Line on Agriculture

Cattle prices are strong but rising input costs and inflation are squeezing producer margins, while a federal judge has certified a class-action alleging major packers manipulated markets (2015–2020) by slowing slaughter and coordinating purchases to depress prices.

The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program (DNIP) extends the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives Program to offer SNAP consumers discounted nutritious dairy products, including whole and 2% milk, cheese, yogurt, and sour cream.

AccuWeather's Paul Pastelak discusses the impact of current heat conditions on crops, noting that while spring wheat is performing better than expected, it will still yield less than last year due to hot weather and less precipitation in the Dakotas and Montana. Corn yields are also expected to be lower due to reduced planting. The House has approved a $95 billion budget resolution, including up to $12 billion in aid for farmers facing financial challenges, which passed on a party-line vot

Year-round E15 sales are still up for discussion in the Senate, and USDA moves ahead with employee relocations into regional US hubs.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rawlins has urged Congress to approve $11.1 billion in additional funding for farmers to provide temporary support while U.S. farm policy is reshaped. Meanwhile, the American Sheep Industry (ASI) welcomes a recommendation from the U.S. Trade Representative for a formal safeguard investigation into lamb imports, which could affect over 100,000 sheep farms and ranches

President Donald Trump has announced an investigation into rising retail beef prices, a move supported by R-CALF USA, which has highlighted the decline in producer shares and rise in packer and retailer shares over the years.

The White House has announced that the United States will impose new 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods entering the U.S. The tariffs will apply to products including alcohol, dairy, automobiles, seeds, floriculture products, flower bulbs, lumber, and animal products. The administration says the tariffs are intended to pressure Canada over what it describes as discriminatory treatment of U.S. exports. Among the concerns cited by the White House are Canada's decision to remove U.S. alcohol

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor discusses the 45Z tax credit, emphasizing its flexibility and eligibility to support innovative farming and ethanol production practices. The Department of Energy's updated GREET (Research and Development Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies) model now calculates the carbon reductions from farming methods such as cover crops and no-till farming, marking the first federal recognition of these practices. The model will be further update

The U.S. wheat harvest has been severely impacted by extreme heat and dry conditions, as reported by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. The July crop production report forecasts a yield of 46.7 bushels per acre, a slight decrease from last month and a significant 14.9% drop from the previous year. Production is expected to be 990 million bushels, the lowest since 1963.

The White House is considering an exemption for Brazilian beef imports to increase supply and lower beef prices for consumers. Sigrid Johannes, Director of Government Affairs at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, expresses concerns about the proposal.

The conversation discusses the growing issue of data centers in the U.S., with thousands planned. Special Envoy John Rich emphasizes the importance of data centers as declared national security assets by the president. He notes Secretary Rollins' stance on the right and wrong ways to build these facilities and mentions his role in shaping a framework for data centers. Rich, known for his music career, has taken a voluntary position to advocate for landowners, aiming to give them a voice in feder

The U.S. Trade Representative is investigating Brazilian policies that may restrict U.S. commerce, with a focus on Brazil's agricultural practices linked to deforestation. Additionally, the Center for Biological Diversity has petitioned the EPA to add cancer warning labels to pesticides with potential links to cancer.

John Deere has agreed to a right to repair settlement with the FTC and five states, mandating that they provide independent repair shops with the same access to repair tools and software as their dealers. This is in response to an anti-competitive conduct lawsuit filed in early 2025. Meanwhile, Growth Energy's CEO, Emily Skor is excited about an upcoming Women in Ethanol luncheon to celebrate the role women are playing in the industry.

John Rich, a country music artist and newly appointed special envoy for American landowners, aims to represent landowners to the federal government, addressing issues with various agencies like the EPA, HUD, and USDA. He is working to reverse regulations imposed by the Biden administration that he believes negatively impact farmers and ranchers, contributing to their inability to be cash flow positive.

The Ag Economy Barometer dropped to 113 in June, with current conditions at 102 and future expectations at 106. Cattle groups oppose the US Trade Representative's potential exemption of Brazilian beef from Section 301 tariffs. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is advocating for ivermectin in livestock feed to combat the New World screwworm spreading in Texas.

