FSA’s Dan Hunter Discusses 2025 Challenges, New Ag Programs, and Opportunities for Beginning Farmers: After a tumultuous year marked by natural disasters and government hurdles, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is heading into 2026 with a renewed focus on staffing, producer support, and new programming. In a recent interview, Farm Director KC Sheperd spoke with Dan Hunter of the FSA about the agency’s resilience and its goals for the future.
Overcoming the Challenges of 2025 Hunter acknowledged that 2025 was a difficult year for American agriculture, citing a barrage of natural disasters including wildfires and floods. Complicating matters further was a government shutdown that hit right during the critical harvest season.
“There’s no doubt that we didn’t have a lack of challenges this year,” Hunter said. However, he noted a bright spot amidst the uncertainty: unlike many other agencies, the FSA emerged from the shutdown fully funded for the remainder of the fiscal year.
New Programs and a “Farmers First” Approach Looking ahead, Hunter highlighted the rollout of several new initiatives designed to support producers, specifically mentioning the “SDRP 2” and “Farmer Bridge” programs. He emphasized that the administration is prioritizing a “farmers first” mentality, aiming to simplify application processes that can often be burdensome.
“President and Secretary Rollins has made that a priority of making sure that we are paying attention to those who provide our food and fiber here in the United States,” Hunter stated.
Recruiting the Next Generation of Public Servants A major focus for the FSA moving forward is staffing. Hunter and Sheperd discussed the critical need to bring young talent into the agency as the current workforce ages. Hunter described working for the FSA as a unique form of public service.
“I don’t think there’s a greater calling than to… feed the world,” Hunter said, encouraging students to broaden their perspective on government jobs. “Whether it’s a government job, whether it’s working for the FSA… find a way to give back to those that you live with.”
Advocacy and Local Support Hunter also urged farmers and ranchers to be active advocates for their industry by engaging directly with policymakers at both the state and federal levels. “I promise you the person who’s the… boots on the ground, they’ll listen to them,” he advised.
For those looking to enter the industry, Hunter stressed that local FSA offices are the best starting point. With the high cost of land and equipment making barriers to entry steep, he pointed to specific resources like microloans and guaranteed loans designed for beginning producers.
“No two operations are exactly the same,” Hunter said. “Encourage you to go in and sit down and visit with your county office staff… and let them kind of guide you onto what’s going to be your best avenue.”
