Trade discussions between the US and China may have significant impacts to agriculture. Agricultural markets across the Southeast are continuing to react to last week's summit between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where trade and agricultural purchases were major topics of discussion. Following the meetings in Beijing, reports indicated China may expand purchases of US agricultural products as part of broader efforts to stabilize trade relations after last year's tariff escalation disrupted export markets and commodity prices. That is especially important for Southeastern agriculture because commodities like cotton, peanuts, poultry, soybeans, and timber products all depend heavily on international demand and export movement. Market analysts say cotton producers in Georgia and Alabama are watching particularly closely since export sales remain one of the biggest drivers of cotton prices. Peanut growers are also monitoring negotiations because trade stability can influence global commodity movement and overall market confidence heading into harvest planning later this year. While no major new tariff rollbacks have been formally announced yet, agricultural groups are looking for signs that China could increase long-term purchasing commitments for American farm products in the coming months. Growers across the Southeast remain cautious, however, because many trade uncertainties that impacted commodity prices over the past two years remain unresolved. /audio Audio Reporting by Josh McGill for Southeast AgNet.

Southeastern States Continue To Watch Trade Discussions Between The US and China

Trade discussions between the US and China may have significant impacts to agriculture. Agricultural markets across the Southeast are continuing to react to last week’s summit between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where trade and agricultural purchases were major topics of discussion. Following the meetings in Beijing, reports indicated China may expand purchases of US agricultural products as …

mortgage rates

Mortgage Rates Are Rising

Mortgage rates continue to push higher, reaching a nine-month high as we look to June. Mortgage Bankers Association says average 30-year mortgage rates rose to 6.65% this past week. That is a nine-month high. Rates had been trending lower since about this time last year, bottoming out at around 6% in late February, but rising every week since. The Bankers …

corn futures

Optimism in Corn Futures

Bottom Line grain analysts suggest keeping an eye on corn futures, a rally back above $5 from just two weeks ago. December corn reached a 52-week high, $5.06 and a half on May 13th, and quickly backed off toward the $4.80 level, good planning progress, favorable weather in most major areas, and continued uncertainty on any resolution with Iran. Bottom Line analysts say those …

sba

SBA Doubles Some Loan Limits to $10 Million Beginning July 4th

Administrator Kelly Loeffler of the U.S. Small Business Administration has announced a new rule that would allow eligible borrowers the ability to combine their 7(a) and 504 loans for up to $10 million in SBA-backed financing. The new rule would increase the cumulative loan limit from $5 million to $10 million, expanding the available capital for small businesses. SBA Administrator …

Central America

USMEF Releases Study of Red Meat Exports Increases Domestic Feed Demand

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) released a study highlighting how red meat exports provided increased value to corn and soybean producers in 2025. According to USMEF, “Nationally, U.S. beef and pork exports accounted for $2.18 billion in market value to corn producers in 2025, $375 million to distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), and $1 billion to soybean producers, …

Dairy

Milk and Dairy Product Futures Spurred By Demand

Butter and non-fat dry milk prices started the year in a deep slump, resulting in milk checks that didn’t even cover costs. According to dairy economists at CoBank, June Class IV milk futures have climbed nearly $7 per hundred since New Year’s, trading over $22, they say, an unprecedented move in just five months. Further, analysts at CoBank point to two very different reasons. …

refrigerant

EPA Cuts Refrigerant Rules Aimed At Lowering Food Costs

Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin announced two actions that are expected to save American families and businesses over $2.4 billion. A final rule revising the 2023 Technology Transitions rule and a proposed technical fix to the 2024 Emission Reduction and Reclamation, focus on addressing the costly overreaching restrictions which limit the refrigerant options American businesses and families are allowed …

tax

Extension On Tax Filing Deadlines For Georgia Wildfire Victims

The Georgia Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service have recently announced the deadline extension for some returns and payments for taxpayers impacted by the Georgia Highway 82 wildfire, Pineland Road Wildfires in Clinch as well as Echols and Brantley counties. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a statement where he highlighted the current efforts in helping Georgians experiencing loss …

milk

USDA Releases May Price Forecast for Milk and Milk Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released their price forecast for Milk and Milk Products for May 2026. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski explains, “With those very strong nonfat dry milk prices, that contributes directly to strong class four prices. So for 2026, we raised our class four price by $1.35 per hundredweight. It’s now at $19.95 per hundredweight. For 2027, …

cattle on feed

Cattle on Feed Placements Expected To Be Up

Bottom Line analysts join others suggesting we may see increased cattle placements and increased cattle numbers in the on-feed report this afternoon. Current estimates show total cattle on feed in April could be up two, two and a half percent this afternoon. Placements during April up seven, maybe eight percent. That would be the first month-over-month increase in placements in over two years. Cattle …