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ASA weighs-in on China trade implications… U.S soybean growers are anxious for China to end its unofficial embargo, which has pressured U.S. soybean prices. This as a Chinese negotiator arrives in the U.S. for more tariff talks. American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland told ABC News U.S. producers cannot survive.
“25 percent of our soybeans that we raise go to China, and the other 25 percent are exported to other countries. So, trade is vital to our future, and we must have consistent, robust trade to be profitable on our farms,” Ragland remarked.
China has hit U.S. beans with a tariff reported as high as 23 percent and replaced them with those from Brazil, pushing U.S. prices downward. Amid its pressure campaign and a nearing U.S. harvest, farmers hope for a resolution, but are want for reasons to be optimistic a solution will come soon.
New World Screwworm infection info slow-played… The first human infected with the New World screwworm in the U.S. has recovered from the flesh-eating parasite. Experts found no sign of transmission to other people or animals. The Health and Human Services Department said the disease was confirmed on August 4 in a person who traveled to El Salvador.
The CDC then reported it on August 24 after a three-week delay. R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard indicated that neither the CDC nor the USDA had disclosed the NWS detection to the public. Instead, one or both agencies had selectively notified only certain industry participants of the detection, thereby giving them insider information regarding an issue with potentially severe ramifications.
“Independent U.S. livestock producers rely exclusively on the USDA to protect the health and safety of their livestock herds against the introduction of foreign pests,” Bullard said.
Elimination of Roadless Rule grabs a gear… WASHINGTON, August 27, 2025 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has taken the next step in the rulemaking process for rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule by opening a public comment period.
“We are one step closer to common sense management of our national forest lands. Today marks a critical step forward in President Trump’s commitment to restoring local decision-making to federal land managers to empower them to do what’s necessary to protect America’s forests and communities from devastating destruction from fires,” said Secretary Rollins.
“For nearly 25 years, the Roadless Rule has frustrated land managers and served as a barrier to action – prohibiting road construction, which has limited wildfire suppression and active forest management,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “The forests we know today are not the same as the forests of 2001. They are dangerously overstocked and increasingly threatened by drought, mortality, insect-borne disease, and wildfire. It’s time to return land management decisions where they belong – with local Forest Service experts who best understand their forests and communities.” -source: USDA Press Release
Idaho Farm Bureau laments lack of workers… A lack of available workers is an ongoing concern among farmers, ranchers and dairy producers. Bryan Searle, President of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, says one of the biggest issues that needs to be addressed is the lack of year-round guest workers.
Searle noted, “I’m very much in favor of securing the border, get the criminals out and everything that was infiltrating our country, but we have to have people in certain jobs to do those jobs. And while Americans used to do more of those jobs, today there’s less interest in doing those jobs.”
Currently, the H-2A program does not work for dairy, livestock, or any other commodity that is not seasonal. Searle stressed the farming community nationwide needs some kind of program, whether new or an adjusted H-2A that allows for year-round workers. He added the lack of movement by Congress doesn’t benefit the Ag industry, it doesn’t benefit workers, it creates a no-win situation.
Rural population continues upward growth track… The U.S. population in rural (nonmetropolitan) counties grew by more than 134,000 between 2023 and 2024, an increase of 0.29 percent. Although the growth rate was lower than in urban (metropolitan) counties, which grew by 1.1 percent, rural populations have grown annually from 2020-24 after nearly a decade of population loss (percent change less than zero).
Population growth occurs from natural change (births minus deaths) and net migration (in-migration minus out-migration). Since 2017, rural counties have experienced more deaths than births, meaning that natural change has been negative for eight consecutive years.
Net migration, however, has significantly increased, beginning in 2021, leading to overall population growth. Between 2020 and 2024, deaths exceeded births by 563,550, migration added 974,379 people to rural counties. About 69 percent of in-migration was due to domestic migration, while the remainder was due to international migration. -source USDA
Notable Closes:
The entire soy complex was under pressure early in the session on corrective action. Soybean oil and meal each posted losses, limiting the upside for soybean futures today. The market continues to sulk over a lack of demand news from China, dampening bullish enthusiasm.
- September soybeans drifted 1 ¼ cent lower to $10.27 1/4
- November beans softened 2 cents to $10.47 ½
Cash cattle trade has commenced at firmer prices this week, indicating potential for another record week of trade. Both fats and feeders backed off session highs but still settled in positive territory.
- October live cattle firmed $1.32 1/2 to $239.52 ½
- and December live cattle added 97 ½ cents to $240.90
- September feeders gained 35 cents to $365.40