Washington Insider

Tyson's recent announcement in the beef processing sector has caused discussion in the industry. The closure and cutback it announced will reduce slaughter capacity by 7.5%-9% amid historically low cattle numbers.

Tyson Foods announced on Friday that it will close its Lexington, Nebraska, beef facility, affecting 3,000 employees, and will convert its Amarillo, Texas, plant to single-shift operations. Production will increase at other facilities.

USDA on Monday announced Stage 2 of the disaster relief program covering 2023-24 crops, milk and stored commodity losses not included in Stage 1. Enrollment opens Nov. 24 through April 30, 2026. A USDA official also said a 2025 aid announcement is coming soon.

USDA last week conducted what it billed as the largest trade mission in the department's history to Mexico, conducting more than 500 business meetings in three days. The department also announced the opening of a new Tampico facility that will aerially disperse sterile flies.

Some positive signs about U.S. soybean sales to China began to emerge late this week, but questions remain about China's commitments. Speculation about an aid package for farmers is also growing.

A federal appeals court ordered USDA to rewrite bioengineered food labeling rules, ruling the agency unlawfully excluded highly refined foods and cannot use QR codes alone.

We'll see how commodity markets respond to any additional details of a trade deal with China, also watch for details on USDA support payments and how those pan out after said trade deal. Also, parts of U.S. and Canada will see several clipper weather systems pass through.

An executive at an independent seed company in Iowa highlighted some of the reasons why major seed companies have been able to continue raising their technology fees and avoid competing with smaller companies trying to use off-patent technology. That was just one issue raised in a hearing...

Cattle markets fell on Friday after news of potential Mexican cattle import reopening discussions. Imports have been restricted since July due to New World screwworm detections.

In posts on social platform X, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said FSA offices will resume core operations, including critical services for farm loan processing, ARC/PLC payments and other programs. Rollins referenced more than "$3 billion in assistance farmers have counted on in their...

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has been trying to convince the White House to reopen Farm Service Agency offices so farmers can utilize Marketing Assistance Loans. Based on MAL usage, that is likely affecting farmers of some commodity crops more than others.

Farmer voices are being used for political messages over national debates, such as the government shutdown and the trade war with China. The videos and livestream events highlight how farmers are caught in the middle of national political feuds while they wait for resolutions to issues largely...

There is anger in the countryside among farmers who are facing their third straight year of negative returns on their crops, but also overwhelmingly support President Trump. Farmers are coping with low prices, high inputs and closed export markets in the middle of this harvest and partial...

President Donald Trump and members of his administration continue to tease that an aid package of up to $15 billion for farmers could be announced this week. More than 200 farm organizations wrote the president to thank him for focusing on issues facing rural America while also pressing the...

Economists and others weighed in this past week over lost U.S. soybean sales to China and how Brazil is taking advantage of its competitive edge right now. China ended September with no new U.S. soybean buys on the books.

Corn was 18% harvested, and the remaining crop was rated 66% good to excellent as of Sept. 28. Soybeans were 19% harvested, and condition was rated 62% good to excellent. Winter wheat was 34% planted.

The American Soybean Association expressed its frustration over U.S. moves to support Argentina, which then led China to aggressively purchase Argentine soybeans. A leader for the National Sorghum Producers also highlighted how important the Chinese market is for that crop's value.

This week we'll report from several national ag meetings, update how the New World Screwworm is moving closer to the U.S. border, watch harvest conditions in the U.S., and watch as South America gets more needed moisture ahead of planting.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is in London, England, and told the Financial Times newspaper that the administration could soon provide details about an aid package for U.S. farmers.

Environmental groups petitioned a federal appeals court to review the Trump administration's decision to impose no additional wastewater discharge regulations on meat and poultry plants.