Line on Agriculture

The SAF Coalition, comprising over 50 members across the aviation fuel value chain, is working to advance sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through collaboration, innovation, and market development. A key focus is federal advocacy to support SAF production in the U.S., utilizing American feedstocks and creating jobs for American farmers

US Wheat Associates led a trade mission to Egypt to boost demand for American wheat by educating buyers on its qualities.

Deere & Company agreed to pay $99 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging monopolization of farm equipment repair services. The 2022 lawsuit claimed Deere withheld repair software and collaborated with dealers to limit farmers' ability to repair their own equipment or use independent shops. While the settlement, pending final court approval, doesn't fully resolve the issue, it's seen as progress by the National Farmers Union. Deere also agreed to provide digital repair tools for a deca

The March Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer showed improved farmer sentiment despite ongoing challenges such as tight margins, rising input costs, and higher financial risks. This improvement was partly due to bridge payments.

California's Proposition 12 has created a complex regulatory landscape for pork producers across the U.S. The issue is being addressed in the current version of the farm bill proposed by the House, which seeks to prevent states from imposing livestock production standards on out-of-state producers.

The USDA's recent plantings report revealed lower wheat acreage than expected, which Crossroads Co-Op regional manager Brian Irey believes is more accurate than earlier estimates

China is reducing its hog herd due to an oversupply of pork, which is affecting global corn exports.

The American Farm Bureau Federation economist, Danny Munch, discusses the potential Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger, highlighting concerns about increased national security risks due to reduced redundancies in the rail system. He argues that a single company controlling a large market share could lead to significant supply chain disruptions if affected by cyber attacks, labor strikes, or weather incidents

The American Farm Bureau Federation warns of significant economic and operational disruptions, referencing past mergers that caused over $4 billion in negative economic impact and service disruptions. The conversation sets the stage for a discussion on national security risks and the importance of supply chain redundancies in the final part of the series

a potential merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railroads, which would create the first coast-to-coast rail line spanning 50,000 route miles across 43 states. The proposal was initially denied by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) due to incomplete market information. The railroads re-filed their intent in February and are expected to submit a formal application soon.

R-CALF is monitoring a sheep industry bill that increases tariffs on other countries to protect the domestic sheep industry from dumping. If it happens in the sheep industry, it can happen in other livestock industries, according to R-CALF.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is advocating for the expansion of meat processing capacity in the Farm Bill, with discussions ongoing in both the House and Senate to improve access to smaller processors and consumers. The NCBA is also pushing for a pilot program in the Farm Bill to allow custom exempt processors to sell beef directly to consumers within their state. Additionally, the NCBA supports the DIRECT Act, which would enable state-inspected plants to sell meat across sta

The USDA's Beef Action Plan includes a voluntary USA labeling program and beef modernization efforts. In addition, the plan includes a focus on enhancing inspection systems with technical efficiency without compromising the 100% inspection of each carcass.

The National cattle herd is at historic lows, impacting feed demand. Despite this, feed demand remains strong, aided by the poultry and swine industries.

The latest New World Screwworm Prevention Update highlights major progress in expanding sterile‑fly production. A new facility under construction at Moore Air Force Base in Texas is expected to produce 100 million sterile flies by November 2027. Construction is also moving forward on a companion site in Mexico, while the long‑running facility in Panama continues to turn out 100 million flies each week.

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) discussed recent challenges in the dairy industry, noting that farmers have received payments from the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program due to low milk prices. However, there is some optimism for the future, with supply and demand potentially balancing out later in the year and increased consumer demand for dairy products.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) Vice President Jeff Kippley discusses the current state of the beef industry, highlighting that while beef prices at the grocery store are comparable to those in the 1970s when adjusted for wages, input costs for producers remain high.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) Vice President Jeff Kippley discusses the current state of the beef industry, highlighting that while beef prices at the grocery store are comparable to those in the 1970s when adjusted for wages, input costs for producers remain high.The National Farmers Union (NFU) Vice President Jeff Kippley discusses the current state of the beef industry, highlighting that while beef prices at the grocery store are comparable to those in the 1970s when adjusted for wages, in

Robobank's Stephen Nicholson attributes the new norm of volatility to post-2008 wider price ranges, concentrated production in the U.S. and Brazil, and supply-sensitive demand driven by food-security pressures.

The US Drought Monitor is expanding, indicating ongoing dry conditions across much of the country. Matt Montgomery from Beck's Hybrids advises on managing drought for corn and beans, emphasizing the importance of early planning and selecting hybrids with good drought scores.

Richard Fordyce, the Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation, about the newly released Farm Bridge Assistance Program.

President Donald Trump has called for an investigation into potential price fixing and violations in the beef packing industry, coinciding with R-CALF USA's lawsuit against the sector.

NFU is encouraged by Trump's Beef Consolidation Investigation

The National Sorghum Producers' priorities include getting a Farm Bill passed and pushing for biofuels expansion, including a 45Z tax credit.

Planting decisions now can pay off in the future.

AI is accelerating innovation, allowing for simultaneous advancements in areas like hybridization, fertilizers, crop protection, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that typically occur over decades.

The Modern Ag Alliance is a coalition of commodity groups and state Farm Bureaus, which is pushing for clearer, science‑based pesticide regulations.

The National Sorghum Producers (NSP) discussed their priorities for 2026 at the annual Commodity Classic.

At the 30th annual Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas, one commodity analyst discussed the corn market. He noted the abundance of old crop corn, which is bearish, but highlighted the record world and U.S. demand for corn, which is bullish

The ag industry is not giving up, there is still big support for getting year-round E85 sales approved in Congress.

The US faces a deficit in fertilizer capacity, with manufacturers and distributors having preloaded supplies of certain nutrients

The US Grains Council is prioritizing improvement for river access for corn exports.

A veteran market analyst weighs in on current wheat market trends.

Buying a high-priced cow means looking at the long term valuation of her life and the depreciation that can occur.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) discusses the complexities of engine emissions in agricultural machinery.

The US faces a deficit in fertilizer capacity, with manufacturers and distributors pre-loading supplies to mitigate shortages. President Trump calls for more domestic glyphosate production.

The Ag Information Network reported on a new sustainability framework for US poultry production, covering 101 voluntary metrics across three pillars: people, planet, and poultry.

The US cow herd has experienced seven consecutive years of decline, with the 2025 inventory being less than the previous year, indicating ongoing liquidation. Bill Bullard of R-CALF USA suggests that the trend might reverse slightly in 2026 due to more heifers being retained for breeding, but significant growth may not be seen until 2027 or 2028

Farm Hand on Demand is a platform connecting farms with temporary labor. The platform aims to address workforce shortages in agriculture by enabling users to search for workers by location.

The USDA's February global wheat outlook predicts a record world wheat crop

Illinois soybean farmer Rob Shaffer has been appointed to the United Soybean Board (USB) by the US Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins. Shaffer is one of 77 directors across the U.S. who use checkoff funds to enhance farmer profitability and promote soybean trade globally

Despite challenges in the agricultural economy, farmland values are showing stability. Jim Ferguson of Farmers National Company notes that while commodity prices and farm profitability are under pressure, ag land prices remain steady