 planting season.
- Enrollment Dates: Enrollment begins Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, and runs through April 17, 2026.
- Streamlined Process: Producers with existing relationships with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) can access pre-filled applications online to expedite the process.
- Specialty Crop Support: An additional $1 billion has been allocated specifically for specialty crop producers not covered by the main FBA program.
A Call for Producer Input: The Data Accuracy RFI
In a move to address long-standing concerns over the “gold standard” of USDA reporting, Rollins announced the publication of a formal Request for Information (RFI) regarding the agency’s statistical data. This launch initiates a 45-day public comment period, which Rollins described as a vital “question and answer” opportunity between the department and the countryside.
“We want to hear directly from you—our farmers, ranchers, and economists—on how we can improve our data analysis and research,” Rollins said. She emphasized that the goal is to ensure USDA reports accurately frame market conditions rather than inadvertently drive price outcomes, promising that the agency will “lean in” to this feedback to improve the process for producers.
Structural Reforms: The “One Big Beautiful Bill”
Rollins also discussed the implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which she credited with providing the most significant updates to the farm safety net in decades:
- Base Acre Expansion: For the first time since 2002, the USDA is adding up to 30 million new base acres to the ARC and PLC programs.
- Higher Reference Prices: The Act authorizes a significant increase in reference prices for major commodities to provide a more robust safety net.
- Tax Incentives: The Act makes permanent the 20% qualified business income deduction and full bonus depreciation, allowing for immediate expensing of capital investments.
A New Vision for Nutrition and Trade
In a departure from traditional ag-only topics, Rollins emphasized the realignment of the U.S. food system through the newly released 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Developed alongside Bobby Kennedy, the guidelines prioritize “real food”—minimally processed proteins, healthy fats, and whole grains.
Rollins argued that this initiative is fundamentally an agricultural policy. “At long last, we are realigning our food system to support American farmers, ranchers, and companies that grow and produce real food,” she said.
