Farm News & Views: USDA Staffing Cuts, Crop Input Costs and New Farm Technology

Jul 15, 2026

By Bob Bragg

According to an analysis of federal data by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, staffing cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency at Natural Resource Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency offices throughout the US in 2025 continues to affect farmers in 2026. These cuts have left many county-level service offices understaffed. For example, Iowa lost nearly 19% of its Natural Resources Conservation Service, or NRCS, staff and 8% of its Farm Service Agency staff between January 2025 and January 2026. Local USDA office staff help farmers navigate the loan application process with federal programs and loans. Colorado NRCS offices lost between 35 to 38% .of staff in local offices, while some states lost nearly 50% of their staff during the DOGE cuts.

For several years, US grain farmers have argued that they face higher production costs than competitors such as Brazil while selling into the same global commodity market. A new analysis, released Tuesday by the National Corn growers Association, suggests that those concerns may be true. The study found that U.S. corn growers faced corn seed prices that averaged 68% higher than Brazil’s

Also U S corn insecticide prices averaged 87% higher, while some fungicides cost more than double what Brazilian farmers paid. Many herbicide comparisons were also found to be approaching double the price Brazilian growers have been paying for the same products. The study also found that US farmers consistently paid more than Brazilian farmers for major crop inputs for the 2023–2025 crop years.

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Video: Five Confirmed New World Screwworm Cases Raise Alarm for Livestock and Pet Owners

Pat Hoffmann, Swine Technical Consultant at Elanco Animal Health tells us about the impact of New World Screwworm. The emergence of New World screwworm in the U.S. creates a threat for veterinarians, livestock producers and pet owners that has not been seen north of the Florida Keys since the fly was eradicated from the United States more than 50 years ago. New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae feed on living tissue and can affect a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including livestock, companion animals, wildlife, and even humans.
“New World screwworm could have a devastating impact on animal health, welfare, and producer livelihoods,” said Jeff Simmons, President and CEO, Elanco Animal Health. “We want to thank the FDA, EPA and USDA, for all their work to prepare for this threat. We’re committed to supporting our customers during this challenging time by delivering innovation, scientific expertise, and available resources to help treat New World screwworm and support the health and well-being of animals.”
Elanco is working alongside the U.S. animal health industry to help them fight against this parasite, offering a portfolio of options for pets and livestock that can help treat New World screwworm larvae infestations.