Line on Agriculture

The Farm Bill has passed the House and is moving to the Senate, but mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) was rejected.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) is advocating for the Fertilizer Transparency Act to help American farmers cope with high fertilizer costs. Although the bill won't provide an immediate solution, it offers a path for farmers to understand fertilizer pricing.

The US Meat Export Federation reported that March pork exports were among the largest on record, with a volume of 285,000 metric tons and a value of over $800 million, the second highest ever.

US Wheat Associates is focusing on its expansion into the global aquaculture market. Julia DeVille from U.S. Wheat Associates discusses the organization's efforts to establish a presence in the South American salmon market as a starting point, with plans to extend into other aquaculture sectors worldwide, particularly in Southeast Asia.

US wheat is being explored as a key ingredient in salmon feed in South American aquaculture.

With jet fuel shortages and geopolitical unrest, Sustainable Aviation Fuel is in a good position to be promoted and even eclipse this year.

The challenges in the global fertilizer market are being further heightened due to bottlenecks and safety concerns in the Straight of Hormuz, which are driving up input costs.

The USDA, led by Secretary Brooke Rollins, is working to reduce fertilizer input costs for American farmers by increasing domestic production.

The detection of the New World screwworm near the U.S. border and a proposal to transfer the USA Agricultural Research Service to the Environmental Protection Agency to register a product that would increase the production of sterile male flies for pest control.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed its farm bill without including year-round E15 legislation, a setback for corn growers and ethanol producers. The E15 debate overshadowed the bill's passage, with a split among Republicans over small refinery exemptions nearly derailing the bill.

The USDA is addressing rising fertilizer prices, which are particularly problematic for farmers as planting season begins. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins outlines a multi-faceted government effort to increase production and stabilize supply.

Iowa State University agricultural economist Chad Hart discusses the impact of the Iran war and weather conditions on commodity markets. He notes that the prolonged conflict is driving up energy costs, which in turn raises prices in other markets. Additionally, adverse weather conditions are adding a weather premium to these prices

The USDA's second draft of the New World screw worm response plan is acceptable to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association after pushing back on the initial draft plan.

High fertilizer costs in the agriculture industry are an ongoing issue. With a particular focus on the impact of countervailing duties on phosphate imports from Russia and Morocco. The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) argues that these duties have increased fertilizer costs for wheat growers by nearly $1 billion over five years, equating to approximately $20 per acre, which significantly affects profitability

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO, Geoff Cooper highlights the role of ethanol in energy security, especially amid high fuel prices and global tensions. He emphasizes the challenges in year-round E15 sales and calls for Congress to pass legislation to allow it permanently.

The National Association of Wheat Growers reports that the U.S. House of Representatives is advancing a new Farm Bill with bipartisan support.

The Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute's 2026 baseline outlook projects agricultural market trends over the next decade. University of Missouri agricultural economist Ben Brown discusses the implications for renewable fuels in the U.S.

. A new industry report by Purina Animal Nutrition, Cattle Facts, Certified Angus Beef, and university partners indicates that beef on dairy cattle now comprises 12-15% of U.S. fed slaughter, with confidence in these cattle increasing due to better performance and carcass quality.

The USDA has established a new Office of Seafood to support the seafood industry, including fishermen of all species. The office, led by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, aims to provide resources such as grants, loans, and risk management for infrastructure, workforce development, procurement, marketing, and disaster assistance

The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has faced significant staffing cuts, leading to concerns about the accuracy of its data

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.