# US Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Push USDA to Reinstate Grants Helping Farmers Pay for Expensive Energy Upgrades

> Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, joined by 19 colleagues, urged USDA to reverse changes to the Rural Energy for America Program. Under an October 1 rule, applicants must complete and operate projects before applying for grants, rather than receiving funds upfront, which the senators say makes energy upgrades harder for farmers to finance.

- Date: 2026-11-05 · published 2026-11-06T00:17:14.029Z
- Category: policy · region United States · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/82830-us-senators-amy-klobuchar-tina-smith-push-usda-to-reinstate-grants-helping
- Commodities: [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md)

## Why it matters

Reduced access to grants may slow farm investments such as efficient grain dryers and on-farm renewable energy, limiting potential savings in energy and processing costs. The effect on feed commodity prices is indirect and likely modest unless the rule materially changes production costs or capacity.

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2020-05-21 | [Klobuchar, Grassley Introduce Bill to Support Biofuel Producers - News Releases - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar](https://feedsoft.ai/events/53000-klobuchar-grassley-introduce-bill-to-support-biofuel-producers-news-releases-u.md) | +0.2% | +2.8% |
| CORN | 2021-07-21 | [Senator Boozman: Working Really Hard to Help Farmers - Southeast AgNET](https://feedsoft.ai/events/46063-senator-boozman-working-really-hard-to-help-farmers-southeast-agnet.md) | -2.9% | -2.5% |
| CORN | 2025-11-26 | [Groups Press USDA to Tighten Standards for Expected Trade Aid Payments](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21940-groups-press-usda-to-tighten-standards-for-expected-trade-aid-payments.md) | +1.3% | +3.2% |
| CORN | 2019-11-12 | [Baldwin, Democrats Unveil New Report Detailing How Trump Administration Mismanaged Payments to Farmers for Trade Damages \| U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin](https://feedsoft.ai/events/56044-baldwin-democrats-unveil-new-report-detailing-how-trump-administration.md) | -0.5% | -2.9% |
| CORN | 2021-01-05 | [Pandemic Tops Trade War in USDA Payments to Farmers](https://feedsoft.ai/events/49114-pandemic-tops-trade-war-in-usda-payments-to-farmers.md) | +3.1% | +14.6% |
| SOY | 2021-07-21 | [Senator Boozman: Working Really Hard to Help Farmers - Southeast AgNET](https://feedsoft.ai/events/46063-senator-boozman-working-really-hard-to-help-farmers-southeast-agnet.md) | -1.7% | -5.2% |
| SOY | 2025-11-26 | [Groups Press USDA to Tighten Standards for Expected Trade Aid Payments](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21940-groups-press-usda-to-tighten-standards-for-expected-trade-aid-payments.md) | -0.8% | -5.5% |
| SOY | 2019-11-12 | [Baldwin, Democrats Unveil New Report Detailing How Trump Administration Mismanaged Payments to Farmers for Trade Damages \| U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin](https://feedsoft.ai/events/56044-baldwin-democrats-unveil-new-report-detailing-how-trump-administration.md) | +0.6% | -0.4% |

## Sources

- arlingtonmnnews.com: https://arlingtonmnnews.com/articles/news-ae/us-senators-amy-klobuchar-tina-smith-push-usda-to-reinstate-grants-helping-farmers-pay-for-expensive-energy-upgrades/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.