Southern Rust infects corn in every Iowa county and at least 18 states (AgWeb): Alison Robertson, an ISU Extension field crops pathologist, says she’s never seen southern rust spread so widely in Iowa in her 21 years at the university, estimating it’s in all 99 counties. The disease arrived early—right as corn entered the grain fill stage—and she’s unsure of how severe it will become. Yield losses can top 30% depending on infection levels.
Karen Braun, chief market analyst at Zaner Ag Hedge and a Pro Farmer Crop Tour scout, notes one western Iowa field she’s tracking is “in pretty bad shape” and says it’s hard to gauge the full scope, though many are discussing it—especially in wetter areas of the western Corn Belt.
According to the Crop Protection Network, southern rust has been confirmed in at least 18 states, including Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and likely Michigan.
- Trump extends China tariff truce by three months (The New York Times): On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order extending the U.S.–China trade truce for another three months, maintaining a pause on escalating tariffs and export controls that had rattled the global economy earlier this year. The new deadline, Nov. 10, allows more time for negotiations and could pave the way for a potential meeting between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this year. Trump indicated Monday that talks have made some progress.
- Mexico sets minimum export prices for fresh tomatoes (Reuters): Mexico has introduced minimum export prices for fresh tomatoes to safeguard its farmers and secure domestic supply, the country’s economy and agriculture ministries announced Sunday. The move comes after the U.S. ended a 2019 agreement in July that had governed Mexican tomato exports.
USDA solicits nominations to the Tribal Advisory Committee (USDA Press Release): The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) yesterday announced the call for nominations to serve on the USDA Tribal Advisory Committee. A total of four appointments will be made by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Ranking Member Angie Craig of the House Committee on Agriculture.
“President Trump charged USDA to advance our unique legal relationship with Tribes, Tribal members, and the Native Hawaiian Community,” said Secretary Rollins. “Members serving on this committee inform how USDA’s programs can unleash rural prosperity for all Americans.”
Authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill, the Tribal Advisory Committee is tasked with providing advice and guidance to the Secretary of Agriculture on matters relating to Tribal and Indian affairs. The committee submits at least one report yearly to the Secretary and Congress on recommendations for legislative or administrative action.
The MAHA movement’s climate conundrum (Civil Eats): While no single weather event can be directly tied to climate change, scientists agree that increasingly frequent and severe extremes are making it harder for farmers to grow nutritious food—undermining the MAHA movement’s goals. The latest IPCC report found that global warming has already reduced agricultural productivity and that extreme weather is eroding food security and nutrition. Without sharp cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, these effects will worsen.
Despite this, the Trump administration has reversed climate policies—exiting the Paris Agreement, expanding fossil fuel production, rolling back power plant emission limits, cutting USDA climate programs, and enacting tax changes that benefit the fossil fuel industry. While officials insist they support MAHA’s healthy eating objectives, they dismiss climate threats to food production as less urgent than combating ultra-processed diets. As a result, the upcoming MAHA report is unlikely to address climate policy, even though experts say it should.
Gene editing and fly factories, the fight to save the cattle industry against a flesh-eating pest (The New York Times): Since the 1970s, a successful eradication program has kept the flesh-eating screwworm out of the U.S., saving the cattle industry an estimated $2.3 billion annually. But after crossing a biological barrier in Panama in 2022, the parasite threatens to return, prompting the U.S. and Mexico to ramp up biological controls, surveillance, and research. Its spread could devastate livestock, wildlife, pets, and even humans, compounding challenges for a cattle sector already strained by high feed costs, drought, and consolidation.
Experts warn that Trump-era cuts to agricultural research and APHIS staffing—over 1,300 workers, including 300 in veterinary services—could hinder eradication efforts. While APHIS says key positions remain filled and the screwworm team has grown, former officials caution that losing experienced specialists poses a serious risk, as few have the expertise needed to fight the pest.