You’re listening to the USDA Weekly Brief, where we break down what’s happening in farm and food policy and why it matters to you.
The big headline this week: the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services just released the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, which Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is calling “the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in decades.” According to USDA’s announcement, the simple message is: eat real food, with a strong emphasis on protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains, and a sharp cutback on highly processed foods. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins says this “puts our families and children first” and “realigns our food system to support American farmers, ranchers, and companies that grow and produce real food.”
For listeners, that means federal feeding programs like school meals, WIC, and hospital and military food service will start shifting menus toward more whole and minimally processed foods over the next few years. For businesses, especially meat, dairy, and produce companies, these guidelines can reshape billions of dollars in purchasing, marketing claims, and product development.
Alongside the nutrition reset, USDA is rolling out new research and development priorities for 2026. In a recent memo, Secretary Rollins says the department is targeting research that boosts profitability for farmers and ranchers, expands markets for U.S. commodities, and strengthens national security by protecting the food supply. That includes work on biofuels and other biobased products that can create new demand for corn, soy, and other crops, according to USDA and coverage in Ethanol Producer Magazine and Biomass Magazine. State and local governments, as well as universities, will feel this through how competitive grants and extension funds are steered.
On the regulatory front, food companies are now on the clock for USDA’s new “Product of USA” labeling standard. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that enforcement begins January 1, 2026. Under this rule, a label like “Product of USA” will only be allowed on meat, poultry, and egg products from animals that were born, raised, and processed entirely in the United States. Law firm analyses note this standard is stricter than the Federal Trade Commission’s “Made in USA” rule. For processors and retailers, that means supply chains, labels, and marketing materials may need to be overhauled to avoid enforcement action.
Inside the department, USDA has also announced a new slate of presidential appointments to key positions, according to a recent USDA press release. These leadership choices will influence how quickly these policies are implemented, what gets prioritized in the budget, and how aggressively rules are enforced.
So what does all this mean for you? For American citizens, you can expect changing school menus, clearer origin labels at the meat counter, and federal nutrition messaging that leans heavily into whole foods and higher protein. For businesses and organizations, now is the time to review labels for “Product of USA” claims, track the new dietary guidelines as you plan product lines and marketing, and watch USDA grant announcements tied to the 2026 research priorities. For state and local governments, these shifts will ripple through public health programs, extension services, and school nutrition budgets. Internationally, a stricter origin label and a push to expand markets for U.S. commodities could affect trade negotiations and how foreign buyers view American products.
Looking ahead, key dates to watch include upcoming USDA reports on crop production and world agricultural supply and demand, which will set the tone for commodity markets in 2026, plus program updates as the new nutrition guidelines are integrated into federal feeding programs. Citizens can engage by commenting on proposed USDA rules when they’re opened for public input, working with local extension offices, and staying in touch with their members of Congress on food and farm priorities.
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