USDA Commits $472.5M in Section 32 Purchases Led by $165.5M for Dairy

USDA will spend up to $472.5 million on American-grown commodities for nutrition assistance programs and food banks, with dairy taking the largest single share at $165.5 million. The announcement, made November 4 under Section 32 authority, directs pork, chicken, catfish, tree nuts, pulses and fruit through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) into the federal nutrition safety net.

Section 32 purchases are one of USDA's most direct tools for supporting producers when market conditions are tight. AMS buys domestically produced and processed products continuously and supplies them to USDA's Food & Nutrition Administration programs and the charitable food network.

The full allocation breaks down as follows:

• Dairy — $165.5 million
• Pork — $41 million
• Split peas — $37 million
• Almonds — $30 million
• Lentils — $29 million
• Raisins — $25 million
• Hazelnuts — $22 million
• Rice — $21 million
• Farm-raised catfish — $20 million
• Chicken — $20 million
• Chickpeas — $20 million
• Pacific whiting — $12 million
• Grapefruit — $10 million
• Oranges — $10 million
• Dried fruit mix — $10 million

What does the dairy share signal?

The dairy commitment is the second sizable Section 32 outlay for the sector this year. USDA announced $148 million in dairy purchases in February, meaning cumulative 2026 dairy commitments now approach $313.5 million. For producers navigating weak Class III milk prices, that volume functions as a demand-side floor rather than a price support: product moves off commercial balance sheets and into government distribution channels.

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) issued a statement thanking USDA for the $165.5 million commitment. The purchases "help strengthen demand during a difficult stretch for milk prices" while supplying nutrition assistance programs and food banks with dairy products, NMPF noted.

"We appreciate Secretary Rollins and USDA for recognizing the pressures dairy farmers are facing and responding with meaningful action," NMPF president and chief executive officer Gregg Doud said. "These purchases will help move product and get wholesome dairy foods to Americans who need them."

How the purchases reach the market

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins framed the announcement in distribution terms. "Today's $472.5 million investment moves American milk, cheese, lentils, almonds, rice, catfish and more straight from our farms to those in need, rather than being wasted," Rollins said, tying the purchases to the administration's Make America Healthy Again agenda and its stated commitment to putting farmers first.

The mechanics matter for vendors watching for opportunity. AMS notifies industry of new opportunities through Purchase Program Announcements issued throughout the year. Following this announcement, USDA will invite offers from approved USDA vendors and then award purchase contracts — meaning the $472.5 million figure represents authorized spending rather than committed volume, and actual tonnage will depend on the bids approved suppliers submit.

Producers and processors in the pork, catfish and tree nut sectors — categories that have each faced export headwinds and softening domestic demand — should track the forthcoming announcements for award windows and product specifications.