Policy Update
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced yesterday that the U.S. will provide financial assistance to Argentina in an effort to stabilize its struggling economy, a move that has sparked anger among American soybean farmers who see Argentina as a major rival.
Yesterday, USDA announced eligible livestock producers will receive disaster recovery assistance through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire to help offset increased supplemental feed costs.
The agency plans to rescind a 2024 rule that placed habitat restoration and ecosystem protection on equal footing with uses like grazing, mining, energy development, and recreation.
Yesterday, the Trump administration rolled out a wide-ranging report to address chronic disease in children, with more than 120 recommendations spanning nutrition, environmental exposures, physical activity, and stress.
According to data released yesterday, the U.S. agricultural trade deficit reached a record high for July 2025, with imports outpacing exports by $4.97 billion—an increase of about 9% compared to July of the previous year.
USDA grant funding for farmers to test new practices, solve production challenges, and spread knowledge remains tied up and risks being sent back to the Treasury.
The latest U.S. jobs report, released this morning, shows the economy added just 22,000 jobs in August, far below expectations, while unemployment rose to 4.3%, the highest since 2021.
Yesterday, the USDA released a report lowering its 2025 farm income outlook, citing weaker crop revenues that outweigh gains for cattle producers.
U.S. trade officials are questioning whether Brazil is doing enough to curb illegal deforestation as they pursue a Section 301 investigation that could lead to new tariffs.
Lawmakers, facing a looming government shutdown, are running short on time to pass a Farm Bill before the end of the year.
A federal appeals court ruled Friday that President Trump improperly used emergency powers to impose sweeping global tariffs.