At the recent USDA press conference on fertilizer actions, we asked about the Department’s efforts in fertilizer price discovery. USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden provided an update on the administration’s efforts. Deputy Secretary Vaden said, “The way price discovery generally works is you have multiple competitors in the marketplace and it’s through their competition we find what the appropriate market price is …
House Passes Farm Bill 2.0
From Washington, good news. The House of Representatives have passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. The final vote this week, 224 in favor, 200 against. The statement from the Chairman of the Committee said, Working in Congress on behalf of our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities is an honor, even when we have to debate the Farm Bill through …
Cattle Futures Setting Contract Highs As Beef Month Starts
Cattle futures are starting the month of May, setting contract highs. May is beef month, as if the beef trade needed any more reason to work higher. Certainly tight numbers showing up in the recent coal storage report. Beef supplies in storage the lowest in 12 years. That total red meat in storage is down 2% from a year ago. June live cattle …
Secretary Rollins Announces Efforts To Address Fertilizer Concerns Amongst Farmers and Ranchers
Trump Administration Moves to Ease Fertilizer Supply Concerns for U.S. Farmers Federal Response Targets Fertilizer Shortages In recent agricultural developments, Brooke Rollins joined other cabinet officials to outline a series of actions by the Trump administration aimed at addressing ongoing fertilizer supply concerns impacting American farmers and ranchers. The announcement, delivered during a press conference attended by Southeast AgNet, highlighted …
Fed Meeting Review and China Trade Talks
To no one’s surprise, the Federal Reserve Board expected to leave interest rates unchanged at the conclusion of their meeting. Looking at CME’s FedWatch tool shows a better than 90% chance rates will not change at the June meeting or July meeting. There is no meeting in May. There’ll be a new Fed chairman when the board does meet in June …
Secretary Rollins Approves Second Round of Disaster Relief Funds
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced that the USDA is maximizing disaster assistance support for producers across the country by issuing a second supplemental disaster relief program. That payment is eligible by producers who have approved programs already for losses due to natural disasters. That’s all the way back to 2023 and 24. FSA has already provided 6.7 billion dollars for the supplemental …
Planting Delays Across The Country
Weekly crop update show planning progress in this area, but still slow north of Interstate 80 in the Northern Belt. Rain, of course, one factor, but April is ending on a chilly side. Soil temperatures still below 50 degrees, many areas north of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In fact, Ames, Iowa, just last week, surpassed 52 degrees at the 4-inch level. And we …
Ag Groups Putting Significant Efforts into Farm Bill 2.0 Potential Passage
Farm Bill 2.0 Gains Momentum as House Vote Nears Agricultural Groups Push for Long-Awaited Legislation As momentum builds in Washington, agricultural leaders across the country are turning their attention to what many are calling “Farm Bill 2.0.” The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the legislation this week, marking a critical step forward after years of delays …
USDA Announces Additional Supplemental Disaster Relief Program Payments
US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced late last week that the USDA will be issuing a second payment under the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program to eligible producers. The payment will be available to those producers who have approved applications for losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. Secretary Rollins said, “President Trump is the most pro-farmer President …
Federal Reserve Meeting Begins This Week
Federal Reserve Board opens its two-day April meeting this week with very little chance of any action on interest rates. Fed Chairman Powell’s term ends next month, and since there is no Fed meeting in May, this will be his last. President Trump has nominated Kevin Walsh to succeed Powell. His confirmation hearings continue. And in comments before Senators last week, Walsh indicated that he’d like …










