Most respondents in Farm Journal’s March Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor agree the U.S. is already in a trade war. U.S. agriculture hit a record trade deficit last year as imports soared, and President Donald Trump wants to reverse the trend. Over 90 percent of the economists surveyed think the president’s strategy of using tariffs as a negotiating tool will not …
American Agriculture History Minute: Missouri Established Among Farming Leading States
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Missouri has a proud agricultural tradition. In fact, the statue adorning the dome of the state capitol in Jefferson City, often mistaken as Lady Liberty, is actually Ceres, goddess of growing vegetation. The first farms in Missouri were established around 1725 by French settlers near St. Louis and of course the …
U.S. Farmers Expect to Plant More Corn and Less Soybean Acres
U.S. farmers surveyed intend to plant 95.3 million acres of corn in 2025, up 5% from last year, according to the Prospective Plantings Report released today by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Planted acreage intentions for corn are up or unchanged in 40 of the 48 estimating states. Acreage increases of 400,000 acres or more from last year are expected in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, …
USMEF: Proposed Port Service Fees Impacting Exports of Red Meat
The US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) has highlighted that proposed service fees for each US port call for a Chinese operated ship or a per net ton service fee applied on the carrying capacity of a ship may be detrimental to exports. The fees proposed by the office of the US Trade Representative are designed to strengthen the US Shipbuilding …
USDA NASS Releases March Cotton Report
The US Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service has released the cotton acreage projections for the southeast for this upcoming growing season. Becky Sommer with USDA NASS explains. “Growers intend to plant 9.87 million acres of all cotton across the United States, which is down 12Â percent from the previous year. Cotton producers in Georgia expect to plant an estimated …
U.S. Peanut Acreage Expected to Rise 8 Percent
USDA’s 2025 Planting Intentions Report indicates there will be 1.95 million acres of peanuts this year, up 8 percent from 2024. Planted acreage is expected to increase 9 percent or more in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Tyron Spearman runs through the new numbers. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the …
Traders Watching the Weather
Traders are watching weather conditions across the country as new reports and planting season is upon us. Mark Oppold has more details. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida …
American Agriculture History Minute: Transitioning of the Midwest
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Between the Civil War and the end of World War II, the Midwest transitioned from a rural economy to an industrial agricultural economy as the Midwest rapidly industrialized. The expansion of railroads to the west transformed Kansas City into a major transportation hub. The growth of the Texas cattle industry along …
USDA Recaps Lower Hog and Pig Inventory for First Quarter 2025
The US Department of Agriculture has adjusted the inventories in their March hogs and pigs report. USDA Livestock Analyst Michael McConnell provided an insight to the report. Sow farrowings were also lower from 2024 down 1 per cent at 2.89 million head for the winter quarter. McConnell also provided an insight on industry expectations. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides …
Tort Reform Update and Truck Weight Bill Passage in Georgia Legislature
As the legislative session continues in Georgia, there have been some significant updates on bills going through the process. We caught up with Will Bentley from the Georgia Agribusiness Council for an update.  Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida …










