USDA Further Advances Trump Administration Push to Unleash Critical American Mineral and Energy Dominance

Mar 17, 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service today completed the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and issued the final record of decision for the Resolution Copper Project. The decision is now available on the agency’s project page. This is another important project in advancing President Trump’s goal of mineral independence and energy dominance by boosting domestic mineral production.

The action follows the March 13 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which upheld a district court decision denying a preliminary injunction that sought to halt the exchange. The court determined the Forest Service’s final environmental impact statement constitutes final agency action, satisfying administrative review requirements. With no legal basis to prevent the transfer, the land exchange proceeded under statutory direction established by Congress in the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act.

“The national security of America depends on our ability to harness the abundant natural resources we are blessed with in this country. The Resolution Copper project is a prime example of bureaucratic and legal chokeholds preventing our rural communities, supply chains, and defense industry from producing the minerals we need right here in America,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “Completing this land exchange unlocks a major domestic source of copper, essential for defense, grid modernization, and next-generation energy, and positions the nation to secure its future by expanding mineral production and unleashing America’s full resource potential. This responsible mining project fulfills President Trump’s vision of American mineral independence.”

The mine is projected to create nearly 1,500 jobs, generating $149 million in annual payroll, provide between $80 and $120 million a year in estimated state and local tax revenue for rural economies, and contribute $200 million a year to the federal government, ensuring long-term national benefits. The Resolution Copper’s proposed underground copper mine aligns with President Trump’s Executive Orders on unleashing American energy, increasing domestic mineral production, and protecting energy ventures from government overreach. Together, these orders outline an agenda to support domestic manufacturing, strengthen the nation’s energy infrastructure and ensure critical minerals are available for national defense supply chains.

Source : usda.gov

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.