trade agreement

China Retaliatory Tariffs and Crop Reports Delayed

Dan Economy, Export/Import, Exports/Imports, Tariff, Trade

Analysts Question Lack of Clarity on U.S.–China Trade Deal as USDA Delays Crop Report While officials in Washington confirm that a U.S.–China trade deal is in place, analysts from the Bottom Line Report say the situation remains uncertain—largely because Beijing has yet to release any official statements confirming or clarifying the agreement. “Everyone agrees we have a trade deal with …

h2a

Department of Labor Reopens Operations To Process H-2A Applications

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Labor and Immigration, USDA

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has reopened a portion of its operations despite the ongoing federal government shutdown to process H-2A applications. As many agricultural producers begin preparing for the spring 2026 harvest, this reopening means that the DOL can now resume processing labor certification applications and prevailing wage determinations in the H-2A program. This move is especially significant …

dairy cow

Dairy Cow Numbers Surging With Dairy Product Prices Falling

Dan Cattle, Dairy, Economy

U.S. Dairy Cow Numbers Surge as Milk Prices Begin to Fall According to Southern Ag, the U.S. dairy sector has seen a notable increase in dairy cow numbers since the start of the year. The rise is largely due to profitable milk prices and a decline in feed costs throughout 2024, which encouraged producers to expand their herds. However, the …

commodities

Tracking Commodities

Dan Agri-Business, Commodities, Economy

Platinum, Silver, and Gold Lead the 2025 Bottom Line Report Commodity Rankings According to the latest Bottom Line Report, which tracks 48 commodities daily, the strongest performers so far this year are precious metals, with platinum, silver, and gold taking the top three spots. The report monitors a broad range of markets—livestock, grains, energy, precious metals, and soft commodities—to gauge …

cattle market

Cattle Market Slows Down

Dan Beef, Cattle, Commodities, Economy, Export/Import, Exports/Imports, Marketing, Trade

Cattle Market Faces Steep Decline as Brazil Seeks Beef Trade Talks with U.S. There’s a decades-old adage in the commodity trade that says, “any bull market takes the stairs up, but it takes the elevator down in a hurry.” That phrase has proven true once again in the cattle trade, as recent market activity shows a steep and sudden decline …

Specialty Crop Block Grant

Alabama Department of Ag Announces Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Projects

Dan Agri-Business, Alabama, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI), Economy, Funding, Specialty Crops

Alabama Receives $519,000 in USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Funding The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $519,000 to Alabama through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). This funding will support 14 projects designed to enhance the competitiveness, marketing, education, and research of Alabama’s growing specialty crop sector. …

usmef

USMEF Reaction to Trade Deals

Dan Agri-Business, Beef, Cattle, Economy, Export/Import, Exports/Imports, Trade, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF)

U.S. Meat Export Federation Applauds New Trade Agreements with ASEAN Nations The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced reciprocal trade agreements with Cambodia and Malaysia, along with new frameworks for agreements with Vietnam and Thailand — a move that could open significant new opportunities for American red meat exports. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is welcoming the announcement as …

market

What has happened to the Peanut Market

Dan Commodities, Economy, Peanuts

Global Peanut Surplus Drives Down U.S. Peanut Prices Peanut farmers across the U.S. are watching prices fall this season as a global peanut surplus weighs heavily on the market. Many producers are reporting that only about half of their crop is selling at $500 per ton, while the rest is being placed into the loan program at $355 per ton …

Pork Checkoff

Pork Industry Celebrates 40 Years of the Pork Checkoff

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Events, Pork

Pork Industry Marks 40 Years of the Pork Checkoff As October Pork Month comes to a close, the National Pork Board and state pork associations are celebrating a milestone — the 40th anniversary of the Pork Checkoff. For four decades, the program has driven marketing, research, and education efforts to promote U.S. pork and support producers nationwide. Approved by pork …

cow numbers

Milk Profitability and increasing milk cow numbers

Dan Cattle, Dairy, Economy, Marketing

U.S. Dairy Cow Numbers Reach Highest Level Since 1993 While recent agricultural headlines have focused on beef imports from Argentina, the U.S. dairy sector is experiencing a major development of its own — a significant increase in dairy cow numbers and record-breaking milk production. According to the USDA’s August Milk Production Report, there are now 9.52 million dairy cows in …