OMAHA (DTN) -- Farm groups on Tuesday called for Congress to ensure the Food for Peace program remains at USDA after the department made its first major agreement to provide $432 million in U.S. commodities to several countries.

USDA released details of an agreement between the department and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) that will provide up to 215,000 metric tons (mt) of commodities to the Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Kenya and Rwanda.

In its news release, USDA stated the U.S. would deliver $452 million in aid, which actually comes from fiscal year 2025 funds -- last year's funding.

According to the agreement, the U.S. support is expected to include 45,000 mt of rice; 37,000 mt of cornmeal; 36,000 mt of sorghum; 31,000 mt of wheat; 22,000 mt of specialized nutritious food; 13,000 mt of yellow split peas; and 12,000 mt of vegetable oil. All the commodities are expected to be delivered to those countries by the end of the year.

USDA also emphasized that President Donald Trump wants to ensure "international assistance delivers a measurable return" and "the benefits of food aid flow back to America's hardworking farmers, ranchers and producers who make this assistance possible." Under the deal, all the commodities will be 100% U.S. origin and come with "strict accountability measures to prevent waste, fraud and abuse" while also working to "reduce long-term dependency on foreign aid."

Agricultural groups and humanitarian aid organizations have been waiting for months for the Trump administration to reset Food for Peace. The program was part of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which Elon Musk and his "DOGE" (Department of Government Efficiency) initiative dismantled last year. The Trump administration then moved Food for Peace from the State Department over to USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.

USDA stated the department "moved nearly half a million tons of American-grown food to people in need worldwide" in FY 2025. USDA also stated to DTN that there remain some FY 2025 dollars to spend. In the funding agreement reached last November, Congress allocated $1.2 billion in FY 2026 for Food for Peace.

"America's farmers and ranchers are the best in the world -- and have a great bounty of high-quality products to share with the world. I am thrilled USDA can make that happen through America First international food assistance programs," said Luke Lindberg, USDA's undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. "Under USDA, the Food for Peace program will benefit American farmers and producers and help people in need around the world in a way that respects hardworking American taxpayers."

AG GROUPS RESPOND

Agricultural groups made a point in news releases to note they have long backed moving Food for Peace from USAID to USDA. They called on Congress to ensure it stays that way.

The North American Millers' Association called the purchase announcement "a monumental milestone," with USDA now in charge of Food for Peace. NAMA also noted U.S. humanitarian food aid had gone through turmoil in the past year. "In late December, after a year of uncertainty around the home of Food for Peace post-USAID and a drastic drop in food aid shipments last year, an interagency agreement allowed USDA to take the lead operating the farm bill-authorized, agriculture-appropriated program." NAMA said the group led a coalition of more than 80 groups pushing to move Food for Peace from USAID to USDA.

"NAMA is thrilled to see USDA's steadfast leadership in the successful administration of this life-saving program that allows U.S. millers to continue to serve as the link between American-grown grain and the highly nutritious products that help feed those facing famine emergencies around the world," said Kim Cooper, NAMA's vice president of government affairs. "We always knew USDA had the heart, talent, and sound judgement to run Food for Peace, and they keep proving us right."

Sam Keiffer, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), applauded USDA for buying 31,000 mt of wheat to deliver for aid. Keiffer also called on Congress to ensure Food for Peace stays with USDA.

"U.S.-grown wheat is a cornerstone of global food security and humanitarian response, while driving demand for American-grown crops supporting rural economies, farm families, and America's leadership abroad," Keiffer said. "This announcement underscores why NAWG supports USDA implementing the Food for Peace program, and we urge Congress to codify this move to provide long-term certainty and durability. We look forward to continuing our work with the Trump administration and Congress to ensure emergency in-kind food aid reaches those facing hunger overseas, while also supporting American farmers and rural development."

U.S. Wheat Associates and the American Soybean Association issued similar statements.

PAST BATTLES WITH USAID

U.S. farm groups often battled with USAID, which frequently opted to provide food aid by buying commodities closer to crisis areas. While Food for Peace bought U.S. commodities as well, farm groups disagreed with USAID's focus on buying local commodities rather than relying on U.S. products.

In December, Dina Esposito, assistant administrator of the USAID Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security, wrote on the website Devex, questioning the move of Food for Peace to USDA. She said USDA and agricultural lobbyists "regularly pushed for commodities regardless of local needs."

"USDA has no humanitarian mandate, no expertise in targeting countries most in need, and no incentive to choose foods that most effectively address hunger and malnutrition. I've seen the consequences before when U.S. agricultural priorities override humanitarian imperatives," Esposito wrote.

Esposito also claimed USDA might not spend money on "lifesaving ready-to-use therapeutic foods" because of a heavy focus on commodities. In its agreement with the World Food Program, USDA stated there would be more purchases of "formulated U.S. agricultural commodities" by March. "Such commodities include ready-to-use supplemental food (RUSF), wheat, Corn-Soy Blend Plus, beans, peas, lentils, rice, sorghum and vegetable oil. Additional Food for Peace awards will be posted publicly as funds become available," USDA stated.

The National Milk Producers Federation and U.S. Dairy Export Council also thanked USDA for planning to spend funds on ready-to-use supplemental food, which used milk powder in them.

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

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