DES MOINES, IOWA (RFD-TV) — Brazilian farmers are ramping up soybean production, seizing a new opportunity from the U.S.-China trade war. Farmers in São Paulo are planting more crops, as China looks to Brazilian beans for the first half of 2026. Brazil’s government expects the next harvest to rise by nearly four percent. Analysts say the shift is short-term, but for now, Brazil is cashing in on global trade tensions.
Of course, this all hinges on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s announcement over the weekend that China will buy more soybeans from the U.S. The hope that an agreement is headed our way has sent soybeans higher this week. President Trump and China’s president meet on Thursday in South Korea.
The President’s trip to Asia this week follows a trade mission by the Iowa Soybean Association. Farmers say they were reminded that U.S. soybeans have an international reputation that can be easy to take for granted here at home.
Related Stories
CattleCon 2026 officially kicks off Tuesday and continues through Thursday, bringing producers together to shape the future of the U.S. cattle industry.
Traders say that shift could eventually prompt the USDA to scale back soybean export projections, noting the outlook differs greatly for other grain commodities.
The federal government’s status is far from the only factor moving the markets on Friday. Two critical reports released today on producer inflation and the status of the U.S. cattle herd are also top of mind.
The changing political climate in America is leading to a drop in migrant crossings near the U.S.-Mexico border, where ranchers like Dr. Mike Vickers say they witnessed horrors from death to child trafficking.
Record milk output looks strong today, but shrinking replacement numbers mean future supply adjustments could be faster and more volatile.
Often overlooked, cotton wholesalers act as stabilizers during market stress, translating fragmented retail demand into workable production programs for mills and manufacturers.