USDA and Department of War Advance Key Parts of the National Farm Security Action Plan

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins
and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth

 

Secretary Rollins and Secretary Hegseth Sign MOU to Strengthen Interagency Collaboration on Implementation of the National Farm Security Action Plan

(Washington, D.C., February 11, 2026) – Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed a Memorandum of Understanding (PDF, 92.7 KB) (MOU) that memorializes the relationship between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of War (DoW) for the purpose of implementing the National Farm Security Action Plan (PDF, 1.2 MB)—an initiative that has delivered measurable results in just seven months.

In July 2025, Secretary Rollins—alongside Secretary Hegseth, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem—launched the National Farm Security Action Plan, elevating American agriculture as a key element of national security for the first time in history.

Since that time, USDA has taken decisive action to secure farmland, protect critical supply chains, defend nutrition programs from fraud and foreign influence, strengthen research security, and ensure America First policies across USDA programs. These actions include:

• Publishing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on modernizing reporting requirements of foreign investment in U.S. agricultural land under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA);
• Developing an online filing system for enhanced AFIDA reports to provide an alternative to the in-person filing of paper reports;
• Launching an online portal for farmers, ranchers, and the public to report possible false or failed reporting of foreign investments in U.S. agricultural land;
• Working across the federal government to designate critical fertilizer inputs as critical minerals;
• Terminating contractors and visiting scientists who have citizenship from countries of concern;
• Developing new research and development priorities that emphasize the importance of safeguarding American agriculture;
• Standardizing terms and conditions across all USDA grant and cooperative agreement programs; and
• Blocking taxpayer funding for solar panels from China and prohibitingBioPreferred® Certifications to entities located in countries of concern.

Building on this strong foundation, today’s MOU establishes a formal framework for USDA and DoW agencies to collaborate more closely to defend the nation’s food and agricultural systems, strengthen domestic productivity, and address emerging security threats to American agriculture.

The first action taken under the MOU launches a partnership between (PDF, 398 KB) the DoW Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and USDA’s Office of the Chief Scientist. Through this new partnership, DARPA and relevant USDA agencies will share information regarding security vulnerabilities in agriculture, partner to develop novel technological solutions to challenges facing American agriculture, and exchange personnel to accelerate innovation and protect the agricultural supply chain.

“President Trump is putting America First and that means ensuring our government is working as one to defend the safety, security, and resilience of our food supply and the land that sustains it,” said Secretary L. Brooke Rollins. “Over the past year, USDA has delivered real results under the National Farm Security Action Plan. Today's MOU with Secretary Hegseth marks the next phase of that work, pairing USDA’s agricultural expertise with the Department of War’s innovation and security capabilities to confront threats head-on. I'm grateful for Secretary Hegseth’s leadership and partnership in supporting America’s farmers and ranchers.”

“In the face of growing threats from adversaries who seek to undermine our food supply and agricultural independence, the Department of War stands ready to defend America's farms as vital national security assets. This Memorandum of Understanding with USDA, particularly through partnership with DARPA, will drive innovative solutions to protect our farmers and ranchers from cyber attacks, foreign intrusions, and biosecurity risks. Together, under the leadership of President Trump and collaboration with Secretary Rollins, we're ensuring that American agriculture remains resilient, productive, and a cornerstone of our nation's strength,” said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

During today’s signing, USDA also announced the creation of the Office of Research, Economic, and Science Security within the USDA Office of the Chief Scientist. This new office will be responsible for coordinating research security efforts across the entire USDA research enterprise—including both intramural and extramural activities. This action builds upon USDA’s efforts to implement National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33) and other research security directives.

Together, these actions announced today underscore USDA’s continued commitment to treating agriculture as a cornerstone of national security and ensuring that America’s farms, food systems, and research institutions remain secure and resilient.

USDA Announces Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework to End Agricultural Lawfare

 

Ending abusive government overreach.

Protecting farmers, families, and private property.

(Washington, D.C., February 11, 2026) – Today, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the launch of the Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework (PDF, 11.4 MB), a bold initiative to protect America’s agricultural heritage and defend farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers from politically motivated lawfare. Secretary Rollins was joined by U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner, country music artist and songwriter John Rich, Representative James Comer, and several farming families who have been targets of agricultural lawfare.

