Latest News From Policy - Markets

A rail strike is looming despite the majority of unions reaching tentative agreement with the rail companies, but the unions not on board are essential to the operation of the nation’s rail system. 

Farm-state lawmakers will eventually add billions to the aid package, but Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) agrees it could take until a later omnibus spending measure to be approved.

Putin said he now wants to renegotiate the U.N.-brokered Ukraine grain export deal, raising concerns the pact may not be able to last. Meanwhile, G7 countries mull over a $44 price cap on Russian oil.

“Friend shoring means that, rather than just bringing everything [manufacturing] back to the U.S., which is feasible, let’s make sure our supply chains are with countries that are friendly to us,” Heidelberg says.

The Biden administration announced funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build a “convenient and equitable” charging network of 500,000 stations.

With Ukraine and Russia at war in the midst of a world moving away from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a lot to consider in the 2023 Farm Bill. Industry experts weighed-in to share their predictions.

"This is my plea, from a humble farmer in Ukraine to the people of the world: Please ask your governments to stop this reckless war, launched by that cruel and power-hungry authoritarian, Vladimir Putin."

An oil price of $120 a ton could send the global economy into a major recession and fan inflation in the U.S., which Jim Wiesemeyer says is already in double digits for rural Americans.

Efforts to reduce emissions could support soybean demand.

U.S. Senators and Representatives introduce legislation that seeks to return fairness to the cattle marketplace dominated by four major meat packers.

Secretary Vilsack addresses issues in market disruptions, climate change, and animal disease prevention as well as how the Biden Administration plans to eliminate them.

The time has come to realize that agricultural trade restrictions always hurt farmers and consumers. Zambia appears determined to learn this lesson the hard way.

Let’s go back to leaving the 49th parallel undefended and accessible. Free movement between Canada and the U.S. can be the precursor to free movement worldwide.

The dollars tagged for such purposes are part of the Build Back Better program, the Biden administration’s COVID-19 relief plan.

This week Chip Flory and Jim Wiesemeyer discuss concern over high temperatures and a lack of rain, cyberattacks, PORK Week and more.

Cuba could become a bigger market for U.S. producers. This might advance the long-term interests of a food-secure Cuba, if it introduces market principles to people who have suffered under despotism.

USDA operates a federal biobased product preference program, called USDA BioPreferred, first authorized in the 2002 farm bill. As of 2016, the biobased product industry is estimated to have created 4.65 million jobs.

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden has said that he will not immediately act to remove the Phase 1 trade agreement, which President Donald Trump inked with China, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says the department is looking at options for future coronavirus relief for producers.

A committee asked Lighthizer if China had provided any signals they were prepared to hold up their end of the bargain when it comes to making purchases of agricultural products from the U.S. Here's what he said.

NPPC is warning of serious disruption to the U.S. pork industry. That’s especially with severe labor shortages at hog farms and in processing plants if already severe labor shortages are made worse by the coronavirus.

It's getting colder and harvest is not slowing down for some Eastern Iowa farmers yet. It's an area which was once buried with feet of snow. However, the farm economy is on one farmer's mind, even after the snow melts.

The Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour has wrapped up until next year. So, what's the demand picture? Tyne Morgan has an update.

South Dakota is on pace for the smallest crop in the Midwest, which could mean big problems for its ethanol industry. NuGen Energy in Marion, South Dakota talks with AgDay about it.

Producers are looking at African Swine Fever challenges in China in hopes it will create a boost in soybean price. But, Pete Meyer, Head of Grains and Oilseed Analytics with S&P Global Platts says to look at Brazil.

The lean hogs market dipped substantially lower. However, what will the markets do in light of African Swine Fever and the trade war? AgDay Host Clinton Griffiths discusses more with Jim McCormick with AgMarket.Net.

AgDay national reporter Betsy Jibben has the story from Swanton, Ohio. She talks with John Myers, Jeremy Myers and Justin Myers who farm in the area.

FAPRI’s baseline projections point to little change in net farm income over the next decade, which could lead to further erosion in the farm financial picture for agriculture.  For 2019, FAPRI sees livestock receipts not boasting the numbers USDA currently projects.

Analysts predict feast or famine for prices in 2019 and that means farmers need to keep the marketing plan in focus.

Optimism continues to build that a trade deal can be worked out with China as efforts continue to do something about the tariffs, especially with ethanol.

Top agricultural representatives from the United States, Canada and Mexico will also be under one roof in Washington D.C. as there’s hope the updated NAFTA trade deal called USMCA could be one stop closer to reality.

According to a senior administration official, the presidents are still planning to meet but there’s “too much work to do” in too short of a time period to flesh out a deal with China.

Watch AgDay's Clinton Griffiths go one-on-one in an interview with USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue.

AgDay’s national reporter Betsy Jibben talks with Don Close of Rabo AgriFinance and Peter Zeihan, a Geopolitical Strategist and Author.

The Chinese are probably unwilling to make fundamental changes to how they do business with the U.S.

Jerry Gulke provides his take on the market reactions to the G-20 meeting with China.

With the recent volatility and rhetoric affecting the markets, Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group, picks up his column right where he left off.

Cuban and U.S. trade representatives held a conference to explore expanding American agricultural exports to the island nation.

Updates from Clinton Griffiths and AgDay TV Live on Washington policy, snow and Milk prices potential

Beaten down markets do eventually recover—it just takes time. Normally, the trigger is a sudden realization that demand for low-priced commodities is much better than anticipated.

Commerce Sec. Ross is defending the tariffs as necessary to revive America’s steel and aluminum industries but even some members of the president’s party are criticizing the move.

The tit-for-tat trade battle between China and the U.S. continues.

At least two ships loaded with sorghum have changed course while sailing across the Indian Ocean after China imposed a hefty tariff on U.S. supplies this week

China has proposed a 25 percent tariff on U.S. pork, and pork producers are wondering if that would impact China-owned Smithfield Foods.

A highly anticipated meeting over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Tuesday moved the fuel gauge very little.

The U.S. Commerce Department has recommended that President Donald Trump impose tariffs on aluminum imports from all countries.

But other media report meeting will be with Sen. Ted Cruz

Trump, GOP score major legislative victory | Ag cooperatives note displeasure over tax language