Policy
The downturn in the ag economy has everyone from farmers and ag lenders to even ag economists concerned. Waning optimism is an overriding theme for the row crop side of agriculture, yet some farmers hope President Donald Trump’s tough stance on trade can get the ag economy back on track longer-term.
The March Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor asked economists if they think the U.S. general economy will see a recession in 2025. 62% said yes.
The nation’s largest milk-producing state, home to 1.71 million milk cows, is navigating a series of challenges that add layers of complexity, costs and concerns for producers.
With tariffs and trade in focus again, a recent AgWeb poll asked farmers if they support President Donald Trump’s use of tariffs as a negotiating strategy.
The majority of respondents in the March Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor agree the U.S. is currently in a trade war, but who wins? Ag economists say it’s not the U.S., Canada or Mexico but rather Brazil that could come out on top.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins says the agency is hyper-focused on poultry, but no vaccine is yet available. The agency has ‘separate work streams’ to address the virus in the ‘cattle and dairy’ industries, but dairy is not part of USDA’s primary focus for now.
Less than a year after USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced it was nixing a major cattle inventory report, the agency now says it’s reinstating the July Cattle Inventory report.
Tariff whiplash is consuming the commodity markets — and the possible impact is stirring up quite the debate. At present, President Trump says he’s sticking to his plan to impose additional tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China starting April 2.
While many farmers are comparing the current threats of tariffs and trade wars to the situation they endured in 2018, Joe Vaclavik believes this time will be better.
The exemption, which will expire on April 2, covers the two largest U.S. trading partners. Trump had earlier only mentioned an exemption for Mexico, but the amendment he signed to his order for 25% levies on imports, which went into effect on Tuesday, covers Canada as well.
President Trump’s new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China have gone into effect. While the economic consequences are unknown, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has promised to have a plan ready for farmers, if needed.
While Canada and Mexico have taken measures to address U.S. concerns, China’s response remains muted, potentially setting the stage for further trade tensions.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins confirms those payments will be released before the March 21 current deadline in an exclusive interview with Farm Journal on Thursday morning. She also outlined the timing of the $1 billion just announced to combat avian flu.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services has some farmers wondering—will he be a champion for real dairy or a source of controversy? With his strong support for whole milk but a divisive stance on raw milk, his impact on the industry is still up for debate.
President Trump says tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico will now take effect on April 2, 2025.
The plan, announced by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, dedicates up to $500 million to help poultry producers implement biosecurity measures and up to $400 million in financial relief for farmers whose flocks are affected by avian flu.
Trump said Monday that his planned 25% tariffs on all Mexican and Canadian exports to the U.S. “are going ahead on time, on schedule,” meaning the duties would take effect on March 4 at the conclusion of a one-month suspension.
USDA is working to get more eggs into the supply chain in the short-term, but U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says a team is focused on coming up with a long-term strategy to combat avian flu.
Following White House directives, USDA is honoring existing contracts with farmers, releasing approximately $20 million for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).
During an exclusive interview with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins at Top Producer Summit, Farm Journal asked if the Department of Government Efficiency will target farm programs.
Millions of Americans could see a reduction in food assistance. House Republicans are proposing major budget cuts including possible cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Since being confirmed on Feb. 13, Secretary Rollins has been in the Washington D.C., USDA office for a few hours. Most of her time has been spent visiting farmers, ranchers and ag businesses in Kentucky, Kansas and at Top Producer Summit.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins kicked off the 2025 Top Producer Summit on Tuesday morning, detailing her plan to advocate for trade. ‘We want to find market access for all our products,’ Rollins said.
Spearheaded by National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, the plan prioritizes enhanced biosecurity measures and medication to control the spread of the virus and moves away from mass culling of infected flocks.
Among the secretary’s first public appearances since being confirmed last week, the fireside chat on Tuesday, Feb. 18, will cover key topics driving the future of agriculture.
These customized levies, expected to be finalized by April, are designed to rebalance trade relationships and target unfair practices, including subsidies, regulations, and exchange rate manipulation.
Rollins’ confirmation was expected, as the Senate maintains its quick pace of confirming President Trump’s key cabinet positions.
Trump recently signed three executive orders imposing tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. This marks the first time a president has used powers granted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977.
Following President Trump’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Canada announced its own 25% tariffs on $155 billion worth of U.S. imports. Mexico also announced its own retaliatory measures, but no specifics were unveiled as of Sunday morning.
U.S. farmers and various trade groups are very apprehensive about not only the potential negative impacts of tariffs on the U.S. ag sector, but what they do to garner new trade agreements.