During the month of April, 62 bankruptcies were launched under Chapter 12, a 130% jump from April 2025 and the highest monthly total since February 2020. That figure is also 82% higher than the 34 Chapter 12 filings in March 2026, the data showed.
Agricultural Economy
Lawmakers Target Meatpacker Consolidation Amid High Prices
Sen. Chuck Schumer on Friday introduced legislation aimed at lowering grocery prices by increasing competition in the meatpacking industry, arguing that consolidation among the nation’s largest meat companies has contributed to higher beef prices.
Trump Defends Chinese Purchases of U.S. Farmland
President Donald Trump defended Chinese purchases of U.S. farmland during a trip to Beijing (last) week, arguing that restricting foreign ownership would hurt American farmers by driving down land values. Trump’s Beijing comments appear to conflict with policies his administration itself promoted over the last year.
Accelerated Permitting, Grant Program to Boost Domestic Fertilizer, USDA Says
The United States Department of Agriculture is taking new steps to expand domestic fertilizer production, Secretary Brooke Rollins said at a press conference Tuesday, including accelerated permitting and the reviving of a Biden administration grant program to boost U.S. fertilizer production.
Deere Right-to-Repair Settlement Gets Preliminary Approval
A federal court on Monday granted preliminary approval to John Deere’s proposed antitrust settlement with farmers who filed right-to-repair lawsuits, giving producers until September 2026 to file objections. At the same time, a Chicago landscaping contractor sued Deere (last) Thursday in U.S. District Court in Illinois, accusing the company of many of the same antitrust violations alleged in a recently-settled $99 million lawsuit filed by farmers.
China to Buy $17 Billion in US Farm Goods Annually
China will purchase at least $17 billion in U.S. agricultural products annually through 2028, in addition to soybean commitments already agreed to, the White House said in a fact sheet released Sunday. The announcement followed President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing last week for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and was among the few concrete deliverables from a summit Trump had pitched in March as a ‘monumental event.’
Worsening Spring Drought Puts U.S. Wheat at Risk
The United States experienced its worst spring drought on record last month, with more than 60% of land in the lower 48 states experiencing moderate drought or worse. The drought has sparked alarm among farmers and environmentalists across the country, who warn that food supplies may be impacted and wildfires may blight areas where they are not usually seen.
DOJ Reaches Settlement with Agri Stats Over Meat Price-Fixing
The U.S. Department of Justice and six states settled their antitrust lawsuit against data company Agri Stats on Thursday in a move DOJ officials said would lower meat prices for consumers.
Farmer Sentiment Falls in April on Input Cost & Availability Concerns
Farmer sentiment weakened in April as producers continue to grapple with rising input costs and ongoing uncertainty about availability, according to the latest Purdue University Ag Economy Barometer.
DOJ Confirms Antitrust Probe Into Beef Processors
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Monday confirmed a Justice Department investigation into major beef processors for potential antitrust violations and separately teased that the agency has neared a settlement in its case against Agri Stats.
House Passes Farm Bill Without E15, Pesticide Protections
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed its newest version of the farm bill in a 224-200 vote without including provisions to allow for year-round E15 sales. The vote came after lawmakers also voted to strip provisions from the bill that would have benefited the pesticide industry.
Iran War Impacts Boost US Agribusiness 2026 Outlooks
Soaring crude oil markets have pushed soybean oil prices to the loftiest levels in more than three years, a boon for oilseed processors like Bunge Global and Archer Daniels Midland, which have seen North American soy crush margins swell to their highest since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Crop Price Index Hits Highest Since November 2023
The extended closure of the Strait of Hormuz and extreme weather have jolted the price index for farm commodities to a two-year high as fertilizer headaches and the prospect of smaller harvests drive food inflation risks.
Nearly $10 Billion in Farmer Bridge Assistance Allocated
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has already sent $9.6 billion in Farmer Bridge Assistance payments as crop producers continue to face weak prices and high costs. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), many farms are still operating at a loss or near break-even, even with federal help in place.
Justice Department Opens Criminal Investigation of Beef Companies
The Justice Department’s antitrust division is investigating whether large meatpackers that supply American consumers engaged in criminal anticompetitive conduct, after President Trump called for a probe of the companies last year, according to people familiar with the matter.
US Set to Use Tariff Funds to Address High Fertilizer Prices
The Trump administration is poised to dip into tens of billions of dollars from tariffs and trade deal renegotiations to strengthen domestic fertilizer supplies, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told lawmakers.
70% of Farmers Can’t Afford All Needed Fertilizer, Survey Shows
A new survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation shows that the vast majority of U.S. farmers — roughly 70% — are unable to afford all of the fertilizer they need this season amid rising input costs due to the war in Iran and an already difficult farm economy.
USDA Seeks Farmer Input in Fertilizer Price Collusion Probe
The Trump administration is seeking information from farmers to help with an ongoing Justice Department probe into high costs for fertilizer, machinery and other farm inputs. The Department of Justice is investigating whether fertilizer producers colluded to raise prices.
Strait of Hormuz Blockade Could Further Hit Fertilizer Prices
US President Donald Trump’s plan for a full naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz threatens to deepen an already unprecedented crisis in one of the world’s most important energy-producing regions.
USDA Raises Wheat, Corn and Soy Price Estimates
Season-average price estimates for wheat, corn, soybeans, soybean meal, cheese and cotton were all raised slightly in the Agriculture Department’s latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report published Thursday.