“As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States, it is high time to recall a simple but profound truth about our nation: the United States was built by those who work the land. And the ability to work, protect, and own land and property continues to symbolize the American dream today,” said Secretary Brooke L. Rollins. “The strength of America has always been rooted in the hands that till its soil and care for its livestock. When we protect our farmers and ranchers, we protect the very foundation of freedom and prosperity. Together, we will ensure that no law, no regulation, and no agenda will ever stand in the way of America’s agricultural future.”

“Just as Energy Dominance is essential to America’s national security, so too is food security,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “The Department of the Interior is committed to cutting through red tape to restore stability to grazing permittees on BLM lands, and reopening long-shuttered allotments to ensure America’s producers can thrive. Under President Donald J. Trump, we are ending the weaponization of government against those who feed and clothe our families. By standing with farmers and ranchers, we safeguard not only our agricultural heritage but the very foundation of freedom and prosperity. Together, we will protect the land, defend liberty, and secure a future where American agriculture remains strong and unshaken.”

“The hardworking individuals who feed and fuel our nation don’t need Washington managing their fields from a desk,” said HUD Secretary Scott Turner. “I am proud to join my friend, Secretary Rollins, to hear firsthand from the American farmers and ranchers who work tirelessly to put food on our tables. Together, we are releasing rural communities from Washington’s overreach, ending the systematic lawfare to help them prosper.”

“After years of policies that drove up costs and created uncertainty for our farmers, today’s rollout marks a long-overdue course correction. This plan puts America’s farmers first by lowering costs, restoring certainty, and protecting the livelihoods that feed and fuel our nation. I’m looking forward to working with Secretary Rollins and President Trump’s administration to ensure these reforms deliver real savings for farmers on the ground,” said U.S. Representative James Comer (KY-1).

"Being a land owner is a foundational tenet of what it means to be an American. For far too long, powerful companies and agencies have treated American landowners as nothing more than lowly peasants who stand in the way of them, and their billions. Their long train of abuses and unconstitutional actions will be tolerated no more. This ends, today," said John Rich.

The Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework is a four-pillar comprehensive plan to protect, preserve, and partner with American agriculture, while ending onerous regulations and the weaponization of government against American farmers and ranchers. It formalizes USDA’s ongoing efforts to eliminate systemic agricultural lawfare and restore fairness to rural America. By formalizing this Framework, USDA will continue to help reduce the cost of production for farmers and help them focus on producing the most nutritious, wholesome, and affordable food supply in the world. Agricultural lawfare is the use of administrative, legal, and legislative government systems to adversely impact farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers.

The Framework’s Four Pillars:

• Protect Producers: Defend farmers and ranchers from internal federal bureaucracy and politically motivated enforcement actions.
• Preserve Land and Liberty: Safeguard agricultural land from unnecessary federal projects and eminent domain.
• Purge Burdensome Regulations: Remove punitive rules that stifle productivity and reform environmental laws to balance conservation with common sense.
• Partner for Agriculture’s Future: Unite federal, state, and local leaders, along with industry partners, to fight lawfare and elevate public awareness.

For more information and to report instances of lawfare, visit www.usda.gov/lawfare.

USDA Lawfare Wins to Date

Protecting Family Farms & Private Property

• Saved the 175-year-old Henry family farm in Cranbury, New Jersey, by stopping an attempted eminent domain seizure for an unrelated housing project.
• Defended rural property owners from government overreach, ensuring farmland remains productive and in the hands of American families.

Stopping Politicized Prosecutions

• Dropped the Biden-era criminal case against the Maude family over a simple civil land boundary dispute, ending an unjust, politically motivated prosecution and restoring fairness to the system.

Blocking Unnecessary Seizures of Farmland

• Worked alongside country music artist John Rich and Tennessee stakeholders to prevent the Tennessee Valley Authority from seizing productive farmland in Cheatham County to build a new natural gas power plant.
• Ensured federal agencies consider rural communities, agricultural livelihoods, and private property rights before taking action.

USDA to Open Continuous and General Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment for 2026

 

Washington, D.C., February 10, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the enrollment periods for agricultural producers and landowners to submit offers for the Continuous and General Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting offers for Continuous CRP starting Feb. 12, 2026, through March 20, 2026. Enrollment for General CRP will run from March 9, 2026, through April 17, 2026. FSA will announce dates for Grassland CRP signup in the near future. 

