Policy Updates
USDA’s latest outlook, released yesterday, projects the U.S. ag trade deficit at $47 billion in FY25, narrowing slightly from earlier estimates, and falling to $41.5 billion in FY26.
Yesterday, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden told farmers at the Farm Progress Show that the Department is considering a short-term “bridge” policy to support crop producers struggling with low prices until new safety-net provisions take effect in 2026.
Federal officials confirmed the case on August 4 but did not release information publicly until Reuters broke the news yesterday.
Early this morning, U.S. health officials confirmed the nation’s first human case of screwworm in decades. Cattle producers are watching closely.
Yesterday, officials shared details confirming Europe will lower barriers on a wide range of American farm products.
A new analysis shows a 6.5% drop in farm employment this spring and summer. Experts warn that if deportations continue at this pace, the broader economy will face rising food costs, business closures, and job losses.
In a letter and white paper sent to the White House yesterday, the American Soybean Association (ASA) detailed the financial risks of losing long-term access to China.
Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Monday that the department will stop subsidizing solar projects on farmland, arguing they drive up land costs for farmers.
Friday’s announcement builds upon USDA’s five-pronged plan issued in June to combat the northward spread of NWS. Multiple state departments of agriculture, farm bureaus, and industry associations applauded the effort.
A draft of the much-anticipated report does not recommend direct limits on ultraprocessed foods or pesticides—hazards that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has described as major threats.