• The USDA scheduled two Tribal leader consultation sessions on Oct. 14 and Oct. 16 over its Reorganization Plan. Check out IFAI’s analysis of potential Indian Country impacts here. IFAI will hold a closed Tribal briefing on October 9, 2025, for elected Tribal leaders and staff ahead of the consultation. Register here. 

   

• USDA is holding listening sessions on September 29 and 30 on how to better recruit veterinarians to work in animal production in rural areas or at USDA itself. Registration information is here.

   

• There are no Congressional hearings relevant to Indian Country food and agriculture this week at the time of writing. Last week’s notes covered the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing over the 50th anniversary of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, with USDA opportunities getting a shout–out by several committee members and a witness. There were also hearings in the House Committee on Agriculture over Specialty Crop Insurance and the USDA’s Rural Development Agency. 

• Nominations for the USDA Tribal Advisory Committee have been extended to Oct. 6, 2025.  

• Last week, the U.S. Small Business Administration held a consultation at the Gun Lake Potawatomi Tribe seeking input on access to capital for Tribal entities. The consultation was specifically seeking feedback on how to make programs more efficient or reduce any unnecessary regulatory burden associated with them. Comments about this topic can be submitted through Oct. 17, 2025, to Diane Cullo, Assistant Administrator, Office of Native American Affairs, at Diane.cullo@sba.gov.  

Calendar

Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings:  

Title of Event: Listening Sessions Barriers to Entry and Increased Recruitment for Rural and Federal Veterinary Workforces  

About: USDA is holding two listening sessions to hear from key partners to determine what additional actions can be taken to (1) reverse a low percentage of veterinary school students coming from rural areas or expressing interest in rural practice, and (2) address an even lower percentage of recent veterinary school graduates enter production animal medicine. USDA is seeking input on ways to and recruit veterinarians to the department or work in rural areas. 

• Date(s), Time, and Location: 

• September 29, 2025, 3-4 p.m. EST   

• • Register for the September 29 Veterinary Workforce Listening Session 

• September 30, 2025, 3:00–4:00 p.m. EST 

• • Register for the September 30 Veterinary Workforce Listening Session  

Title of Event: Tribal Consultations on the USDA Department Reorganization Plan 

About: This consultation series is intended to obtain feedback from Tribal leaders and their officially delegated proxies about the USDA Reorganization Plan published in Secretary Memorandum (SM 1078-015) on July 24, 2025.   

• Date(s), Time, and Location: 
  • Oct. 14, 2025 (Tuesday) at 2-5 p.m. EST 
    • Virtual participation register  here 
    • In-Person participation register  here (Washington, DC – exact address TBA) 
  • Oct. 16, 2025 (Thursday) at noon-3 p.m. EST 
    • Virtual participation register here 
    • In-Person participation register here (Denver, CO – exact address TBA
• Proxy Letter Template 
• Tribal Invitation 

If you would like to register for IFAI’s Tribal briefing, please use the link below. 

Congressional Sessions:

Looking back: 

Hearing: House Committee on Agriculture – Sept. 16, 2025 

Topic: An Examination of the State of the Specialty Crop Industry 

Highlight: No specific Tribal food and agriculture mentioned. The hearing highlighted support for expanding research, improving crop insurance, and addressing labor shortages. Witnesses emphasized the urgent need for tailored federal programs to help producers navigate rising costs, regulatory burdens, and climate-related risks. 

Hearing: House Committee on Agriculture – Sept. 18, 2025 

Topic: USDA’s Rural Development: Delivering Vital Programs and Services to Rural America 

Highlight: This hearing focused on the urgent need to reauthorize and modernize federal programs that support rural infrastructure, health care, broadband, and economic development. Lawmakers and witnesses emphasized the need for support in streamlining access, increasing funding, and preserving USDA’s field staff to ensure rural communities are not left behind. 

Hearing: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs – Sept. 17, 2025 
Topic: Oversight Hearing entitled “Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act Successes and Opportunities at the Department of the Interior and the Indian Health Service.” 

Highlight: The hearing marked the 50th anniversary of ISDEAA, a landmark law that shifted federal Indian policy from termination to Tribal self-governance, allowing Tribes to administer federal programs tailored to their communities. Senator Tina Smith and witness Jay Spaan of Tribal Self-Gov spoke on the importance of expanding self-governance authority to USDA programs. 

Looking ahead:

There are no upcoming hearings relevant to Indian Country Food and Agriculture. 

Nominations:

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Consultive Committee 

Description: The purpose of this body is to ensure that the interests of U.S. stakeholders are considered in the development of positions and policy relative to U.S. participation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). 

Deadline: Nominations will be accepted at any time.

Tribal Advisory Committee 

Description: The committee advises the Secretary of Agriculture for the United States Department of Agriculture on matters relating to Tribal and Indian Affairs. 

Deadline: Oct. 6, 2025

Regulatory/Rulemaking Actions

• USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service issued a notice of funding opportunity for REDLG FY26. 
• REDLG Programs enable the promotion of rural economic development and job creation projects by financing eligible Rural Utilities Service (RUS) electric or telecommunications borrowers.  
• Assistance to rural and Tribal areas include business startup costs, business expansion and technical assistance feasibility studies.  
• Due dates are as follows: 
  • First Quarter: Sept. 30, 2025 
  • Second Quarter: Dec. 31, 2025 
  • Third Quarter: Mar. 31, 2026 
  • Fourth Quarter: June 30, 2026 

Posted: Week of Sept. 15 

• USDA’s Farm Service Agency issued a final rule, implementing the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) 2023 and 2024. 

• ELRP provides payments for losses resulting from increased supplemental feed costs due to qualifying flood or wildfire in calendar year 2023 and 2024.  

• This final rule outlines administrative provisions, eligibility requirements, and payment calculations.  

• The rule took effect on Sept. 15, 205 and the deadline to submit an application for FY2023 and FY2024 is Oct. 31, 2025. 

Posted: Week of Sept. 15