Returning from a recent trip to the Panama Canal, an Indiana farmer says drought in Central America continues to impact global trade. Carey McKibben told Brownfield Ag News that the lower water levels are slowing business with some of the United States’ largest trade partners.
The slowdown is impacting both imports and exports since domestic producers export a lot of corn and soybeans to Peru and Chile. And, in return, those countries send fruits, vegetables, and aquaculture back to the U.S.
This year is the second-driest year on record in the Canal’s history and ultimately became the first year to require trade restrictions due to extremely low water levels.
Currently, only 22 ships are allowed to pass through the waterway each day. The Panama Canal Authority is set to increase that number to 24 on January 16 if weather conditions are favorable.
Peel says Mexico has a much greater capability to expand its beef industry than it did 20 or 30 years ago in terms of its feeding and packing infrastructure.
October 16, 2025 03:59 PM
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The impacts of the government shutdown have reached commodity growers with crops to move, ag economists monitoring the harvest without key data reporting, and meat producers in need of new export markets.
October 16, 2025 01:03 PM
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In a statement provided to RFD-TV News, a USDA spokesperson reiterated President Trump and the USDA’s commitment to farmers in difficult economic times.
October 16, 2025 11:57 AM
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Support policies that keep U.S. biofuels at the table—marine demand could materially lift corn grind, crush margins, and rural jobs.
October 15, 2025 03:47 PM
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China is not one of our top suppliers of cooking oil, according to USDA ERS data, but does export a lot of used cooking oil to the U.S. for biofuel production.
October 15, 2025 12:13 PM
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Industry leaders say $11 billion in new investments could turn the tide as dairy producers face shrinking margins and growing uncertainty.
October 15, 2025 11:53 AM
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