The U.S. Department of Agriculture has posted a notice on its website saying federal food aid will not go out on Nov. 1, raising the stakes for families nationwide as the government shutdown drags on.
Politics
China to Make ‘Substantial’ US Soybean Purchases, Bessent Says
China will make ‘substantial’ purchases of US soybeans, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday after talks with Chinese counterparts, in a sign that the relations are thawing ahead of a possible leaders’ meeting.
Half of States to Cut Off SNAP Benefits in November
Millions of low-income Americans will lose access to food aid on Nov. 1, when half of states plan to cut off benefits due to the government shutdown. Twenty-five states told POLITICO that they are issuing notices informing participants of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that they won’t receive checks next month.
USDA Resuming FSA Operations, Commodity Program Payments
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said President Donald Trump’s administration will resume distributing $3 billion in aid from the Farm Service Agency that had been halted as a result of the three-week-long government shutdown. Rollins also said that agriculture risk coverage and price loss coverage payments and other programs would resume operating.
China Imports No US Soy in September, First Time Since 2018
China imported no soybeans from the U.S. in September, the first time since November 2018 that shipments fell to zero, while South American shipments surged from a year earlier, as buyers shunned American cargoes during the ongoing trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies.
Immigration Crackdown Hurting Ag, Labor Dept. Concedes
The Trump administration said that its immigration crackdown is hurting farmers and risking higher food prices for Americans by cutting off agriculture’s labor supply. The Labor Department made this case in paperwork documenting a new rule that took effect Oct. 2 that effectively lowers pay for seasonal migrants working in agriculture under the H-2A visa program.
Trump Threatens to End Used Cooking Oil Trade with China
US President Donald Trump said he might stop trade in cooking oil with China, injecting fresh tensions into the relationship between the world’s two largest economies. Trump on Tuesday cast the potential move as retaliation against Beijing for its refusal to buy American soybeans.
Gov’t Shutdown Hits Crucial Tools for Farmers, Commodity Traders
The government shutdown is creating financial heartburn for farmers across the country, stalling the delivery of farm loans, the release of critical market reports and the Trump administration’s plans for cash bailouts.
Trump Promises New 100% Tariff on China by November
President Donald Trump on Friday said he will impose a new 100% tariff on imports from China starting Nov. 1 following Beijing’s decision to tighten exports of critical minerals. The fresh flare-up of U.S.-China tensions leaves a planned meeting between the two countries’ leaders at the end of the month in jeopardy.
Farmer Aid Reportedly Delayed by Gov’t Shutdown
The Trump administration has pushed back its plans to roll out economic aid for farmers this week due to the government shutdown, according to four people familiar with the talks. Still, some of the people familiar expect that Trump could go rogue and announce next steps on bailouts this week.
Farmer Aid of as much as $15 Billion Expected this Week
The Trump administration is expected to announce a plan as soon as Tuesday (today) to bail out U.S. farmers stung by trade disputes and big harvests, with the initial outlay potentially totaling up to $15 billion, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Trump Considering at least $10 Billion for Farmer Aid, Announcement Next Week
President Trump is considering providing $10 billion or more in aid to U.S. farmers as the agriculture sector warns of economic fallout from his far-reaching tariffs, according to people familiar with the discussions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday U.S. farmers could see an announcement on a ‘substantial support’ package as soon as next Tuesday.
Gov’t Shutdown Halts Some Payments, Loans to Farmers
The U.S. federal government shutdown that began Wednesday will halt some payments to farmers and delay access to federal farm loans, the latest blow for producers already facing low crop prices, record-high debts and a trade war at the height of the fall harvest.
Nearly Half of USDA Employees to be Furloughed as Gov’t Shuts Down
During a shutdown, about 42,000 USDA staff will be furloughed, according to the agency’s 2025 shutdown contingency plan, roughly half the agency’s employees. Activities deemed mission-critical, like food safety inspections and some lab operations, will continue, while efforts like non-mandatory data collection and most research will cease, the document shows.
USDA ‘Prepared’ for Looming Government Shutdown, Layoffs Possible
The USDA says it is ready in the event of a federal government shutdown Wednesday in the absence of budget legislation, while opposition Democrats in Congress are warning of potential further cuts to the federal workforce, which the White House has threatened.
MAHA Strategy Report Mostly Friendly to Ag, Pesticides
The Trump administration’s highly anticipated policy strategy to improve children’s health outcomes targets ultra-processed food and exposure to chemicals but doesn’t go as far as some industry groups feared in proposing new regulations.
USDA Extends Reorg Plan Comment Period to Sept. 30
The USDA has quietly extended the public comment period for its controversial reorganization plan to Sept. 30, doubling the length of time provided for input on an initiative that has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans since it was unveiled last month.
China Remains Absent from US Soybean Market
Just days before the start of the US export season for soybeans, the world’s top importer China doesn’t appear to have bought a single American cargo for the coming year. That causing farmers in the Northern Plains to face cash soybean prices below $9, and with China absent from the soybean export market, $8 soybeans could continue to be a reality this harvest.
Soybean Farmers Warn they ‘Cannot Survive’ China Trade War
US soybean farmers are near a ‘trade and financial precipice’ and cannot survive a prolonged trade war with China. That’s the warning from Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association. In a letter to President Donald Trump dated Tuesday, he urged the administration to reach a deal with China to remove duties and, if possible, include significant soybean purchases.
USDA Ending Loan Support for Solar Projects on Farmland
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Monday that the department would be cutting off subsidies for solar power projects on U.S. farmland, asserting that they are making it harder for producers to afford acreage.