USDA sets priorities for 2026 to gain farmers profitability

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will refocus its research and development funding in 2026 on farm profitability, market expansion, biosecurity, soil health, and nutrition, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on December 30, outlining a shift in priorities under the Trump administration.

Rollins signed a Secretary’s Memorandum establishing the new agenda for USDA-funded research, positioning it as a strategic roadmap intended to strengthen U.S. agriculture for both producers and consumers. The department said the updated priorities are designed to support farmers’ incomes, protect domestic production from pests and disease, and spur demand for U.S. agricultural products.

According to USDA, the new framework reflects the administration’s broader effort since January to bolster the farm safety net, lower input costs, expand export opportunities, and reduce regulatory burdens. The department also said it is redirecting research resources toward what it described as practical challenges facing farmers and ranchers.

“Research coming from USDA and our colleges of agriculture has successfully helped American farmers and ranchers address countless challenges,” Rollins said in a statement, adding that the new priorities are intended to keep U.S. producers “at the forefront of productivity.”

Under the memorandum, USDA-funded research will be expected to address at least one of five core areas. A central focus is increasing farm and ranch profitability, including research aimed at reducing input costs and expanding mechanization and automation to manage volatility in agricultural returns.

Another priority is expanding domestic and international markets for U.S. agricultural products. USDA said this includes research to generate scientific data needed to overcome sanitary and phytosanitary trade barriers, as well as work to develop new uses for crops in biobased products and bioenergy, including biofuels.

Protecting U.S. agriculture from invasive species and animal and plant diseases is also highlighted. USDA cited threats such as the resurgence of New World screwworm in Mexico, the spread of the spotted lanternfly, the persistence of highly pathogenic avian influenza, and the impact of citrus greening on domestic citrus production.

The department also emphasized soil health research aimed at sustaining long-term land productivity. This includes studies on practices that improve soil health, increase water-use efficiency, and reduce reliance on agricultural inputs.

Finally, USDA identified human health as a research priority, with an emphasis on precision nutrition and food quality. The department said further research is needed to better understand how dietary patterns affect individual health outcomes and to improve the nutritional content of foods, potentially increasing demand for U.S.-grown products.

USDA said the new priorities will guide future funding decisions across its research agencies and land-grant university partners beginning in fiscal year 2026.