Standing Up for Those Who Feed America: The Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework

In February 2026, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and the USDA launched the Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework. This initiative marks a meaningful shift toward protecting producers, restoring common sense, and reaffirming agriculture's role as the backbone of this country.

A Comprehensive Strategy to Address Agricultural Lawfare

The Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework is a comprehensive strategy to address what has become a growing concern across rural America: agricultural lawfare. Unfortunately, agricultural lawfare has become a common reality for producers. It has been waged against farmers, ranchers, and property owners across many states.

As outlined by the USDA, “Agricultural lawfare is the use of administrative, legal, and legislative government systems to adversely impact farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers. Political considerations and extreme environmental and other progressive policy goals often motivate lawfare. Lawfare in the agricultural context typically takes the form of the following: excessive red tape and permitting at the federal, state, or local levels; use of litigation by private and public entities to deter favorable outcomes for agriculture; use of egregious civil and criminal penalties; and use of eminent domain to inhibit agricultural production.”

The Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework directly addresses this problem by formalizing a four-part approach. The Framework’s Four Pillars, as listed on the USDA website:

• Protect Producers: Defend farmers and ranchers from internal federal bureaucracy and politically motivated enforcement actions.
• Preserve Land and Liberty: Safeguard agricultural land from unnecessary federal projects and eminent domain.
• Purge Burdensome Regulations: Remove punitive rules that stifle productivity and reform environmental laws to balance conservation with common sense.
• Partner for Agriculture’s Future: Unite federal, state, and local leaders, along with industry partners, to fight lawfare and elevate public awareness.

Restoring Transparency and Consistency

The USDA is working to restore transparency and consistency in the application of regulations. That includes reviewing and reducing excessive penalties, ensuring that enforcement actions are handled fairly, and creating clear, consistent standards for when cases are referred for legal action. It also includes reexamining how federal agencies interact with private property, reinforcing the principle that land ownership is not only an economic asset but a foundational American right.

USDA Portal for Guidance Documents: A More Accessible System

Equally important is the commitment to reducing the regulatory burden that has weighed heavily on agriculture in recent years. The framework outlines undertakings to streamline guidance, simplify compliance, and create a more accessible system for producers to understand the rules they are expected to follow.

Farmers and ranchers can look forward to having a centralized, searchable USDA library for guidance documents. This portal is currently in development and intends to eliminate confusion and ensure that farmers and ranchers are not left guessing about compliance requirements.

This is one example of a practical tool that will make a real difference.

New Lawfare Portal + Dedicated Senior Advisor = A Clear Path to Be Heard

Historically, farmers and ranchers facing regulatory overreach or unjust treatment had few options for recourse. The addition of a senior advisor dedicated to fighting lawfare underscores the long-term commitment to accountability and reform, rather than a temporary measure.

The Lawfare Portal is a critical part of the framework to give producers a straightforward way to voice their concerns. This online portal is already in place, allowing producers to report cases of agricultural lawfare, share their stories, and seek support. Located on the USDA website (see link below), this portal provides a direct communication channel between producers and the USDA, making sure concerns are heard.

The lawfare portal is user-friendly and accessible. It features an online contact form where farmers, ranchers, and other USDA customers affected by unfair or politically motivated lawfare can document the situation and their concerns. It’s a simple, one-page form with easy-to-answer questions, and it also allows users to upload supporting documents.

The Lawfare Portal collects and catalogs information about potential lawfare cases, enabling the USDA team to respond.

A Significant Step in the Right Direction

Secretary Rollins and the USDA's efforts mark a positive move forward. By tackling lawfare, easing burdens, and defending private property, this approach aims to rebuild trust in agriculture's future. The impact of these efforts is already being felt. Across the country, farm and ranch families have seen tangible results from the USDA’s renewed focus on fairness and property rights:

• In New Jersey, a 175-year-old family farm was protected from an eminent domain seizure tied to a housing development project, preserving both a legacy and a livelihood.
• In South Dakota, a criminal case brought against the Maude family over what should have been a civil land dispute was dismissed, restoring fairness and common sense to the situation.
• In Tennessee, federal action helped prevent the loss of productive farmland that was slated for seizure, ensuring that the land remains in agricultural use. These stories highlight exactly why this framework matters: it protects real people, real operations, and real generational investments.

At AGPROfessionals, we believe that American agriculture's success depends on a policy environment that honors and supports those who work the land. Farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our food system, rural life, and national strength. The Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework embodies this belief, acknowledging that when producers have clarity, consistency, and the freedom to operate, they excel at providing the safest and most plentiful food in the world.

Links and Documents

USDA Lawfare Portal HERE

Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework Announcement HERE

USDA Farmers First HERE

Print .pdf of Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework HERE