EVENTS
- Southern Exposure - March 6-8 (Orlando, FL)
- International Women’s Day - March 8
- Daylight Savings Time begins - 2 A.M., March 9
- Women’s History Month
- AFBF’s Agricultural Safety Awareness Week
TODAY’S RURAL RUNDOWN FROM RFD-TV NEWS:
TRUMP PRESSES PAUSE ON CANADIAN TARIFF PLAN
President Donald Trump signed executive orders on Thursday to pause tariffs on Canadian goods under the USMCA until April 2. While products covered under the trade agreement are exempt, Canada’s retaliatory tariffs, worth about $21 billion, will remain. This includes export tariffs on U.S. goods like orange juice, peanut butter, and appliances. The new announcement reduces the tariff rate on potash imports from 25 percent to 10 percent, aimed at helping farmers manage input costs as spring planting season approaches.
The American Farm Bureau also points out that these countries represent a significant portion of U.S. agricultural exports, and their retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products are causing additional strain on farmers. Experts at GasBuddy agree with the sentiment, reporting that a 10 percent tariff on Canadian energy will further strain farmers and cause Americans to pay more at the pump in the spring.
Additionally, Trump has delayed tariffs on Mexico for one month following discussions with Mexican President Gloria Sheinbaum. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins called the tariff reductions “a critical step in helping farmers manage and secure key input costs at the height of planting season while reinforcing long-term agricultural trade relations.”
On the other hand, the President has doubled down on his effort to increase tariffs on China from 10% to 20%. At this week’s Joint Session of Congress, Trump emphasized that the U.S. use of retaliatory tariffs is fair, noting that countries such as China, Mexico, and Canada have long imposed higher tariffs on American goods. This also marks the second one-month postponement the President announced in early February when the import taxes were unveiled.
GLOBAL FOOD PRICES ON THE RISE
According to today’s FAO Food Price Index, global food prices rose 1.5 percent in February, with a year-over-year increase of 8 percent. The surge was driven mainly by higher sugar prices, which increased by 6.5 percent month-over-month. Dairy prices climbed by 4 percent, while the meat index remained about 5 percent year-over-year.
WISCONSIN CHEESEMAKERS ASSOCIATION ASKS ADMINISTRATION TO RELEASE FROZEN FARMER FUNDS
The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association is urging Sec. Rollins to release USDA funding for the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives, which were frozen due to budget restrictions. Nearly $30 million in funds for 420 dairy businesses nationwide are on hold, including support for Hidden Springs Creamery, which relied on these funds for a new $90,000 freezer.
Chris Forgs of Hidden Springs expressed concerns over paying for the project upfront without reimbursement. Forgs also reported that the dairy’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) loan paid out through the USDA has also impacted the ability to install a solar array since those funds were frozen. What’s most puzzling is that despite freezing REAP funds already awarded for 2025, the USDA is continuing to accept applications for the program in 2025 until March 31.
IMMIGRATION POLICY IMPACTS FARMERS
This week, the Trump Administration reported a 98 percent decrease in illegal border crossings. However, in the agriculture community, immigration policy is becoming an increasingly pressing concern for producers, as recent deportations have raised alarms among farmworkers. The group “Save Family Farming” supports enforcing the law but argues that the Trump administration’s tactics could endanger workers’ livelihoods and the farming community. While they agree that undocumented immigrants who cause harm should be deported, the group argues that agricultural policy should remain bipartisan and focus on collaboration to develop long-term solutions.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH SPOTLIGHT: LADIES RAISING LIVESTOCK!
March is Women’s History Month, and we’re celebrating the incredible women shaping the future of agriculture! Every month, we plan to showcase countless stories and interviews highlighting the passion and persistence of the powerful women in our industry.
Today, the Michigan Farm Bureau introduces us to some fantastic women in ag across the Wolverine State who empower others to help feed the world!
