Agriculture News
Acreage figures not far off analyst expectations as Ag Outlook Forum gets under way
According to the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) Planting Intentions Survey, U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 9.0 million cotton acres this spring, a 3.2% decline from 2025, with a nearly 21% drop in the Mid-South.
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.
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Hillari and Bill cover the market-driving events of last week, and Spencer discusses what lower cotton acreage means in the acreage competition.
USDA’s latest data shows a continuation of the trend
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Report forecasts 8.99 million planted acres
Scattered precipitation missed most of the U.S. last week
While some producers managed to stay profitable in 2025, most struggled under tight margins, making them the exception rather than the rule, according to ag lender Alan Hoskins.
USDA increased its estimate for corn exports by 100 million bu. to 3.3 billion bushels.
In addition to higher farm payments and better crop insurance, Paul Neiffer says the most overlooked impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill could be how farmers structure their operations.
Spencer recaps the market action from last week with Bill, and Lane gives an in-depth look at how stocks-to-use ratios may influence price action.
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.
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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.
Direct government payments projected to rise 45%