The US Wheat Associates is noted for its higher-priced wheat compared to competitors like Australia, Canada, and the Black Sea region. Joe Sowers, regional vice president, explains that the US has invested in breeding technologies to produce superior wheat for domestic use, which translates into better performance in automated production lines

Patrick Sanders, Director of Agronomy Enablement at Nutrien, discusses new sensing technology that allows for efficient field sampling and rapid identification of agronomic gaps.

The United Soybean Board of Directors is making efforts to diversify the use of soybeans.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is looking to expand and diversify its dairy export strategy through Project Diversify, a data-driven initiative that simplifies complex export market information into actionable insights for exporters.

The American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall highlights the Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act as a key solution to the farm labor shortage, emphasizing the need for a year-round workforce. The bill, introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson, aims to expand the H-2A guest worker program and modernize farm labor systems.

The USMEF reported that Mexico's temporary ban on US pork offal due to pseudo-rabies detection in Iowa has cost exporters $7 million weekly. Restrictions on products from Iowa and Texas, along with new verification rules, have disrupted supply chains.

President Donald Trump has proposed an additional $11 billion in farm assistance funding to help agricultural producers recover from losses due to the Biden administration's regulations. This supplements the $12 billion already distributed this year.

(Photo: from farmprogressshow.com)The 2026 Farm Progress Show, taking place September 1-3 in Boone, Iowa, will feature a new agronomy zone where exhibiting companies can demonstrate their crop inputs, such as seeds, crop protection, and fertility products, with live-growing crops.

The Senate Agriculture Committee has released a draft of the farm bill, which updates farm programs, conservation credits, and rural development. The bill builds on last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, focusing on commodity reference prices and nutrition policies, which constitute 85% of the bill's spending

Owen Wagner from Rabobank notes that the energy market's volatility, particularly the drop in oil prices from $120 to below $80, significantly impacts agricultural commodity prices.

The value of premium crops, such as white corn, non-GMO, and organic varieties, which offer farmers higher prices compared to standard yellow corn and soybeans.

R-CALF USA, led by CEO Bill Bullard, is advocating for specific measures in the farm bill currently under Senate review. Key points include the need to revise a cattle procurement tool that allows meat packers to manipulate prices through unpriced formula contracts, which removes cattle from competitive price discovery markets

The National Farmers Union (NFU) is concerned about a policy rider attached to legislation that could undermine the enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act.

USDA Sec. Brooke Rollins visited the Texas ranch that had the first case of NWS in an animal since 1966.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is advocating for changes to improve livestock hauling. Director of Government Affairs Zoe Wallace highlighted issues with current regulations

In a letter recently sent to the US Senate, the National Farmers Union highlights significant challenges in the farm economy, such as high input costs, low commodity prices, market volatility, trade uncertainties, and rising farm exits and bankruptcies.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is currently accepting applications for the Conservation Innovation Grant Program (CIG). Priority areas include irrigation management, nutrient management, grazing lands, soil health, water quality, water quantity, habitat improvement, and pest management. The deadline for applications is July 27.

The Iran conflict is escalating, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) asserting control and showing no signs of negotiating soon, which could have severe repercussions for the global economy and agriculture.

Proposed closure of the Urbana Maize Genetics Cooperation Stock Center and relocation to Ames, Iowa.

The first case of New World screwworm has been confirmed in Southern Texas, and the USDA says they are taking aggressive action to prevent further spread.

The Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) is under scrutiny by the U.S. meat industry due to trade barriers imposed by some African countries on American beef and pork.

The practice of beef on dairy is growing in the industry, with beef sires being used on dairy cows to produce beef calves. This approach enhances feedlot performance and meat quality compared to traditional dairy cattle

The USDA is reviewing additional base acreage for farmers under federal safety net programs, tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will allocate 30 million acres across the country.

The US dairy industry is not experiencing the trade challenges that other segments of agriculture are.

The Public Lands Council (PLC) has successfully rescinded a rule implemented by the Biden administration that prioritized conservation over other land uses, which they deemed illegal and not supported by the Organic Act or the Taylor Grazing Act. Additionally, the PLC has been actively involved in the Grazing Action Plan, signing a federal MOU to standardize grazing regulations across federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior, BLM, and the USDA Forest Service.

The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) is addressing high labor costs and bureaucratic burdens associated with the H-2A Visa program, which is exacerbated by increased lamb imports, leading to depressed prices.

Dry conditions are pushing more cattle into feedlots, which is up 2% versus a year ago.