CRP is USDA’s flagship conservation program, providing financial and technical support to agricultural producers and landowners who place unproductive or marginal cropland under contract for 10-15 years and who agree to voluntarily convert the land to beneficial vegetative cover to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and support wildlife habitat. The Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026, extends FSA’s authority to administer CRP through Sept. 30, 2026.   

“We’re still very close to the 27-million-acre statutory cap with 1.9 million acres available for all CRP enrollments this fiscal year so enrollment is likely to be competitive,” USDA’s Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce said. “This isn’t about the total number of acres enrolled, it’s about producers and landowners offering and USDA accepting the acres that can best deliver real, lasting benefits to soil, water and wildlife.” 

Continuous CRP (Signup 65)   

FSA will batch Continuous CRP offers submitted by interested agricultural producers and landowners. Offers to re-enroll expiring CRP continuous acreage will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. New acreage offered in continuous CRP practices will be considered for acceptance on a first-come, first-serve basis if they support USDA conservation priorities including but not limited to practices that address water quality, such as filter strips and grass waterways, and practices that restore native ecosystems or target specific resource concerns. 

The first Continuous CRP batching period ends on March 20, 2026. Offers submitted after this date will be considered for acceptance in subsequent batching periods if acreage remains available. 

Continuous CRP participants voluntarily offer environmentally sensitive lands, typically smaller parcels than offered through General CRP including wetlands, riparian buffers, and varying wildlife habitats. In return, they receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover.    

Continuous CRP enrollment options include:    

• Clean Lakes, Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR) Initiative: Prioritizes water quality practices on the land that, if enrolled, will help reduce sediment loadings, nutrient loadings, and harmful algal blooms. The vegetative covers also contribute to increased wildlife populations.    
• CLEAR30 (a component of the CLEAR Initiative): Offers additional incentives for water quality practice adoption and can be accessed in 30-year contracts.   
• Highly Erodible Land Initiative (HELI): Producers and landowners can enroll in CRP to establish long-term cover on highly erodible cropland that has a weighted erodibility index greater than or equal to 20.
• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP): Addresses high priority conservation objectives of states and Tribal governments on agricultural lands in specific geographic areas.   
• State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative (SAFE): Restores vital habitat in order to meet high-priority state wildlife conservation goals. 

General CRP (Signup 66)   

General CRP offers are submitted through a competitive bid process. After the enrollment period closes, General CRP offers are ranked and scored by FSA, using nationally established environmental benefits criteria. USDA will announce accepted offers once ranking and scoring for all offers is completed. In addition to annual rental payments, approved General CRP participants may also be eligible for cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover. 

More Information     

Producers and landowners interested in participating in CRP should contact their local FSA county office. 

Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest voluntary private-lands conservation programs in the United States. Originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production, the program has evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits.

USDA Announces Completion of Sterile Fly Dispersal Facility in Texas

 

Facility will increase range of sterile fly release and bolster preparedness for New World Screwworm

