Analysts voiced concerns this week about the integrity of U.S. Department of Agriculture reports after the agency delayed a report and excluded findings that point to tariffs as a reason for a forecasted increase in the agricultural trade deficit.
Farm Policy News
DOGE Cuts USDA Office Closure List in Half
USDA agencies will close fewer than half the number of offices originally listed by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as cost-saving measures, with at least 61 USDA offices removed from the DOGE website nearly three months after their original listing.
US Trade Deficit Narrows by 55% in April
The U.S. deficit with its global trading partners tumbled by the largest amount on record in April as companies and consumers no longer rushed to get imports ahead of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. On the agriculture side, however, the latest forecast projects that the agricultural trade deficit will grow to $49.5 billion for fiscal year 2025, which ends Sept. 30, up from the $49 billion deficit projected in February.
Chinese Nationals Arrested for Smuggling Crop Pathogen Into US
Two Chinese nationals were arrested for allegedly smuggling a pathogen into the U.S. that is known to be destructive to corn, wheat, rice and barley crops.
Farmer Sentiment Reaches Highest Level Since 2021
Bloomberg’s Michael Hirtzer, Erin Ailworth, and Skylar Woodhouse reported Tuesday that “American farmer sentiment jumped to a four-year high, with growers betting on rising crop exports as the Trump administration pushes for more trade deals from Vietnam to Italy.” “US President Donald Trump has pushed an America-first agenda that has hit crop exports. Top commodities […]
White House Budget Looks to Cut Nearly $7 Billion from USDA
*Editor’s Note: We are aware of some publishing issues currently occurring with the daily email updates from the FarmPolicy News website. We are working to resolve those issues and to restore emails as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience. —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Politico’s Grace Yarrow reported that “the Trump administration is requesting $23 billion for […]
Farmers Pushing for Biofuels Boost to Increase Crop Demand
Bloomberg’s Kim Chipman, Alicia Diaz, Erin Ailworth and Ilena Peng reported late last week that “after losing their biggest export market due to Donald Trump’s trade wars, US farmers are now counting on the president’s support for biofuels to prevent their next crop from piling up in storage.” “The administration is set to soon unveil […]
EPA Delivers Proposed RVOs to White House
Agri-Pulse’s Rebekah Alvey reported that “the Environmental Protection Agency has sent its next set of proposed biofuel volume mandates to the White House for review, signaling the long-delayed rule could be coming soon.” “Under the Renewable Fuel Standard, the agency sets renewable volume obligations for different fuel types like biomass-based diesel, advanced and cellulosic biofuels. […]
House Ag Advances Budget Bill that Cuts SNAP Spending
Politico’s Grace Yarrow reported Wednesday night that “the House Agriculture Committee voted 29-25 along party lines to advance legislation that would cut as much as $300 billion in food aid spending to pay for Republicans’ domestic policy megabill and some farm bill programs.” “The Wednesday vote sends the measure to the House Budget Committee for […]
US Retail Egg Prices Fell 12.7% in April
The Associated Press’ Dee-Ann Durbin reported that “U.S. retail egg prices fell in April from the record-high prices they hit earlier this year, according to government data released Tuesday. The average price for a dozen Grade A eggs declined to $5.12 last month after reaching a record $6.23 in March, according to the U.S. Bureau […]
House Ag Budget Plan Tightens SNAP, Expands Farm Safety Net
Agri-Pulse’s Philip Brasher and Rebekah Alvey reported that “House Republicans are proposing to cut $290 billion from nutrition assistance spending over the next 10 years and use some of the savings to increase spending on commodity programs, crop insurance and other farm bill programs.” “The draft text released Monday evening for the House Agriculture Committee’s […]
US & China Agree to Lower Tariffs for 90 Days
Bloomberg’s Jenny Leonard reported that “the US and China will temporarily lower tariffs on each other’s products in a dramatic ratcheting down of trade tensions that buys the world’s two largest economies three months to work toward a broader agreement.” “The combined 145% US levies on most Chinese imports will be reduced to 30% including […]
US-UK Trade Deal Could Help American Ethanol and Beef
Progressive Farmer’s Chris Clayton reported that “ethanol will see lower tariffs selling into the United Kingdom and other agricultural products such as beef should also see greater market access under a new trade deal with the UK announced by President Donald Trump on Thursday.” “At an event in the White House, Trump said leaders in […]
Crop Traders Report Tariffs Weighing on Profits, Outlooks
Global crop trading companies — including Archer-Daniels-Midland, Bunge Global and Andersons Inc. — have largely reported this week that uncertainties surrounding tariffs and trade have taken a toll on first-quarter profits and could continue to affect bottom lines throughout the remainder of 2025. Reuters’ Karl Plume and Mrinalika Roy reported that “tariffs and trade chaos […]
No Plans to Close Any FSA Offices, Ag Sec Rollins Says
Reuters’ Leah Douglas reported that “U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins at a Senate hearing on Tuesday defended downsizing the USDA and potential cuts to international food aid programs, but said the agency does not plan to close any of its 4,500 offices that serve farmers.” “The USDA has lost more than 15,000 staff to financial […]
More than 15,000 Employees Leaving USDA
Reuters’ Leah Douglas reported that “more than 15,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture employees have taken one of the Trump administration’s two financial incentive offers to leave the agency, according to a readout from a USDA briefing with congressional staff seen by Reuters. The sum represents about 15% of the USDA’s total workforce.” “President Donald Trump’s […]
Trump Budget Proposes 18% Cut to USDA Funding
Agri-Pulse’s Philip Brasher and Rebekah Alvey reported late last week that “President Donald Trump is proposing to slash non-defense spending by nearly 23% in a fiscal 2026 budget that recommends a $5 billion cut to USDA programs, including agricultural research, international food aid, conservation technical assistance to farmers, and rural development.” “USDA’s budget would be […]
FSA to Require DOGE Approval for Larger Loans
Reuters’ Leah Douglas and P.J. Huffstutter reported that “farm loan employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency will now need approval from billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to issue loans over $500,000, according to a memo seen by Reuters on Wednesday.” “The April 29 memo sent by Houston Bruck, deputy […]
Lawmakers Send More Signals Farm Bill Uncertain This Year
Politico’s Grace Yarrow and Marcia Brown reported Wednesday that Republican “lawmakers are currently weighing whether to put Biden-era conservation programs into their party-line megabill that might have otherwise been included in their separate reauthorization of federal farm programs, according to three people granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.” Yarrow and Brown reported that the possibility […]
Thompson Says House Ag Budget Cuts Probably Less Than $230 Billion
E&E News’ Marc Heller reported Tuesday that “House Agriculture Chair Glenn Thompson said Tuesday that the spending cuts his panel is expected to make toward a budget reconciliation deal next week will probably be less than predicted.” “Speaking to an annual gathering of agriculture reporters at the Capitol, Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican, said he thinks […]