Ag Policy
Commodity markets are waiting for one key answer: Does the U.S. really have a deal with China? With only a $17 billion figure and few details, traders want proof through tariffs, export sales and purchases.
As producers navigate financial strain and D.C. disconnect, realities such as steep input costs, trade frustrations and E15 limbo are becoming decisive factors shaping the rural vote.
After more than a year of waiting, China granted 5-year registration extensions to 425 U.S. beef plants and added new approvals. The move follows Trump–Xi talks in China this week, signaling a trade breakthrough.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signals a return to multiple-use management by striking down the Biden-era Conservation and Landscape Health rule.
Trump administration pauses announcement of new strategies to address record beef prices and support rebuilding the domestic cattle herd.
As the federal government settles with Agri Stats over data-sharing, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Secretary Brooke Rollins launch a high-stakes investigation into beef market concentration and potential price-fixing.
Diesel prices are just 20 cents from a record high, with multiple states already setting new records. Experts warn relief is uncertain as prices could remain elevated through 2026.
Despite daily volatility, cattle markets are still driven by strong demand and tight supplies. Rising fuel costs could pressure consumers, but slow herd expansion keeps the long-term outlook bullish through the decade.
In a major legislative milestone, the House-passed H.R. 7567 offers a roadmap for the next five years of American agriculture.
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.
Following a major stakeholder meeting, USDA is boosting survey sample sizes and moving data-focused offices out of D.C. to rebuild farmer trust and improve the accuracy of its agricultural reports.
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.”
From the fallout of Oklahoma’s poultry lawsuit to the looming threat of screwworm, NCBA’s Ethan Lane warns that ranchers are increasingly left to carry the burden of regulatory and legal shifts.
As the Iran war drives fertilizer prices up 40%, the Trump administration is warning against price gouging. A new survey shows only 60% of corn farmers have secured their nitrogen needs for 2026.
Oklahoma State’s Peel breaks down the impact of the border closure and potential phased reopening.
New voluntary labeling standards take effect as Secretary Rollins shares her support of mandatory labeling.
Secretaries Rollins and Burgum announce a cross-departmental effort to eliminate “red tape” and prioritize American ranchers who utilize public land for grazing.
Democrats plans to introduce a bill that would split meat processing operations and scrutinize foreign ownership.
Halstrom says strong global demand is driven by the unique marbling and rich taste of U.S. corn-fed beef, giving it a premium edge in global markets, even in countries that once focused on lower-cost protein.
EPA’s unwinding of the Obama-era endangerment finding could amount to the largest deregulation in history. One positive outcome for farmers is the change it could mean for the use of Diesel Exhaust Fluid.
New trade agreement with Taiwan eliminates barriers and expands market access for U.S. beef and pork exports.
The proclamation authorizes an 80,000 metric ton increase in in-quota lean beef trimmings imports in 2026. Economists say retail beef prices are unlikely to drop without impacting producers.
Tight cattle supplies, delayed herd rebuilding and resilient beef demand point to continued market strength, with economists saying higher cattle price highs in 2026 are still on the table.
Tax relief, pro‑beef dietary guidelines, fake‑meat labeling, trade turmoil and new disease risks topped the discussion during the beef industry D.C. update.
Following Monday’s right-to-repair announcement, EPA is demanding DEF failure data from engine makers, targeting shutdowns and derates that cause costly downtime, with more DEF changes expected.
Under today’s guidance, EPA says farmers can temporarily override emissions systems to make repairs, as long as the equipment is returned to compliance, claiming manufacturers misused the Clean Air Act to block access.
Bipartisan support of act offers long-overdue relief to cattle producers.