(Edinburg, TX, February 9, 2026) – Today at Moore Air Base, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Governor of Texas Greg Abbott celebrated a significant achievement in the fight against New World Screwworm (NWS) with the completion of a U.S.-based sterile fly dispersal facility in Edinburg, Texas. This facility expands USDA’s ability to disperse sterile flies along the border and into the United States, if necessary. "The Trump Administration continues to bring the full force of the federal government to fight New World Screwworm,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “This sterile fly dispersal facility was a high priority project, and our team delivered it in record time. This new facility is a monumental achievement for our domestic preparedness efforts, but we are also diligently working to stop the spread of screwworm in Mexico, conduct extensive trapping and surveillance along the border, increase U.S. response capacity, and encourage innovative solutions. We will never stop fighting to protect American agriculture. USDA, through a whole-of-government approach, will continue to hold Mexico accountable to mitigating the spread of this dangerous pest." “America is going to take care of ourselves, including dealing with the approach of screwworm as it gets closer to our border,” said Governor Abbott. “We put together the resources necessary for Texas to provide a Texas-size response to this. We thank Secretary Rollins and President Trump for stepping forward to provide the stop gap effort essential to protecting our ranchers and our wildlife.” Trump Administration NWS Response In June 2025, Secretary Rollins announced a sweeping five-pronged plan(PDF, 1005 KB) to enhance USDA’s already robust ability to detect, control, and eliminate NWS. As part of that announcement, she also shared plans to build this sterile NWS fly dispersal facility in South Texas. The completion of the facility further expands the network of dispersal facilities through Central America and Mexico and solidifies the increased preparedness offered by having a U.S.-based facility. On January 30, USDA announced a shift in its 100 million per week sterile fly dispersal efforts to reinforce coverage along the U.S.-Mexico border. While the sterile flies for this effort will initially be dispersed from the Tampico, Mexico facility, USDA is prepared to quickly and strategically shift operations to the new Texas facility should there be a change in the location or new concentration of NWS cases in northern Mexico. About Sterile Fly Sterile insect technique, when paired with surveillance, animal movement restrictions, and education and outreach, is a proven and effective tool for controlling and eradicating NWS. Female NWS flies only mate once in their lives, so if they mate with a sterile male, they lay unfertilized eggs that don’t hatch. Releasing sterile flies just outside of affected areas helps ensure flies traveling to new areas will only encounter sterile mates and will not be able to reproduce. Sterile insects are dispersed through aerial dispersal or ground release. Aerial operations are preferred because they allow for dispersal at a steady rate through a large area and also because sterile insects may be dispersed in areas that are unreachable from the ground. Ground release is used when there is a need to quickly deploy sterile insects outside of the dispersal facility range. Mass production and targeted dispersal of sterile flies remain critical components of an effective response. USDA currently produces sterile flies for dispersal at the COPEG facility in Panama. USDA is also investing $21 million to support Mexico’s renovation of an existing fruit fly facility in Metapa—which will double NWS production capacity once complete. With ongoing support from technical experts in USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Mexico anticipates this sterile fly production to begin as soon as summer 2026. To continue to expand USDA’s domestic response capacity, the Department is building a sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas, with a targeted maximum capacity of 300 million sterile flies per week. USDA expects to break ground on that facility later this spring. With existing and planned production facilities fully operational, USDA will have up to 500 million sterile files per week in its arsenal to fight this pest all the way back to the Darién Gap. The international network of facilities will produce 100 million sterile flies per week at COPEG in Panama, 100 million at Metapa in Mexico, and 300 million at Moore Air Base. What You Can Do Even though there have been no detections of NWS inside the U.S. and the northernmost active case of NWS is still about 200 miles away from the border, USDA is asking Americans to continue to remain vigilant by checking their livestock and pets for signs of NWS. Look for draining or enlarging wounds and signs of discomfort. Also look for NWS larvae (maggots) and eggs in or around body openings, such as the nose, ears, and genitalia or the navel of newborn animals. If you suspect your animal is infested with NWS, immediately report it to your state animal health official or USDA area veterinarian in charge. NWS maggots can infest livestock and other warm-blooded animals, including people. They most often enter an animal through an open wound and feed on the animal’s living flesh. While not common in people, if you notice a suspicious lesion on your body or suspect you may have contracted NWS, seek immediate medical attention. Learn more about NWS and USDA’s efforts, visit Screwworm.gov.

Arkansas Extension to host homesteading, sustainability-focused events

 

By Rebekah Hall 

University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — In response to the growing popularity of homesteading and sustainability efforts among Arkansans, the Cooperative Extension Service will host three events this month offering research-based information on food preservation, vegetable gardening, composting and more.

HOMESTEADING HELP — The Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, will host three events related to homesteading and sustainability this month, including the Southwest Arkansas Homesteading Conference in Nashville on Feb. 21. (UADA graphic.) 

John D. Anderson, director of the Cooperative Extension Service for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said these educational trainings strengthen agriculture, communities and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices.

"One of our goals within the Division of Agriculture is to improve the overall health of Arkansans, and increasing food security is a big part of the picture," Anderson said. "Our extension agents work in every county of the state, teaching Arkansans how to grow, preserve and prepare food, manage resources, increase self-sufficiency, and ultimately become more food secure.”

