Rebecca Dickerson

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Policy Update

Policy Updates: China resumes U.S. soybean purchases ahead of Trump-Xi summit

China’s state-owned grain trader COFCO has bought three cargoes of U.S. soybeans—roughly 180,000 metric tons—for delivery between December and January, marking the first major Chinese purchase from this year’s U.S. harvest.

October 29, 2025 09:52 AM

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Rebecca Dickerson

Policy Update

Policy Updates: U.S. fertilizer lobby announces push to accelerate growth of domestic production

Yesterday, the U.S. fertilizer lobby released a statement urging federal leaders to prioritize and accelerate the growth of domestic fertilizer production, which could stabilize input costs for farmers.

October 28, 2025 11:23 AM

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Rebecca Dickerson

Policy Update

Policy Updates: China agrees to major U.S. ag purchase plan

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the U.S. and China have reached agreement on the “substantial framework” of a trade deal that includes major agricultural purchases by China, but did not provide detailed numbers.

October 27, 2025 09:59 AM

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Rebecca Dickerson

Policy Update

Policy Updates: Trump halts Canada trade talks after dispute over Ontario advertisement

Trump announced yesterday that the United States is ending trade negotiations with Canada after the province of Ontario aired an advertisement featuring Ronald Reagan’s voice and remarks critical of tariffs.

October 24, 2025 11:23 AM

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Rebecca Dickerson

Policy Update

Policy Updates: Trump pushes for lower beef prices, raising concerns among producers

Yesterday, President Donald Trump publicly told U.S. cattle producers that they’ve been doing well thanks to tariffs on imported beef and that now the administration is floating increasing imports of beef from Argentina as a tool to bring down domestic beef costs.

October 23, 2025 09:21 AM

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Rebecca Dickerson

Policy Update

Policy Updates: Over $3 billion in farm aid to be released by USDA after shutdown freeze

The USDA is preparing to unlock more than $3 billion in assistance for American farmers that had been held up due to the shutdown. These funds — drawn from the Commodity Credit Corporation — were originally earmarked to help producers affected by plunging crop prices, soaring input costs and export disruptions tied to trade policies.

October 22, 2025 09:55 AM

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Rebecca Dickerson

Policy Update

Policy Updates: China skips U.S. soybeans in September for the first time since 2018

Amid ongoing trade tensions, China imported zero soybeans from the United States last month, marking the first time since November 2018 that no U.S. shipments arrived.

October 21, 2025 08:31 AM

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Rebecca Dickerson

Policy Update

Policy Updates: Delay on carbon rules favorable for farmers — for now

A vote by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to approve new carbon‐emission standards for oceangoing ships has been pushed back by one year — a move that aligns with President Trump’s strong opposition to binding global shipping climate rules.

October 17, 2025 03:27 PM

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Rebecca Dickerson

Policy Update

Policy Updates: Labor Department admits immigration crackdown is hurting farm labor and raising food prices

In a rare public admission, the department warned that aggressive immigration enforcement — including drastic reductions in the flow of undocumented migrant workers — is already squeezing the farm labor pool and putting pressure on food supply and prices.

October 16, 2025 08:01 AM

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Rebecca Dickerson

Policy Update

Policy Updates: Farmers form new group to defend state animal welfare laws

A coalition of family farmers and meat companies launched the American Meat Producers Association (AMPA) to defend state animal welfare laws, complicating efforts to include federal preemption in an upcoming farm bill.

October 15, 2025 10:19 AM

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Rebecca Dickerson