Policy
StoneX analyst doubts Belarusian potash will materially lower US prices or boost supplies
As Trump and Xi prepare to meet, economists say China’s soybean purchases have little to do with supply and demand — and everything to do with political favor and easing trade tensions.
USDA set new ARC/PLC enrollment deadlines this week and added 30 million base acres for 2026 and 2027. Economists say this gives farmers a clearer read on the programs, but warn against chasing whichever pays the most.
Boozman declines to reopen the bill for amendments as Democrats keep pressing on SNAP cost share. Year-round E15 and mandatory COOL make the cut, now the question is whether the Senate can find floor time before the end of the year.
Two months after a NCGA study showed U.S. farmers pay double what Brazilian farmers pay for some crop inputs, Iowa’s senior senator is asking President Trump to step in.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announces new approach to streamline reporting, improve acreage and yield estimates, while expanding privacy and transparency across agricultural data.
A day before Trump paused tariffs on 300,000 metric tons of beef imports, WSJ reports he met privately with JBS co-owner Joesley Batista, tying the move to a firm under DOJ scrutiny as cattle producers push back.
The agency’s approved Small Refinery Exemptions totaling 1.76 billion RINs, but offset that by proposing to reallocate 770 million RINs for 2026 and 2027.
Seeking to ease historic grocery inflation, the administration opens the doors to foreign beef, but the U.S. cattle industry says the move will hurt domestic herds. The announcement on Friday sent the futures markets lower.
Sentiment in the July Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor is improving and no one sees the downturn deepening, but interest rates, elevated input costs and corn’s shaky price outlook still cloud the path to 2027.
Senate Ag Committee’s 10-11 farm bill vote stalls the legislation, but a bipartisan 17-6 vote on mandatory country-of-original labeling keeps mandatory beef labeling alive for a potential September revote.
Data shows soybean crush and renewable diesel output are hitting all-time highs, driven by strong domestic biofuel policy, while new U.S. tariffs on Brazilian tallow add fresh demand in the biofuel feedstock market.
Former US Trade Representative Bob Lighthizer says Mexico, not Canada, will be the biggest test in USMCA talks, citing trade deficits. That’s as agriculture leaders push to protect billions in North American trade.
Heightened tensions in the Middle East are creating renewed Strait of Hormuz uncertainty. Josh Linville explains why fewer vessels, rising risks and global uncertainty could drive fertilizer prices higher for fall.
A Canadian ag policy leader says annual USMCA reviews could slow investment across North America but sees an opportunity for the U.S. and Canada to reach a win-win on dairy.
The farm economy is at a crossroads. High costs and negative margins are driving record government payments, but economists say innovation, lower costs and new demand are key to restoring profitability.
Farm Journal’s June Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor shows a weaker ag economy versus a year ago, but more than 80% expect consistent or better conditions over the next 12 months despite ongoing margin pressure.
The U.S. lets the 16-year USMCA extension deadline pass, opting for rolling annual talks. Experts break down what this means for “predictability” and the leverage needed for disputes.
USDA says Trump’s executive order suspending phosphate duties could cut fertilizer prices by about 22%, saving U.S. farmers an estimated $1.82 billion annually across 97 million planted acres.
The Executive Order signed by President Trump Monday comes after years of farmer lobbying against phosphate duties, with Texas A&M estimating $6.9B in added costs since 2021 tied to sharply higher DAP fertilizer prices.
The new order aims to scale regenerative practices and speed up EPA pesticide approvals, but ag retailers worry the MAHA influence could bring unnecessary redundancy to chemical regulations.
The joint letter highlights a 150% spike in fertilizer prices and calls for immediate relief for the struggling U.S. farm economy.
U.S. farmers and ag economists remain concerned by mounting global competition and the reliability of recent trade agreements. However, some economists say emerging market shifts could create opportunities later this year.
The May Farm Journal Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor reveals growing concern over farm profitability, rising debt costs and long-term financial stress, with economists saying many operations may need significant restructuring to remain viable.
From canola to hemp, recent history shows new crops only stick when margin and infrastructure line up for years—not seasons.
FTC chairman Andrew Ferguson announced a formal investigation Thursday into fertilizer pricing and market concentration, drawing a standing ovation from farmers representing 18 states.
California farmers warn a proposed nitrogen bill could drastically limit fertilizer use, expand reporting requirements and make growing crops like citrus, lettuce and pistachios nearly impossible.