Hands-on Homesteading in Fulton County

Fulton County Extension will host Hands-on Homesteading on Feb. 18. The half-day event will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Fulton County Fairgrounds at 124 Arena Lane in Salem. The cost is $10 and includes lunch. Attendees should register online by Feb. 11.

Anna Barnett, Fulton County extension agriculture agent for the Division of Agriculture, said this is the first time the county has hosted a large-scale event focused on homesteading and sustainable living.

“Homesteading and sustainability have become increasingly popular topics in our community,” Barnett said. “We’ve seen a noticeable rise in people asking for resources on gardening, food preservation, backyard livestock and self-sufficiency. I would attribute this increased interest largely to more people moving to the Natural State for its rural opportunities, who want to learn how to live more intentionally, connect with the land and make the most of what their property can offer.”

The Hands-on Homesteading event will include information sessions on herb gardening, pasture management and fencing, building a rain barrel, canning and more.

“It is important for Fulton County to share extension resources because we provide research-based, practical information that helps people make informed decisions for their homes, farms and families,” Barnett said. “These resources empower individuals with skills that can improve food security, save money, promote sustainability and strengthen communities.

“By sharing this knowledge, extension helps Arkansans become more confident, capable and resilient,” she said.

Barnett said she encourages people to attend the event and take advantage of “hands-on learning opportunities that are both practical and applicable to everyday life.”

“Participants will gain real-world skills, learn from knowledgeable instructors and have the chance to ask questions and connect with others who share similar interests,” she said. “Whether someone is just starting out or already homesteading, they will leave with useful information, new ideas and resources they can immediately put into practice at home.”

Arkansas Vegetable Growers Conference

The 2026 Arkansas Vegetable Growers Conference will take place Feb. 19-20 at the Cooperative Extension Service state office at 2301 S. University Ave. in Little Rock. The conference will include a drip irrigation demonstration and talks covering pest control, food safety, soil health and more.

The event will also feature two panels, including a question-and-answer panel with experienced Arkansas vegetable growers. The second panel will feature representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency, the Division of Agriculture, the Southern Risk Management Education Center and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in discussion about resources available to Arkansas vegetable growers.

The cost to attend is $40 before Feb. 10, after which the fee increases to $50. Register online or in person on the day of the event.

Southwest Arkansas Homesteading Conference

For the second year in a row, extension staff in Howard and Pike counties will host the Southwest Arkansas Homesteading Conference on Feb. 21. The one-day event will be held 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the University of Arkansas Cossatot Community College Nashville Campus, at 1558 US-371 in Nashville, Arkansas.

The cost to attend is $30, which includes lunch. The event will also include a Kids Camp program for youth ages 5-19, which costs an additional $25 and includes lunch and snacks. Register online by Feb. 15 for guaranteed meal choice.

Samantha Horn, Howard County extension staff chair, said Howard and Pike counties collaborate on the event because “our counties face a lot of the same problems and challenges.”

“Our clients are asking the same questions,” Horn said. “With us standing together as one force, I think it makes a stronger impact on others. We have a great program planned for everyone in the family. I encourage folks to attend, as they are sure to walk away having had a great time and with a lot of new, relevant information.”

The Southwest Arkansas Homesteading Conference will include information sessions on high tunnel and greenhouse management, water bath and pressure canning, composting, forestry and more. During the Kids Camp, youth will learn to make candles, mini barn quilts and more.

“We have seen a rise in interest in homesteading and sustainability, especially since the COVID pandemic,” Horn said. “Even our youth have expressed interest. I think people want to have the freedom to make sure they are prepared to be self-sustainable.”

Extension homesteading resources

To find all extension homesteading resources in one place, visit the Homesteading in Arkansas page on the Cooperative Extension Service website.

For more information about food canning, pickling, drying and more, visit the Arkansas Food Preservation Resources page.

The Division of Agriculture YouTube channel also features the Preserving for You series, which includes several food preservation demonstrations and recipes.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.

