By Scout Nelson
On July 2, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a new partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to strengthen legal support for farmers, ranchers, and small businesses facing regulatory and enforcement challenges. The agreement is part of the Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework and aims to improve fairness and provide better access to government assistance.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) creates closer cooperation between USDA and the SBA’s Office of the National Ombudsman. Through this partnership, complaints submitted through the USDA Lawfare Portal can be reviewed and coordinated with other federal agencies. Officials also plan to study complaint trends to identify areas where regulations may be improved or simplified.
Secretary Brooke L. Rollins introduced the initiative alongside SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Special Envoy for American Landowners John Rich, Bureau of Land Management Director Stevan Pearce, Representatives Harriet Hageman and Eli Crane, producers, ranchers, and several legal organizations that support agricultural and property rights.
“Producers and ranchers who feed this nation should never face the full power of government alone,” said Secretary Rollins. “This partnership with the SBA creates clear pathways for redress, ensures fairness in enforcement, and demonstrates that Washington stands with, not against, the hardworking Americans who sustain our country. Through the USDA Lawfare Portal and interagency collaboration, we are delivering real protection under the Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework.”
The partnership includes several key features. These include a joint system for handling complaints, shared analysis of regulatory issues, coordination with agencies such as the Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Justice, and improved transparency for rural communities.
USDA also highlighted actions already taken under the Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework. These include protecting family farms from government land disputes, ending several property-related enforcement cases, challenging certain agricultural land policies, removing outdated regulations, and completing 73 deregulatory actions during fiscal year 2025, exceeding the required 10-for-1 ratio under Executive Order 14192. USDA estimates these actions save approximately $136 million by removing unnecessary regulations.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: South Dakota, Business, General, Government & Policy