Mississippi River Hits Historic Low for Fourth Year, Disrupting Grain Transport The Mississippi River south of St. Louis is once again experiencing dangerously low water levels as the region enters the fall harvest season. For the fourth consecutive year, water levels have dropped to critical lows, significantly impacting grain transportation, barge traffic, and cash basis prices at river terminals. “Lower …
NCBA Testifies At 301 Hearing For Brazil Investigation
NCBA Urges Suspension of Brazilian Beef Imports in Section 301 Investigation The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has taken a strong stance in the ongoing Section 301 Investigation into Brazil’s trade practices, voicing serious concerns about Brazil’s treatment of U.S. beef and long-standing food safety issues. Earlier this week, the U.S. International Trade Commission held a hearing to investigate whether …
National Pork Producers Share Optimism in US EU Trade Framework
National Pork Producers Council Optimistic About US-EU Trade Agreement Framework The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has expressed optimism regarding the recently released trade agreement framework between the United States and the European Union. The framework includes targeted efforts to address longstanding trade imbalances that have impacted the pork industry for decades. National Pork Producers Council President Duane Stateler shared …
USMEF Releases Statement on US EU Trade Framework Update
White House Releases US-EU Trade Framework Update with Focus on Agriculture and Market Access The White House has released an updated version of the U.S.–EU Trade Framework, which includes key commitments to improving agricultural trade. These changes are seen as a step forward for U.S. pork, bison, and beef exporters, as the European Union (EU) agrees to reduce non-tariff trade …
Wheat Exports to Rebound in the Year Ahead
U.S. Wheat Exports Forecast to Surge in 2025–2026, Led by Hard Red Winter Wheat The latest data from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service Export Sales Database shows a significant boost in U.S. wheat exports for the 2025–2026 marketing year, offering a positive outlook for American wheat producers and exporters. “U.S. wheat exports for 2025–2026 are forecast to increase by 25 …
President Trump Signs Executive Order Extending Tariff Deadline on Chinese Imports
On Monday, President Donald Trump signed a new executive order extending the deadline for imposing higher tariffs on Chinese imports until November 10. This move is the latest in an ongoing series of negotiations between the U.S. and China to resolve long-standing trade imbalances and address national security concerns. Earlier this year, the two nations ended a years-long tariff tit-for-tat …
Peanut Market Update: No New Contracts, Tariff Uncertainty, and Yield Concerns Impact 2025 Outlook
The U.S. peanut market remains unusually quiet in both domestic and international trade, as farmers and brokers alike await key announcements that could shape the rest of the season. No new peanut contracts have been issued so far this season, and that’s creating growing concern among growers who are still working off the limited contracts from earlier in the year. …
Tariff Tensions, USDA Demand Doubts Add Pressure to Grain Markets
As global trade tensions escalate and domestic policy deadlines loom, grain markets are feeling the pressure. Beyond the latest USDA crop production numbers, key questions remain about how the agency will handle world demand estimates, especially amid ongoing tariff battles. “Beyond the crop production numbers, there remains a lot of questions regarding how USDA will handle world demand estimates, with …
U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement Maintains Key Access for U.S. Red Meat Exports
Following last week’s high-level Japanese tariff negotiations in Washington, D.C., a new chapter in the U.S.-Japan trade and investment agreement is taking shape—one that promises ongoing stability for U.S. red meat exports. According to U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom, the finalized deal is a critical step in preserving long-term market access in one of the …
U.S. Agricultural Trade Deficit Reaches Record High in 2025
The U.S. agricultural trade deficit hit an all-time high in the first half of 2025, marking a significant and historic shift in America’s farm export dominance. For decades, the U.S. agricultural sector maintained a strong global position, consistently posting trade surpluses. But new data show that trend has reversed sharply in recent years. According to Bloomberg, “that only highlights American …