Farm Regs Roadmap: USDA's Crystal Ball Routine
Published Date: 8/14/2026
Notice
Summary
Publication of the 2026 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions represents a key component of the regulatory planning mechanism prescribed in Executive Order ("E.O.") 12866, "Regulatory Planning and Review," (58 FR 51735, as amended) and reaffirmed in E.O. 13563, "Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review," (76 FR 3821) and E.O. 14192, "Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation." The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires that agencies publish semiannual regulatory agendas in the Federal Register describing regulatory actions they are developing that may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities (5 U.S.C. 602). The Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Unified Agenda) helps agencies fulfill all of these requirements. All Federal regulatory agencies have chosen to publish their regulatory agendas as part of this publication. The complete publication of the 2026 Unified Agenda contains 78 Federal agency regulatory agendas available to the public at www.reginfo.gov. The 2026 Unified Agenda publication appearing in the Federal Register includes the agency Regulatory Flexibility Agendas, in accordance with the publication requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Agency Regulatory Flexibility Agendas contain only those Agenda entries for rules that are likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities and entries that have been selected for periodic review under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
Analyzed Economic Effects
13 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 6 mixed.
SNAP: Work Requirement Changes
The Department of Agriculture lists a proposed rule called "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Modification to Work Requirements for Able-Bodied Adults." If you are an able-bodied adult receiving SNAP, the agency plans changes to work requirements that could affect your eligibility or reporting.
SNAP: Reduce Retailer Fraud
The Department of Agriculture is proposing a rule titled "Strengthening Integrity and Reducing Retailer Fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)." If you use SNAP or operate a store that accepts SNAP, this rulemaking is intended to change how retailer fraud is addressed in the program.
EBT Card Security Enhancements
The Department of Agriculture lists a proposed rule called "Enhancing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card Security Measures." If you receive benefits on an EBT card, the agency plans rulemaking to change security measures for those cards.
SNAP: Reforming Categorical Eligibility
The Department of Agriculture is working on a proposed rule titled "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Reforming Categorical Eligibility." This rulemaking targets how categorical eligibility is applied for SNAP benefits.
SNAP: What Counts as 'Eligible Food'
The Department of Agriculture lists a proposed rule titled "Amendment of definition of 'eligible food' in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)." If you use SNAP benefits, this rule could change which items you can buy with SNAP.
SNAP: Alien Eligibility Rules
The Department of Agriculture has a proposed rule titled "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Alien Eligibility." If you are a noncitizen, this rulemaking concerns whether and how aliens are eligible for SNAP benefits.
WIC: Integrity and Online Ordering
The Department of Agriculture includes two WIC items: "Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program Integrity" and "WIC Online Ordering and Transactions and Food Delivery Revisions." These address program integrity and allow online ordering and delivery changes for WIC.
Retailer Stocking Standards for SNAP
The Department of Agriculture lists a final rule stage item titled "Updated Staple Food Stocking Standards for Retailers in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program." This concerns what retailers must stock to participate in SNAP.
Poultry and Swine Line Speeds
The Department of Agriculture lists proposed rules titled "Maximum Line Speed Rates for Young Chicken and Turkey Establishments Operating Under the New Poultry Inspection System" and "Maximum Line Speed under the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS)." These rulemakings concern permitted processing line speeds for poultry and swine establishments.
HPAI Indemnity Payment Conditions
The Department of Agriculture includes a final rule stage item titled "Revise Conditions for Payment of Indemnity and Compensation for HPAI." This concerns how indemnity and compensation are paid for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza losses.
Summer Meals: Non‑Congregate Service Integrity
The Department of Agriculture lists a proposed rule called "Enhancing Integrity in Non-Congregate Meal Service in the Summer Meal Programs." If you rely on school or summer meal programs for children, this rule concerns how non-congregate (grab-and-go or delivered) meals are served and monitored.
Child & Adult Care Food Program Fraud Fight
The Department of Agriculture proposes a rule titled "Combating Fraud in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program." This action targets fraud controls in those nutrition programs.
Nutrition Labels for Meat and Poultry
The Department of Agriculture has a final rule stage item titled "Revision of the Nutrition Facts Labels for Meat and Poultry Products and Updating Certain Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed." If you buy meat or poultry, nutrition labels and reference serving amounts may change.
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Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-19532, Amendments To Import Requirements for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
The USDA is proposing to shorten the waiting time for importing live birds and bird products from 90 days to 28 days after a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak. This change helps foreign exporters get back to business faster while keeping the U.S. safe from bird flu. If you’re involved in bird imports, get ready to comment by November 23, 2026, and watch for updates that could speed up trade without extra costs.
2026-17538, Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program; Correction
The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program in a final rule on February 23, 2026. This correction amends the definition of "corn" to add blue and red corn, which are eligible commodities for the FBA Program.
2026-16965, Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation
The USDA wants to cancel the 2001 Roadless Rule that stopped road building and logging in special forest areas. This change gives local forest managers more freedom to decide how to care for these lands based on local needs. People have until September 21, 2026, to share their thoughts, and this could affect how forests are managed and how money is spent on these lands.
2026-16760, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Changes in Federal-State Administrative Cost Sharing; Extension of Comment Period
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) is extending the public comment period on the proposed rule, "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Changes in Federal-State Administrative Cost Sharing," which was published in the Federal Register on June 24, 2026. This action extends the public comment period from August 24, 2026, to September 8, 2026, to give the public additional time to review the proposed rule.
2026-13878, Supplemental Disaster Assistance Programs, Marketing Assistance Loans, and Sugar Provisions
Farmers and ranchers get some fresh updates to disaster help and loan programs thanks to the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act! This means better support for losses from birds, drought, and even unborn animals, plus higher loan rates for crops through 2031. Cotton growers and sugar producers also see new rules that could boost their payments and loan reviews starting now.
2026-12696, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Changes in Federal-State Administrative Cost Sharing
Starting in fiscal year 2027, the federal government will pay less—dropping its share of SNAP state administrative costs from 50% to 25%. This change affects states running the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and means they’ll cover more of the costs. If you want to share your thoughts, make sure to comment by August 24, 2026!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-16603, Introduction to the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions-2026
Publication of the 2026 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions represents a key component of the regulatory planning mechanism prescribed in Executive Order ("E.O.") 12866, "Regulatory Planning and Review," (58 FR 51735, as amended) and reaffirmed in E.O. 13563, "Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review," (76 FR 3821) and E.O. 14192, "Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation." The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires that agencies publish semiannual regulatory agendas in the Federal Register describing regulatory actions they are developing that may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities (5 U.S.C. 602). The Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Unified Agenda) helps agencies fulfill all of these requirements. All Federal regulatory agencies have chosen to publish their regulatory agendas as part of this publication. The complete publication of the 2026 Unified Agenda contains 78 Federal agency regulatory agendas available to the public at www.reginfo.gov. The 2026 Unified Agenda publication appearing in the Federal Register includes the agency Regulatory Flexibility Agendas, in accordance with the publication requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Agency Regulatory Flexibility Agendas contain only those Agenda entries for rules that are likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities and entries that have been selected for periodic review under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
Next: 2026-16605, Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions
This regulatory agenda is a summary of projected regulations, existing regulations, and completed actions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its components. This agenda provides the public with information about DHS's regulatory and deregulatory activity. DHS expects that this information will enable the public to be more aware of, and effectively participate in, the Department's regulatory and deregulatory activity. DHS invites the public to submit comments on any aspect of this agenda.