The Produce Reporter Week in Review July 11, 2025  

On Independence Day, President Trump signed into legislation the spending bill called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that narrowly passed both houses on Congress on partisan lines. 

As the name says, it was a big bill that will take a while to see how it will impact everyone living in the United States. 

As far as agriculture goes, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) gave some highlights to members.

It goes further in its analysis here.

Generally, the provisions for specialty crops were positive, with multiyear funding and program improvements. If or when Congress passes a farm bill, we’ll have even more details and specifics. 

There are some restrictions to the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP) and school meals programs and shifting of funding to state levels. 

As expected, the Republican-controlled Congress passed generally pro-business tax and economic provisions.  

The bill also includes billions in funding for immigration enforcement and deportation efforts. These could affect the workforce availability for agriculture depending on how they’re implemented. 

As with everything coming from Washington, DC, these days, we’ll have to wait and see how it will all shake out. 

National Farm Security Action Plan 

Also coming from the Trump administration this week was USDA’s National Farm Security Action Plan, which it says elevates American agriculture as a key element of the nation’s national security.

It promises to put American farmers first and protect American farmland. 

While the plan seems vague, one of its focuses is on foreign ownership of land near strategic military bases and installations, specifically calling out Chinese ownership.  

State leaders quoted in the release supporting the plan mostly come from states strong in program crops and livestock rather than fresh produce growing areas. 

Part of this security plan includes reviewing USDA’s SNAP program to find and punish fraud and punishing retailers complicit in fraud by taking away their funding. 

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said USDA considers SNAP fraud as including any use by illegal aliens. She said state agency directors are required to share all SNAP records, including benefit allotments, with the federal government. 

Again, we don’t know how this will play out, but it could put retailers in an awkward spot dealing with SNAP reforms and still staying on the administration’s good side.