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China over the weekend said the U.S. should stop threatening it with higher tariffs and urged further negotiations to resolve outstanding trade issues. The surprising—and grain-markets-bearish--turn of events came after Trump last Thursday said his summit meeting with Xi would have a major focus on China purchasing more U.S. soybeans. The U.S. attempting to walk back the latest trade flare-up with China did somewhat assuage the marketplace.
American Farm Bureau Federation presses Trump Administration… The American Farm Bureau Federation sent letters to President Donald Trump and Congressional leaders to emphasize the severe economic pressures facing America’s farmers and ranchers. Falling crop prices, skyrocketing expenses, and trade disputes are creating conditions that are too much for farm families to bear.
“Across the country, farms are disappearing as families close the gates on the farms tended by their parents, grandparents, and generations before them,” wrote Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. “In the short term, we urge leaders to authorize bridge payments for farmers before the end of 2025.” While emergency aid will help, Farm Bureau asks for long-term solutions to help improve economic conditions in rural America, including fair and enforceable trade agreements. The organization also wants year-round sales of E15, restoration of whole milk in schools, and protection of interstate commerce. “Federal leadership can now prevent a deepening crisis in the agricultural economy,” Duvall added.
Meat Packers agree to settlement… Tyson Foods and Cargill will pay a combined $87.5 million in a settlement reached with the Consumer Indirect Purchaser plaintiffs in a beef price-fixing lawsuit that began in 2019. Filed this week in a Minnesota U.S. District Court, the Consumer IPP class notified the court that Tyson will pay $55 million and Cargill $32.5 million in monetary relief. Both of the companies agreed to cooperate in the case against the two remaining defendants, JBS and National Beef Packing.
The class action lawsuit claims that the four largest meatpackers, who control 80 percent of the market, conspired to restrict the supply of cattle and fix beef prices.
September tractor sales increase… According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturer’s monthly “Flash Report,” the sale of all tractors during September, 2025 in the U.S. were up 4% from the same month last year. In September, a total of 17,729 tractors were sold which compares to 17,033 sold in 2024.
For the month, two-wheel drive smaller tractors (under 40 HP) were up 3% from last year, while 40 & under 100 HP were up 17%. Sales of 2-wheel drive 100+ HP were down 12%, while 4-wheel drive tractors were down 33%. Combine sales in September totaled 414 down 22% from last year.
For the year, total tractor sales are down 8%. Smaller tractors (under 40 HP) are down 6%, 40 and under 100 HP are down 3% while 100+ HP are down 25%. Sales of 4-wheel drive tractors are down 39%. For the year, combine sales totaled 2,668 through September which is 40% below 2024. -source: Agri Marketing
Updated NCBA Redbook now available… CENTENNIAL, Colo.- The 2026 Redbook from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is now available. The pocket-sized booklet can help cattle producers effectively and efficiently record their daily production efforts by simplifying record keeping, which can enhance profitability and reduce stress levels. In addition to Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) practices and proper injection technique information, the 2026 Redbook includes current information about the judicious use of antibiotics in cattle, fitness for transport, and how to build a biosecurity plan.
Additional pages have been added to this updated version providing plenty of room to record calving activity, herd health, pasture use, cattle inventory, body condition, cattle treatment, AI breeding records and more. It also contains a calendar and notes section. Redbooks can be purchased online at https://store.ncba.org/. -source: NCBA Press release
Notable closes…
December corn futures opened steady and tried to follow soybean and bean oil prices higher in the overnight session but hedge pressure coming off another fairly active harvest weekend forced a low-range close.
- December corn futures were 2 1/4 cents lower at $4.10 3/4
- March corn down 1 ¾ to $4.27 1/4
- May corn futures closed at $4.36 1/2, down 1 1/2 cents
Wheat futures opened slightly higher then fell to new contract lows before recovering to post a mid-range close. After trading lower to factor in a higher U-S dollar, wheat trade turned very quiet with prices sticking close to unchanged.
- December HRW wheat futures were 1 ¾ cents lower at $4.81 1/4
- December SRW wheat down 1 ¾ to $4.96 3/4
- December spring wheat closed at $5.51 1/2, down ¼ cent