Business
U.S. Trade officials announced new deals with El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Argentina, as well as a steep reduction in tariffs on Swiss imports.
For rural communities, this shift could mean new housing options for farmworkers and young families priced out of metro markets.
The modest cut should slightly reduce borrowing costs on operating loans, land notes, and equipment financing for agriculture, giving some relief to producers under heavy debt loads.
Produce markets are in transition as fall approaches, with leafy greens and berries under pressure, while vegetables like celery, broccoli, and cauliflower are finding firmer ground.
Grain shippers face lower freight values thanks to weak soybean exports and strong rail service, but barge traffic and forward Gulf loadings suggest continued uncertainty as harvest ramps up.
The EPA proposal laid out two options: fully reallocate all exempted volumes to the 2026–2027 standards, or reallocate half.
Allowing year-round sales of E15 nationally could deliver billions in economic gains, according to a new study from the Renewable Fuels Association and National Corn Growers Association.
Farmers await concrete trade commitments from China. Until then, export prospects for soybeans, corn, and sorghum remain uncertain against strong South American competition.
Understanding the Big, Beautiful Bill’s complex impact on SNAP benefits – that’s the topic of today’s Firm to Farm blog post by RFD-TV’s legal expert, Roger McEowen.
RFD-TV Markets Expert Tony St. James breaks down the state of agribusiness and harvest progress across the U.S. for the week of Monday, September 15, 2025.
U.S. trade talks with China resume, but meat industry leaders say dealing with shifting demand and market uncertainty is nothing new in this side of the ag sector.
Tariffs are pushing up input costs, with fertilizer prices rising $100 per ton and machinery costs climbing due to steel and parts duties.
Bottom line: Despite all the efforts advocates make, workers are still making less money.
China has been largely absent from U.S. markets lately, but not when it comes to cotton. It’s a buy that, traders say, isn’t surprising given China’s limitations.
How many burgers could you buy instead of a house?
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report for a closer look at how Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill changes to base acres and potential impacts on future ARC and PLC payments.
Markets
A mid-January winter storm delivered snow, ice, and extreme cold to a broad swath of the U.S., disrupting transportation, stressing livestock systems, and adding cost and complexity to winter farm operations as producers look toward spring.
Strong production and rising stocks may pressure ethanol margins unless demand or exports continue to improve.
Rising import pressure and tougher export competition are likely to persist into 2026, supporting domestic supplies while capping export growth.
Trade
Cuba remains a small but dependable, cash-only outlet for U.S. grain and food products.
Expanding cheese exports are strengthening U.S. milk demand and reinforcing global competitiveness.
Strong global demand and falling stocks suggest continued price volatility for U.S. coffee buyers despite record world production.