USDA Raises July Cotton Forecast for U.S. and China The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has adjusted its cotton production outlook upward in the July report, citing both domestic improvements and favorable conditions abroad. The update was shared by Mark Jekanowski, Chair of the USDA’s World Agricultural Outlook Board, in a report via Southeast AgNet. U.S. Cotton Output Grows by …
NCBA Reaction to Re-Closure of US Mexico Border Due to New World Screwworm
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is reacting to the announcement by the US Department of Agriculture again closing the US Mexico Border to shipments of livestock due to the threat of the New World Screwworm. Last week, a New World Screwworm case was reported in Veracruz, Mexico, approximately 370 miles south of the US Mexico border. NCBA CEO Colin …
US Mexico Border Re-Closed Due to Spread of the New World Screwworm
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has paused the phased reopening of ports along the US Mexico Border due to further northward spread of the New World Screwworm in Mexico. Earlier this week, Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality reported a new case of New World Screwworm in Veracruz, approximately 160 miles northward of the current sterile …
Mexico Remains Top Market for U.S. Ag Exports in 2024
U.S. Agricultural Exports to Mexico Hit $30.2 Billion in 2024 According to the latest USDA report, Mexico was the number one destination for U.S. agricultural exports in 2024, receiving $30.2 billion worth of goods. Nearly half of that came from consumer-oriented products such as meat, dairy, processed foods, and beverages. Bulk commodities accounted for one-third of total shipments, led by …
Tariffs, Weather, and Yield: What’s Driving Corn Futures This Month
Weather and Trade Take Priority Over Latest Crop Report In this month’s bottom-line analysis, Mark Oppold of Southeast AgNet reports that the latest USDA Crop Report is shaping up to be a non-factor for markets. Instead, the agricultural spotlight shifts to two dominant forces: short-term weather forecasts and ongoing tariff uncertainties. According to Oppold, “Corn pollination peaks next week in …
Secretary of Agriculture Announces the Great American Farmers Market
The US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced last week at a kickoff event to celebrate America’s 250th Birthday. The event, the Great American Farmers Market, will take place during National Farmers Market Week, August 3-8, 2025 and will allow agricultural producers to showcase American Agriculture. This event will be held along the National Mall in Washington DC and will …
Congress Plans to Scrap USDA Climate Hubs, Following Trump Guidance
The Ames, Iowa-based Midwest Climate Hub, which along with the other 10 regional climate hubs under the USDA, is slated to be cut from the federal agriculture budget. The U.S. House appropriations bill that sets the 2026 fiscal year budgets for agriculture, rural development, food and drug administration, and related agencies includes no funds for climate hubs or climate corps. …
U.S. Ag Economy Outlook: Stable but Challenging for Farmers
USA Peanut Congress 2025: Ag Economy Stable, But Challenges Remain At the recent USA Peanut Congress, agricultural economist Jeffrey Dorfman of North Carolina State University provided an in-depth look at the U.S. economic and agricultural outlook for the coming year. Dorfman highlighted that supply chains are mostly back to normal, giving the broader economy a solid footing. However, housing remains …
US Secretary of Agriculture to Revise NEPA Regulations
The US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced earlier this week that USDA is revising the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. The Department, in a press release, states that this will “reduce unnecessary red tape that is killing jobs and raising prices for Americans.” The department is issuing one set of department-wide NEPA regulations, rescinding seven agency-specific regulations allowing …
Corn Plantings Rise, Soybeans and Cotton Fall in 2025
WASHINGTON, June 30, 2025 – The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its annual Acreage Report today, showing key shifts in U.S. crop planting for 2025. Corn continues to dominate the landscape, while soybean and cotton acreage fell compared to last year. According to the report, U.S. farmers planted 95.2 million acres of corn in 2025, marking a 5% …