The Agribusiness Update

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called steep new U.S. tariffs on $20 billion worth of his country's goods “a miscalculation” after trade talks with Canada collapsed, and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association criticized a social media post by President Trump regarding beef imports.

Canada has temporarily avoided a 50% U.S. tariff after reaching a last-minute agreement with the Trump administration, and retail potato sales remained stable during the 12-month period from July 2025 through June 2026.

Tyson Foods will close two beef facilities and seek a buyer for a third, and U.S. fruit production has declined 32% and vegetable have fallen 10%, while fresh fruit and vegetable IMPORTS have each increased about 70%.

More than 700 Alabama farmers wandered on down to Mobile Bay for the Alabama Farmers Federation Farm & Land Conference, and U.S. fruit production has declined 32% and vegetable have fallen 10%, while fresh fruit and vegetable IMPORTS have each increased about 70%.

Georgia Farm Bureau presented Representative Lynn Smith with its 2026 GFB Commodity Award, and the summer abundance of U.S.-grown produce makes it the perfect time to enjoy fruit pies and other desserts.

USDA says a Texas facility designed to produce sterile flies for New World Screwworm control will open next spring, earlier than expected, and Canadian trade officials are meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer as both countries work to avoid new tariffs scheduled to take effect tonight.

U.S. agricultural tractor sales dropped nearly 11% in July compared to last year, with combine sales down more than 5%, and Hard Red Winter wheat harvest is nearly complete, with less than 10% remaining, and the crop continues to grade U.S. No. 1.

The USDA has $35 million for partnerships to respond to the threat of feral swine to American agriculture, and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar says she's committed to working with Senate Ag Chair John Boozman to advance a new Farm Bill.

After the Senate Ag Committee failed to advance the farm bill, National Farmers Union President Rob Larew said farmers cannot afford more delay, and although volume of U.S. beef exports was down slightly in June, the value was up to $790 million.

Senate Ag Chair John Boozman says he will reconvene committee members in September to vote again on his farm bill package, and the U.S. trade deficit declined in June but remains only slightly below levels seen before President Trump's second term.

The annual Joint Ag Issues Summit will be held Aug. 20, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, and the International Fresh Produce Association is asking federal health officials to expand how they investigate Cyclospora outbreaks.

California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act could ultimately remove 500,000 to 1 million acres from production as farmers adapt to limited groundwater supplies, and the International Fresh Produce Association is asking federal health officials to expand how they investigate Cyclospora outbreaks.

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins is encouraging Americans to continue supporting local producers following National Farmers Market Week, and the Farm Credit System reports net income of $2.2 billion for the second quarter, up from $1.9 billion during the same period last year.

Harvest is expected to conclude soon for California cling peaches, which are used for canning, and the Senate Ag Committee failed to advance its Farm Bill Thursday after Democrats rejected the Republican proposal.

The South Carolina State Fair is now hiring for this year's fair, taking place Oct. 15-25, and the Senate Ag Committee failed to advance its Farm Bill Thursday after Democrats rejected the Republican proposal.

An increasing number of California specialty crop farmers are minimizing labor and chemical costs through the adoption of high-tech herbicide sprayers, and the average value of U.S. cropland has climbed above $6,000 an acre for the first time.

The Dairy Alliance is proud to again support the Discover Dairy Adopt a Cow program for the 2026–27 school year, and the average value of U.S. cropland has climbed above $6,000 an acre for the first time.

The American Farm Bureau Federation welcomed the release of Senate farm bill text and a scheduled markup by the Senate Ag Committee, and a new study found U.S. farmers spent $1.4 billion MORE on diesel fuel during the 2025–26 planting season than they did last season.

and dairy leaders from the U.S. and Mexico concluded the 2026 U.S.-Mexico Binational Dairy Summit last week, reaffirming shared priorities on trade.

Advocacy groups urge FAA to reject a proposal that would allow large livestock operations and slaughterhouses to restrict drone flights over their facilities, and Senate Ag Democrats warn a proposed reorganization of USDA's Rural Development area could limit access to critical programs.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture warns ag community after receiving multiple reports of sophisticated online scams targeting farmers searching for farm equipment, and cattle groups support reopening of the southern border to live cattle from Mexico.

Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a low-cost, semi-automated, AI-driven method that uses remote cameras to survey bumblebees and other insects, and cattle groups support reopening of the southern border to live cattle from Mexico.

A new study says growing health disparities are contributing to workforce challenges across rural America, and USDA will begin reopening the southern border to cattle imports from Mexico next month.

An electrochemical sensor developed at Oregon State University holds promise for food quality testing, and a Republican-backed ag labor bill is drawing mixed reactions as lawmakers debate changes to the H-2A farmworker program.

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins and the State of Georgia have finalized a Cooperative Interstate Shipment agreement, and a Republican-backed ag labor bill is drawing mixed reactions as lawmakers debate changes to the H-2A farmworker program.

Strong global demand continues to boost U.S. pork exports, with both value and volume running ahead of last year, and U.S. dairy groups applaud the White House decision to impose 50% tariffs on dairy imports from Canada.

AgWest Farm Credit is awarding over $3 million to 48 organizations in communities throughout the West, and China sharply reduced soybean imports from the U.S. in June, while purchases from Brazil continued to climb.

Georgia Ag Commissioner Tyler Harper calls for the U.S. Trade Representative to prioritize protections for American specialty crop producers, and China sharply reduced soybean imports from the U.S. in June, while purchases from Brazil continued to climb.

Mexico's ambassador to the U.S. says the review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement should be completed before the end of the year, and global corn consumption is projected to exceed production during the 2026-27 marketing year, raising concerns.

The California Avocado Commission Board of Directors is seeking candidates for its alternate public member position, and the Trump administration announced new 25% tariffs on a range of Brazilian imports.

The Georgia Peanut Commission is hosting a photo contest featuring peanut farms from across the state to fill the pages of the 2027 Georgia Peanut Calendar, and the Trump administration announced new 25% tariffs on a range of Brazilian imports.

Higher food prices continue to change the way Americans shop, according to a new report from CoBank's Knowledge Exchange, and regenerative agriculture continues to gain momentum across the country.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek requests Federal Disaster Designation for pear growers in the Columbia River Gorge, and America's farmland continues to face pressure from development and ownership changes.

North Carolina enacts new law barring certain foreign entities from purchasing agricultural land and property near military installations, and America's farmland continues to face pressure from development and ownership changes.

John Deere is committing to giving farmers diagnostic tools to help them and independent service technicians repair equipment, and China is once again placing U.S. soybean orders after a trade agreement ended the country's purchasing freeze.

Land O'Lakes is investing in its Tulare, California, dairy processing facility to enable production of ultra-filtered milk, and U.S. ethanol exports rebounded in May, up 11% from April to 189.7 million gallons as demand grew in key international markets.

Georgia Ag Commissioner Harper signs proclamation declaring July 2026 as “Georgia Grown Watermelon Month,” and U.S. ethanol exports rebounded in May, up 11% from April to 189.7 million gallons as demand grew in key international markets.

Mexico remains the top market for U.S. food and agricultural exports at 18% of total U.S. food and ag exports, and USDA and Small Business Administration sign new agreement aimed at helping farmers, ranchers, and small rural businesses challenge unfair federal regulatory and enforcement actions.

As the New World screwworm expands into the U.S. from Mexico, California's pest exclusion leaders already have developed a response plan, and an agreement announced by John Deere and the FTC ensures farmers and ranchers will have access to the diagnostic and repair tools to help maintain and repair equipment.

The National Peanut Board spent an energizing week with industry leaders in June at the 30th annual USA Peanut Congress, and an agreement announced by John Deere and the FTC ensures farmers and ranchers will have access to the diagnostic and repair tools to help maintain and repair equipment.

This year's first U.S.-grown pears are shipping to retailers and canneries as the season kicks off in California, and USDA is launching a pilot program designed to modernize crop acreage reporting by replacing paper maps with electronic reporting.

A new $42 million initiative from American Farmland Trust's Beef Grazing Network aims to help 700 beef producers improve profitability through better grazing, healthier soils and stronger marketing, and USDA is launching a pilot program designed to modernize crop acreage reporting by replacing paper maps with electronic reporting.