China’s Shifting Soybean Commitment Raises Market Uncertainty Uncertainty surrounding China’s commitment to purchase 12 million tons of U.S. soybeans continues to weigh heavily on the soybean market. What was once expected to be a firm deadline has instead become a moving target, complicating planning for producers, traders, and exporters across the agricultural supply chain. The deadline for China to meet …
The Westward Expansion of American Agriculture: Wheat, Corn, and the Rise of Dairy Farming
Agriculture’s Early Push Toward the West As America grew in its earliest decades, farming advanced steadily alongside the movement of settlers. In an American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold explains that agriculture continued its western migration soon after early colonists established themselves. As pioneers crossed the Appalachians and sought new opportunities, they brought farming with them, shaping the agricultural character …
Ag Retailers Association Shares Support for Farmer Bridge Assistance Program
Agricultural Retailers Association Supports Farmer Bridge Assistance Program The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is expressing strong support for the Trump administration’s recently announced Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, highlighting its importance in helping farmers manage financial uncertainty and maintain access to critical crop inputs during a challenging agricultural economy. ARA leadership emphasized that the program comes at a crucial time, …
Breakdown of FBA Funding
$12 Billion Farmer Bridge Payment Program Offers Relief Amid Market Challenges American farmers are set to receive significant financial relief through the newly announced $12 billion Farmer Bridge Payment Program, a move that has been met with strong support across the agricultural community. The program is designed to help farmers manage the impacts of persistently low commodity prices and the …
How Early Agriculture Shaped Ohio: Insights from Mark Oppold
Pioneers Moving West and the Unexpected Settlement of Ohio As early American settlers crossed the Appalachian Mountains in search of new opportunities, many expected to continue westward through the Great Plains and eventually reach far-off destinations like California and Oregon. But as Mark Oppold explains in this American Agriculture History Minute, a surprising number of these pioneers found their permanent …
Details of the FBA Payments
USDA Releases Details on $12 Billion Bridge Payments for Farmers With the announcement of the $12 billion bridge payment program, farmers across the country now have clearer insight into how this financial assistance will be distributed. According to USDA, $11 billion of the total funding will go directly to producers of major row crops, offering short-term relief as growers navigate …
State Ag Commissioners Applaud Trump Administration’s Bridge Assistant Payments
State Agriculture Commissioners Praise USDA Bridge Assistance Payments Following the Trump Administration’s announcement of USDA bridge assistance payments, state commissioners of agriculture across the Southeast are applauding the move as a critical lifeline for producers facing ongoing financial strain. Alabama Commissioner Rick Pate Applauds Critical Relief Rick Pate, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, commended the administration’s …
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Testifies Against Frivolous Lawsuits
NCBA Highlights Concerns Over EAJA Abuse at Congressional Hearing The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing earlier this week examining the Abuse of the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA). The session focused on how the law—originally designed to help citizens challenge federal actions—has shifted over time due to increased litigation from environmental groups. Testifying …
Baseline Production Figures Released Early
USDA Releases 2026 Baseline Acreage Estimates Earlier Than Usual In a rare move, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its baseline acreage figures for the 2026 crop year ahead of schedule this week. Typically, these projections are unveiled during the Ag Outlook Forum in February, but this year’s early release is raising eyebrows across the ag sector. Possible Government Shutdown …
The Missouri River: A Key Chapter in American Agriculture History
The Missouri River: A Pillar of American Agriculture History Early Settlers and the Great Plains The Missouri River has played a pivotal role in shaping American agriculture and westward expansion. As Mark Oppold explains in an American Agriculture History Minute, early settlers who crossed the Mississippi River often found themselves facing the Missouri River as they entered the vast expanse …









