Editorial Independence
How FDCIC.com is funded, governed, and protected from commercial influence.
Funding
FDCIC.com is privately funded by a group of concerned market participants and investors. No consulting firm is identified as the owner, publisher, sponsor, or affiliate. Funding does not influence ratings, coverage decisions, or editorial conclusions.
Independence
No payment can improve a rating. Commercial relationships held by backers must be disclosed. Ratings are based on documented evidence, not on advertising, sponsorship, or referral fees.
AI policy
AI may assist research and drafting, but humans approve ratings, regulatory interpretations, investigative findings, and corrections. AI does not assign scores, accuse entities of fraud, publish confidential information, or approve content for publication.
Anonymous sources
Anonymous allegations are never published as established facts. Public findings distinguish allegations, evidence, company responses, editorial findings, and official determinations.
USDA relationship
FDCIC.com is not affiliated with USDA. The USDA rule is technical guidance, not a federal approval system for vendors, calculators, products, enrollment programs, or commercial claims. USDA does not promise farmer incentives through the rule, does not collect producer data through the rule, and does not police every commercial representation.