Politics
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says a multi-agency Trump administration effort will target fertilizer costs and boost U.S. production, with a major announcement expected yet this week.
In a candid conversation with Farm Journal, USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden says USDA’s message to fertilizer companies is simple: “Be part of the solution, don’t be part of the problem.”
Fertilizer price spikes are clouding spring planting as farmers warn of mounting financial strain, while lawmakers push for greater transparency with recently proposed legislation in both the House and Senate.
Trump postpones his China summit, citing ongoing Middle East tensions and the need to remain in Washington, while officials say China is supportive of rescheduling the meeting.
Fertilizer prices were already elevated, but they’re now surging just weeks before spring planting. What can be done to ease costs in the short term as well as fix the problem for good?
Ahead of the 2026 USMCA review, President Donald Trump is considering replacing the trilateral pact with separate deals for Canada and Mexico, a shift that could reshape North American agricultural trade.
Confidence in USDA reports is wavering after recent acreage misses, leaving many producers and retailers skeptical. While experts call it the “best data available,” transparency is needed to restore industry trust.
As USDA and HHS rolled out a $700 million regenerative ag pilot, the real story unfolds behind closed doors. Missouri dairy farmers Jon and Brittany Hemme share what they heard and what it means for producers.
During his trip to Clive, Iowa, Trump reaffirms support for year-round E15, backing corn growers and ethanol, while announcing John Deere’s expansion of two new domestic production and distribution facilities.
What if you only had to give your info to USDA once? NRCS Chief Bettencourt says that’s the goal, one file for FSA, NRCS and other agencies within USDA, so staff can get back to the basics of better serving farmers.
South Texas farmer Brian Jones says years of missed water deliveries from Mexico have cut his planted acres in half, forcing tough planting decisions as a new agreement brings both hope and skepticism.
At a White House roundtable with farmers, a rice producer’s candid message stole the spotlight. Meet Meryl Kennedy, the rice producer who had a powerful message for President Trump last week.
During Monday’s roundtable with farmers, Trump said he’ll cut environmental requirements on tractors and other farm equipment, pushing manufacturers to lower prices and make machines simpler to operate and repair.
USDA will deliver $11 billion in one-time bridge payments to help farmers offset 2025 trade disruptions and rising costs. Eligible producers must verify 2025 acreage reports by Dec. 19, with payments expected by Feb. 28, 2026.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says China is making progress on its commitment to buy U.S. soybeans, hitting the “correct cadence,” with purchases expected to wrap by February 2026 — underscoring ongoing trade commitments and support for farmers.
In an exclusive interview, EPA Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi says EPA’s new WOTUS definition fully reflects the Sackett ruling, simplifies compliance and delivers the certainty farmers have been demanding for years.
The change reverses part of a July trade action that had imposed elevated import duties on multiple categories of Brazilian goods and is the latest effort by the Trump administration to bring grocery prices down.
The companion piece to the Senate’s Fertilizer Research Act of 2025 has the same, ultimate goal: to provide U.S. farmers with more clarity on the pricing of crop nutrients, lawmakers say.
Ag products not grown or produced enough in the U.S.—including coffee, fruit and some fertilizers—are being removed from Trump’s reciprocal tariff list. The move also lifts tariffs on one major ag import: beef.
With Congress passing another extension, some economists suggest a new reality may be setting in: the era of comprehensive Farm Bills could be ending, replaced by a piecemeal approach in Washington.
Growers say they remain cautiously optimistic and believe the U.S. is “headed in the right direction.” But they want the gridlock with China to end and for actual steps to be taken to get their crops sold and shipped.
The White House says China will buy 12 MMT of U.S. soybeans in late 2025 and 25 MMT annually through 2028, plus resume U.S. sorghum and hardwood log imports, clearing confusion over comments from Secretary Bessent.
Arlan Suderman says the U.S. is strengthening ties with Argentina to counter China’s growing influence — a global strategy that’s leaving many U.S. farmers and ranchers feeling sidelined.
Ag applauds the MAHA commission for providing farmers with a “seat at the table” as it developed the action plan unveiled earlier this week, but says some reservations remain.
The 20-page strategy laid out by the Department of Health and Human Services commission on Tuesday offers 120-plus initiatives to reduce what it terms as the root causes of childhood chronic disease.
If the legal challenge succeeds, the federal court decision would result in making the technology unavailable for sale or distribution to U.S. farmers.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin proposes rescinding the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding. If the proposal goes into effect, it could potentially lead to DEF systems no longer being required in tractors, trucks and other equipment using diesel-powered engines — a decision many farmers and others in the ag community would applaud.