USDA to issue partial November SNAP benefits amid shutdown (Agri-Pulse): The USDA has announced it will use its contingency fund to cover November benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), but only at a reduced level. In a filing with federal courts, the agency confirmed it intends to deplete its $5.25 billion SNAP contingency fund and estimates that amount will cover roughly half of the expected benefits for the month.
The decision comes in the wake of a government shutdown that halted regular SNAP appropriations. While states are still required to accept new applications and determine eligibility, the USDA clarified it will not tap other fund sources (such as child nutrition program reserves) to make up the shortfall. Lawmakers including the top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee criticized this move, arguing more resources should be made available to prevent hardship for low-income households.
Tariffs continue to weigh on farmers despite new China soybean deal (Civil Eats): Despite China agreeing to buy U.S. soybeans again—12 million metric tons this year and 25 million tons annually for the next three years—many farmers say the relief hasn’t reached their fields. Ongoing tariffs and trade uncertainty have upended long-standing export relationships and eroded confidence in U.S. suppliers. Input costs remain elevated, from fertilizer to machinery, cutting into already thin margins.
Across the Midwest, growers who once shipped more than half their soybeans to China are still struggling to find stable markets. Grain elevators are offering low bids or turning away contracts altogether, while limited storage leaves farmers little room to wait for better prices. Smaller operations face additional strain from higher costs and weaker domestic demand, with reduced food assistance spending hitting local sales. Even with renewed trade promises, many producers say the tariffs have left lasting scars on their operations and outlook.