Expert: Trade and Financial Uncertainties Weigh on Farmers Ahead of Spring Planting

Lewis Williamson with HTS Commodities discusses current farmer sentiment, trade considerations, and the market factors shaping the outlook for the upcoming planting season.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD NEWS) — As producers look ahead to planting season, attention is being pulled in several directions, from newly released guidance on the 45Z tax credit to harvest progress in South America and ongoing trade uncertainty.

Lewis Williamson with HTS Commodities joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to share what he is hearing from farmers as they navigate the early-season outlook.

In his interview with RFD NEWS, Williamson said producers are closely watching policy developments alongside global supply factors as they make marketing and input decisions.

Williamson also discussed U.S. trade, touching on the upcoming formal review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) scheduled for July, and explained how those discussions, combined with broader trade developments, could influence prices, exports, and overall confidence among U.S. farmers.

He emphasized that while uncertainty remains, producers are staying engaged and informed as they prepare for the months ahead.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

China’s beef policy risk stems from domestic volatility, making export demand inherently unstable. Jake Charleston with Specialty Risk Insurance offers his perspective on cattle markets, risk management, and producer sentiment.
USDA flash corn sales, Cattle on Feed and Inventory reports, and beef packer antitrust concerns dominate January agricultural market news.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said permanent access to the higher ethanol blend would provide farmers with much-needed certainty while supporting domestic crop demand.
Food prices increased in December, but not as much as expected, according to the latest Consumer Price Index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
Lewis Williamson with HTS Commodities joined us to provide analysis on the January WASDE report and expectations for grain markets going forward.
Market reaction was bearish for corn and soybeans, with analysts noting that abundant supplies amid tepid demand could keep price pressure on agricultural commodities.