Reuters’ Joe Cash, Mei Mei Chu and Xiuhao Chen reported that “China has American agricultural exports in its cross hairs as it prepares countermeasures against fresh U.S. import tariffs, China’s state-backed Global Times reported, raising the stakes in an escalating trade war between the world’s top two economies.” “U.S. President Donald Trump last week threatened […]
Farm Policy News
Canada and Mexico Tariffs Will Start March 4, Trump Confirms
Reuters’ Jeff Mason, Andrea Shalal and David Lawder reported that “U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said his proposed 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods will take effect on Tuesday, along with an extra 10% duty on Chinese imports because deadly drugs are still pouring into the U.S. from those countries.” “The fresh China […]
USDA Investing $1 Billion & Increasing Egg Imports to Fight Bird Flu
Reuters’ Leah Douglas reported Wednesday morning that “the U.S. will invest up to $1 billion to combat the spread of bird flu, including increasing imports of eggs, agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins said on Wednesday.” “The USDA will spend up to $500 million to provide free biosecurity audits to farms and $400 million to increase payment […]
Lawmakers Worry House Budget Plan Could Tank New Farm Bill
Politico’s Grace Yarrow reported Monday that “key House Republicans are growing increasingly worried that planned cuts to a popular food aid program under the GOP’s reconciliation package could sink hopes for a new farm bill at a time when the party is in a strong position to shape the legislation.” The budget plan that was […]
Trump Says 25% Canada, Mexico Tariffs ‘Going Forward’
Reuters’ David Lawder and Andrea Shalal reported that “President Donald Trump said on Monday that tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports are ‘on time and on schedule’ despite efforts by the countries to beef up border security and halt the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. ahead of a March 4 deadline. ‘The tariffs are […]
Farm Bankruptcies Increased 55% in 2024
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s Samantha Ayoub reported last week that “the U.S. Courts report that 216 farm bankruptcies were filed in 2024, up 55% from 2023. This is still 64% lower than the all-time high of 599 filings in 2019. However, 2024 is the end of a four-year downward trend in bankruptcies, which appears […]
USDA Releasing $20 Million of Frozen Conservation Funds
Reuters’ P.J. Huffstutter reported that “the U.S. Department of Agriculture will release approximately $20 million in funding for previously approved contracts that had been frozen by the Trump administration’s push to overhaul the federal government, the agency said late on Thursday.” “The sum represents a tiny sliver of program funding the USDA suspended after the […]
USDA Accidentally Fires Bird Flu Response Workers
NBC News’ Allan Smith, Melanie Zanona and Laura Strickler reported that “the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that, over the weekend, it accidentally fired ‘several’ agency employees who are working on the federal government’s response to the H5N1 avian flu outbreak. The agency said it is now trying to quickly reverse the firings.” “‘Although […]
EU Exploring Import Restrictions That Could Include US Soy
The Financial TImes’ Andy Bounds reported this past Sunday that “the EU wants to block imports of certain foodstuffs made to different standards to protect its farmers in an echo of US President Donald Trump’s ‘reciprocal’ trade policy.” “The European Commission will agree (this) week to explore greater import limits, according to three officials, a […]
Trump Admin Shifting Away From Depopulation for Bird Flu
Agri-Pulse’s Philip Brasher reported Sunday that “the Trump administration is preparing a plan for combatting avian flu that will move away from depopulating entire infected flocks and rely instead on ‘biosecurity and medication’ to contain outbreaks, says President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser.” “Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said on CBS’ Face […]
Mass Federal Firings Hit Agriculture Agencies
Agri-Pulse’s Philip Brasher, Noah Wicks, Steve Davies, and Lydia Johnson reported this past week that “the Trump administration’s mass firing of probationary federal employees has swept out workers across USDA, including loan analysts in Farm Service Agency field offices, ag scientists, and about 1,200 staff of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, according to sources.” “The […]
‘Farmers are going to be helped’ by Reciprocal Tariffs, Trump says
Bloomberg’s Josh Wingrove, Jennifer A Dlouhy, and Jenny Leonard reported Thursday that “President Donald Trump ordered his administration to consider imposing reciprocal tariffs on numerous trading partners, raising the prospect of a wider campaign against a global system he complains is tilted against the US.” “The president on Thursday signed a measure directing the US […]
House Budget Plan Requires $230 Billion Ag Committee Cuts
Agri-Pulse’s Rebekah Alvey reported that “the House released a fiscal 2025 budget resolution Tuesday that would direct the Agriculture Committee to cut $230 billion over 10 years, an amount that would likely require a significant reduction in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. ” “After weeks of talks, the House Budget Committee dropped its ‘one big, […]
USDA Cuts Outlook for Argentina, Brazil Corn Production
Market Watch’s Kirk Maltais reported Tuesday that “production of corn and soybeans out of Argentina are forecast to be lower as weather there batters its newly planted crops, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. In its latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report published Tuesday, the USDA changed its outlook for South American corn […]
SNAP Under Fire in Budget Reconciliation Cuts
Politico’s Grace Yarrow reported that “the House Ag Committee is eyeing roughly $150 billion in spending cuts related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as Republicans are seeking to pay for President Donald Trump’s agenda.” “That number includes reducing SNAP error payment rates, updating work requirements and tying future updates to the Thrifty Food Plan […]
USDA Freezes Conservation, Other Direct Farmer Funding
Reuters’ P.J. Huffstutter and Leah Douglas reported Saturday that “the U.S. Department of Agriculture has frozen some funding for farmers as it goes through a sweeping review, despite assurances from the Trump administration that programs helping farmers would not be affected in the government overhaul. The impact has been immediate and wide-ranging, from cash assistance […]
Farm Income to Increase in 2025 Thanks to Federal Aid
Progressive Farmer’s Katie Micik Dehlinger reported Thursday that “USDA forecasts climbing farm income in 2025, but it’s due to a dramatic increase in government payments, not better prices or a higher volume of sales. Net farm income, which is a comprehensive measure of farm profitability, is forecast at $180.1 billion, an increase of $41 billion, […]
US Ag Export Volumes Surged 22% in 2024
Reuters’ Karen Braun reported Wednesday that “most global importers last year took advantage of plentiful and cheaper U.S. bulk agricultural commodities, including soybeans and corn, the top-ticket items.” “Milestones were notched among the top U.S. bulk grain destinations in 2024 as average export prices fell by more than one-fifth versus 2023,” Braun reported. “Lower prices […]
Ag Traders, Manufacturers Report Tough Profit Outlooks
Reuters’ Karl Plume reported Tuesday that “grains merchant Archer-Daniels-Midland posted its lowest fourth-quarter adjusted profit in six years on Tuesday on weak oilseed crush margins and uncertainty over U.S. biofuel policy and said it is cutting costs and slashing up to 700 jobs to weather the market downturn.” “Chicago-based ADM said it aimed to cut […]
China Tariffs Begin, Canada & Mexico Tariffs Paused
Reuters’ Trevor Hunnicutt and Kevin Krolicki reported that “China imposed targeted tariffs on American imports on Tuesday and put several U.S. companies, including Google, on notice for possible sanctions, in a measured response to the sweeping duties on Chinese imports imposed by President Donald Trump.” “Beijing’s limited reply to Trump’s imposition of a 10% tariff […]