Author: staff

By Tom Polansek JACKSONVILLE, Illinois, March 4 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imports from Mexico carry an outsized risk for farmers in Jacksonville, Illinois, as retaliation by Mexico could prompt corn buyers in that country to turn to rival growers in South America. Mexico, the world’s top corn importer, is a crucial market for U.S. farmers, at a time when grain prices have slumped and costs are rising for seeds and chemicals needed to produce crops Farmers around Jacksonville, a city of about 17,000 people, benefit more than most from Mexican demand. They live near a grain facility that loads corn onto railcars…

The National Milk Producers Federation today announced the creation of the Dr. Peter Vitaliano Legacy Scholarship as part of the National Dairy Leadership Scholarship Program. The award will be used to help support a student who demonstrates attributes exemplified by Vitaliano to honor his longtime commitment to the success of U.S. dairy producers and cooperatives. “NMPF and the NMPF Board of Directors are honored to establish the Dr. Peter Vitaliano Legacy Scholarship,” said NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud. “This commitment embodies his passion for education and commitment to making a difference in the dairy industry. We are recognizing Peter’s…

Although corn planting progress hasn’t been officially reported in USDA’s Texas Crop Progress report published March 3, Gary Joiner, director of communications for the Texas Farm Bureau, said some corn has already been planted in parts of Texas. Corn Planting Began in February Joiner said corn planting began in early February for Texas corn growers in the southern part of the state.  Rain in the forecast as March began pushed growers in central Texas to begin planting their corn crop in order to take advantage of the moisture, Joiner said. “Central Texas saw a high level of activity this week…

BEIJING — China on Tuesday suspended the soybean import licenses of three U.S. firms and halted imports of U.S. lumber, stepping up retaliatory action after the United States imposed additional tariffs on Chinese goods. Earlier in the day, China also imposed import levies covering $21 billion worth of U.S. agricultural and food products including soybeans, wheat, meat, and cotton. The three U.S companies affected by the license suspensions are farmer-owned cooperative CHS Inc, global grains exporter Louis Dreyfus Company Grains Merchandising LLC, and export grain terminal operator EGT, China’s customs department said in a statement. Customs said it detected ergot…

September is my favorite month; March is a close second. Both are months in which I not only enjoy the change of season but I also watch for a change of trend.  Let’s start by looking at last September. Every year, I watch for a low in September. It usually happens. (Two exceptions were 2012 and 2022, when prices put in major highs.) Late September or early October is usually when I recommend that livestock feeders book a six-month supply of corn and soybean meal.   In 2024, the market news in September was as bearish as I can remember. The…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun listing planned lease terminations to impact 59 Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service offices as part of an effort to cut costs, according to the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) website. The move is part of the Trump administration’s initiative to reduce agency spending, affecting numerous office spaces across the country. So far, 748 lease terminations totaling 9,587,384 square feet and approximately $660,000 in lease savings have been listed on DOGE’s website. A spokesperson from General Service Administration sent an email to a media outlet in Cincinnati saying that Acting Administrator…

By David Lawder and Kylie Madry WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s new 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada took effect on Tuesday, along with a doubling of duties on Chinese goods to 20%, sparking trade wars that could slam economic growth and lift prices for Americans still smarting from years of high inflation. The tariff actions, which could upend nearly $2.2 trillion in annual U.S. trade with its top three trading partners, went live at 12:01 a.m. (0501 GMT). Trump declared that all three countries had failed to do enough to stem the flow of the deadly fentanyl opioid…

During a time of increased uncertainty in farm and food markets and a prolonged period of low commodity prices, Congress has again failed in its responsibility to pass a new five-year farm bill, and instead extended the 2018 farm bill for a second time, through September 2025. As one recent Wall Street Journal article stated, “America’s Farm Recession Is Here.” When a sports team can’t seem to “get ‘er done,” the coach often has the team get back to the fundamentals. The goals of the original farm bill were threefold: Keep farm and food prices fair for farmers and consumers.…

The United States Department of Agriculture is a massive agency with dozens of programs, departments, and services aimed at supporting farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. But let’s be real — if you’ve ever tried to navigate USDA resources, you’ve probably felt like you needed a secret decoder ring. The agency loves its acronyms, and unless you deal with them daily, they can be confusing. Here I break down some of the most important USDA agency acronyms, what they stand for, and why they matter to agriculture: 1. RMA: Risk Management Agency The Risk Management Agency (RMA) is all about protecting…

By Cami Koons U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley joined an Iowa Farmers Union virtual town hall on Monday to discuss federal actions that have impacted farmers in Iowa, including freezes on grant programs and imposed foreign tariffs.  Aaron Lehman, IFU president who moderated the call, said farmers are feeling the effects of the top-down changes on their bottom lines and their ability to innovate as planting season approaches.  Grassley, who also serves on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, said Congress needs to pass a farm bill this year to give farmers certainty. “Certainty for farmers, looking ahead five years is very…