USDA to spend $263 million on dairy and crops to shore up farm incomes and food aid

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Wednesday announced plans for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to purchase up to USD 263 million in dairy and other agricultural commodities from domestic producers, with supplies earmarked for food banks and federal nutrition assistance programs nationwide.

The purchases will be made under Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935, a longstanding authority that allows the department to buy surplus commodities to support farm prices and channel food to assistance programs. Products slated for procurement include USD 75 million in butter, USD 32.5 million in cheddar cheese products and USD 10 million in Swiss cheese, along with fresh and ultra-high temperature milk totaling USD 30.5 million. The package also covers chickpeas, lentils, split peas and dried beans, as well as fresh pears, pecans and walnuts.

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service will supply the commodities to the Food and Nutrition Service for distribution through programs such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program, a key component of the federal food safety net. The department said the initiative is intended to stabilize farm income, support rural employment and strengthen the U.S. food supply while addressing demand at food banks.