Farmers brace for sharp rise in health insurance premiums (Agri-Pulse): Farmers and ranchers already dealing with tight margins may soon face another financial hit: a steep jump in health insurance premiums. The expanded Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits that have kept many farm families’ monthly costs manageable are set to expire at the end of the year unless Congress extends them. Without those credits, an Iowa farm couple earning around $87,000 could see their monthly premium nearly triple—from about $630 in 2025 to $1,803 in 2026.
Rural communities are expected to be hit hardest, since roughly 27% of farmers rely on the ACA marketplace compared to just 8% of the general population. Experts point to two main drivers behind the increases: the end of enhanced subsidies and reduced insurer participation in rural areas. Some analysts warn premiums could rise 30–50% or more, adding yet another financial strain as producers budget for next year’s fuel, fertilizer, and input costs.
China plans to buy 12 million tons of U.S. soybeans this year (Bloomberg): An announcement from Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, is raising alarms and hopes alike across the farm belt: China has committed to purchasing 12 million metric tons of American soybeans this year. He added that the deal includes a guarantee of at least 25 million tons annually over the next three years, signaling a potential long-term boost to U.S. soybean producers.
For growers, this development comes at a critical time. Soybean futures reacted positively—rising as much as 1.7% after the announcement. On the flip side: analysts caution that while the headline figure is big, China’s actual need for U.S. soybeans may be much lower in the near term as it continues to build inventories and import heavily from South America.
This story is worth paying close attention to for farmers planting next season—it could change export outlooks, influence soybean basis levels, and ripple into input decision-making ahead of planting.