November 01, 2026 to November 07, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news for farmers, seed-growers, ranchers and their upstream suppliers and downstream buyers. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track the upstream and downstream forces affecting Agri-Food? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Freight & Ports and Oil & Gas. Also consider subscribing to our Agri-Food - Ottawa edition covering critical GR news north of the border.

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Federal Government News

USDA Launches Online Loan Modernization Initiative for Rural Businesses

The Department of Agriculture's Rural Business-Cooperative Service submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget for its Loan Modernization Initiative. This platform aims to consolidate farm and rural community loan and grant program records into a single customer file, with new step-by-step intake and eligibility tools, and online payment functionality. Over time, the department expects that expanded use of this electronic application will reduce the burden hours associated with legacy hard copy systems. The platform will launch initially for the Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program, then expand to other program areas. The stated number of respondents is 485,000, with an estimated 3,287,280 burden hours for annual reporting. Comments on the proposed collection are due by December 4, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

USDA Proposes Lifecycle Certification for SBIR/STTR Grantees

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is seeking approval for a new Lifecycle Certification form under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant programs. This collection would be required for interim and final reporting and aims to verify that participating companies remain eligible for SBIR/STTR funds throughout their awards, as specified by the SBA's October 2020 directive. The agency projects 180 respondents annually, with a total expected burden of 90 hours. Public comments are accepted until December 7, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

National Agricultural Statistics Service Updates Respondent Burden for Agricultural Surveys Program

The National Agricultural Statistics Service issued a correction to a recent Federal Register notice on the Agricultural Surveys Program information collection. The updated figures list 605,600 respondents and 207,710 total burden hours, superseding previously published data in October 2026. The agency is requesting comments on the accuracy and necessity of these information collection requirements, which inform the design and execution of USDA agricultural surveys nationwide.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

SNAP Demonstration Project in South Carolina Approved to Exclude Certain Food Items

The Food and Nutrition Administration has approved South Carolina’s demonstration project to adjust the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) definition of food for purchase, excluding candy, energy drinks, and sweetened beverages. The project, effective November 1, 2026, results from state requests and modifications reviewed during a public comment period earlier in the year. FNA evaluated 47 public comments before affirming that South Carolina could proceed with the project without modification. The agency intends to review implementation data as the policy takes effect and notes that the demonstration aligns with Section 17(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Seeks Extension of Quality Samples and Emerging Markets Program Collections

The Foreign Agricultural Service announced its intention to renew information collection approvals for the Quality Samples Program (OMB No. 0551-0047) and the Emerging Markets Program (OMB No. 0551-0048). Both initiatives require grantees and applicants to provide detailed evaluation and performance data to maintain eligibility for funding related to agricultural market development projects. The Quality Samples Program expects 10 respondents, while the Emerging Markets Program projects 50 annual respondents. The average reporting burden is 4.4 and 8.4 hours per response, respectively.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov, www.federalregister.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• From grains to chicken and milk, India faces prolonged food inflation: India contends with extended food price pressures across grains, poultry, and dairy.
• Pinched ammonia supplies from Trinidad add to US farmer pain ahead of elections: Tight ammonia supply from Trinidad compounds domestic fertilizer market challenges for US producers.
• Cocoa in Crisis: Can Ag Waste and Lab Cells Satiate Our Chocolate Cravings? | The Future of Everything for Nov. 6: New approaches using agricultural byproducts and cell culture technology are explored for cocoa alternatives.
• Biodiversity summit saw progress on subsidy reform, but pharma firms push back against fund for Indigenous peoples: International talks report movement on ag-related subsidy issues as pharmaceutical interests debate funding measures.
• How Farmers’ Frustration With Trump’s Policies Helped Democrats: US farmer dissatisfaction with previous trade and subsidy policies factored into election outcomes.
• Buckets, chickens and worms: Schools reduce cafeteria food waste through compost, shared tables: School cafeteria programs adopt composting and food-sharing to cut food waste.

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