USDA Launches New Online Portal for Reporting Foreign-Owned Agricultural Land Transactions

 

(Washington, D.C., January 22, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching a new online portal to streamline reporting of transactions involving U.S. agricultural land by foreign persons, which can include businesses and governments, under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). The new online portal is part of a broader effort to strengthen enforcement and protect American farmland as USDA continues its implementation of the National Farm Security Action Plan (PDF, 1.2 MB). “President Trump is putting America First, and this includes increasing transparency and scrutiny of one of our most valuable national assets, American farmland. We are working to improve reporting of foreign owned land in the United States. This move to streamline the reporting portal will increase compliance and assist our efforts to effectively enforce accurate reporting of interests held by foreign adversaries in U.S. farmland,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “The online portal will allow us to obtain verifiable information about foreign interests in American agricultural land and protect the security of our farmers.” The new online portal is available at afida.landmark.usda.gov. Users can access the portal with Login.gov, a sign in service that provides secure online access to participate in certain government programs and reporting requirements. The new digital portal will gather the same information found on the current form FSA-153 and those subject to filing may still file using the current FSA-153 hard copy form if desired. However, filers should not duplicate filings by using both submission options. About the National Farm Security Action Plan One of the key tenets of USDA’s National Farm Security Action Plan (PDF, 1.2 MB) is strengthening processes around disclosure of foreign persons who have an interest in U.S. farmland. This historic plan, announced in July 2025, calls for aggressive implementation of reforms to the AFIDA process including improved verification and monitoring of collected AFIDA data. In addition to the new portal, USDA published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for AFIDA in December 2025. About AFIDA The new portal is part of USDA’s efforts to streamline its process for electronic submission and retention of AFIDA disclosures, as initially required by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Today USDA also shared its annual AFIDA report for 2024 with Congress, which is available online. The report lists foreign holdings of U.S. agricultural land as 46 million acres, as of December 31, 2024 and includes a section on land held and acquired by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea in recent years. AFIDA became law in 1978, and its regulations were created to establish a nationwide system for the collection of information pertaining to foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land. The regulations require foreign investors who acquire, transfer or hold an interest in U.S. agricultural land to report such holdings and transactions to the Secretary of Agriculture. The data obtained from AFIDA disclosures are used in the preparation of an annual report to Congress, which is published online. The AFIDA regulations define the term “foreign person” and specifies the information that must be included in the report. AFIDA focuses on foreign persons who hold direct or indirect interest in the agricultural land, provided those foreign persons with an indirect interest have “significant interest or substantial control” in the direct interest holder.

USDA Announces New World Screwworm Grand Challenge

 

Driving Innovation to Combat NWS and Prevent its Northward Spread

(Washington, D.C., January 21, 2026) – Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the launch of the New World Screwworm (NWS) Grand Challenge. This funding opportunity marks a pivotal step in USDA’s comprehensive strategy to combat NWS and prevent its northward spread. “This is a strategic investment in America’s farmers and ranchers and is an important action to ensure the safety and future success of our food supply, which is essential to our national security,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “These are the kinds of innovations that will help us stay ahead of this pest and protect our food supply and our economy, protecting the way of life of our ranchers and go towards rebuilding our cattle herd to lower consumer prices on grocery store shelves. We know we have tried-and-true tools and methods to defeat this pest, but we must constantly look for new and better methods and innovate our way to success. Together, through science, innovation, and collaboration, we can ensure we’re utilizing the latest tools and technology to combat NWS in Mexico and Central America and keep it out of the United States.” As part of the Grand Challenge, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will make up to $100 million available to support innovative projects that enhance sterile NWS fly production, strengthen preparedness and response strategies, and safeguard U.S. agriculture, animal health, and trade. Priority Areas for Funding APHIS invites proposals that support one or more of the following objectives: Enhance sterile NWS fly production Develop novel NWS traps and lures Develop and increase understanding of NWS therapeutics/treatments (i.e. products that could treat, prevent, or control NWS) for animals Develop other tools to bolster preparedness or response to NWS The notice of funding opportunity, including application instructions, eligibility, and program requirements, is available on the NWS Grand Challenge webpage. Applicants can also find information on the ezFedGrants website or Grants.gov by searching USDA-APHIS-10025-OA000000-26-0001. Eligible applicants are invited to submit proposals that align with and support these priorities by the deadline on February 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Entities interested in submitting a proposal should ensure they are registered with the U.S. Government System for Award Management (SAM). Learn more about the basics of the funding process and how to get ready to apply. For more information about NWS, visit screwworm.gov. Sign up here to have the latest NWS updates delivered to your inbox.