President Donald Trump addresses the U.N. General Assembly today for the first time in his second term, as senior administration officials fan out for high-level trade and economic discussions.
The president will meet with several heads of state at the event in New York, including Argentina’s Javier Milei. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will also be there and will accompany the president in his Milei meeting, he said on X.
Meanwhile, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer goes to Malaysia today to attend a gathering of southeast Asian economic ministers. South Korea’s government says trade minister Yeo Han-koo will meet with Greer during the visit.
Take note: India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal was in Washington on Monday for high-level talks, according to the Indian media.
The news raised hopes among trade-watchers for a thaw in India-U.S. trade relations, which have soured in recent weeks after Trump singled out India for buying Russian oil.
“[T]here’s reason to be hopeful again,” former U.S. trade negotiator Mark Linscott said in a LinkedIn post, adding, “this is a good development.”
Shipping groups ask federal regulator to reaffirm authority over rail matters
Rail shipper groups want the Surface Transportation Board to clarify its jurisdiction over rail issues. They warn that national uniformity “is being eroded across the country” by local authorities.
In a letter, the groups say Congress intended for the STB to have exclusive jurisdiction over rail transportation and infrastructure through the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act of 1995. But they say STB guidance is needed to ensure that local governments do not “misunderstand or misapply” the law.
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"Without clear guidance from the board on how and when ICCTA preempts state, local and even other federal laws, projects are delayed, litigation is often required, and uncertainty is injected into operational and growth planning,” the letter said. "This uncertainty and inconsistency hurts not only railroads but all American businesses that rely on rail."
The groups include the National Grain and Feed Association, the American Chemistry Council and the Association of American Railroads.
Texas, La., NM farmers struggling, Fed survey finds
Many farmers in Texas, northern Louisiana and southern New Mexico have “significant carryover debt” and will struggle without government financial assistance, according to bankers in the Federal Reserve’s 11th District.
Summer weather has been great, bankers say. But even decent yields won’t help growers much because of low commodity prices
“Farmers will struggle to prepare 2026 season budgets with continued increase in costs, weak commodity futures and carrying costs of this year’s crop,” one banker told the district for its latest quarterly survey.
Ranchers, on the other hand, are benefiting from record-high cattle prices. “Loan renewals or extensions continued to rise,” a summary of the survey says. “The rate of loan repayment declined very slightly and appears to be heading towards stabilization.”
Women in Agribusiness Annual Summit
Agri-Pulse Founder Sara Wyant moderates a panel at the Women in Agribusiness annual summit in Orlando, Florida. Left to right are Virginia Houston, director of government affairs at the American Soybean Association; Alejandra Castillo, president and CEO of the North American Export Grain Association; Gretchen Kuck, economist at the National Corn Growers Association; and Sérgio Bortolozzo, president of the Brazilian Rural Society. (Agri-Pulse photo)
USDA attorney who tweeted about Kirk assassination loses job
A USDA attorney has been fired after reposting what some people saw as a celebratory tweet after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated.
Ashley Jamieson, who had been in the Office of General Counsel for 19 months, said on X she was fired Monday morning. In a brief online exchange with Agri-Pulse, she said officials did not cite the reposted tweet but “used performance during probationary period as the reason.” Asked whether she planned to fight her dismissal, she said, “I will be exploring all options.”
On Sept. 10, the day Kirk was killed, Jamieson retweeted a post on X featuring a picture of a woman who appears to be celebrating, along with the text, “One down, plenty more to go.” Jamieson said on X Monday she had not “made light” of Kirk’s death.
Two X account holders revealed Jamieson’s workplace, which elicited a tweet from Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins. Responding to a Libs of TikTok tweet that said Jamieson would “most likely” be fired, Rollins wrote “‘most likely’ = ‘FOR SURE.’”
“These supremacists alleged that I spoke ill of the [Turning Point USA] founder that was murdered,” Jamieson wrote Monday on X. “Which is just another instance of the fake news and falsehoods that’s perpetuated on the right.”
Hunger groups seek reinstatement of food security survey
Anti-hunger groups want USDA to reconsider its decision to stop issuing reports on U.S. household food security.
Food Research & Action Center, or FRAC, called the decision “shortsighted.”
“This research is pivotal, and without it, we cannot evaluate whether policies are effective or responsive to community needs or document the impact of harmful policy decisions, such as the recent historic cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,” the group said in a news release.
“Eliminating data collection strips away the evidence that proves these programs work, where investment is needed, and who is being left out,” FRAC said.
Karen Ehrens, U.S. policy manager at the Alliance to End Hunger, told Agri-Pulse that the group plans to “provide evidence to the administration along with a request to reconsider its ill-advised decision. USDA has had the expertise and infrastructure to carry out this important survey, and we feel it is critically important that it be continued.”
USDA says the U.S. household food security report is “rife with inaccuracies” but has not provided examples.
USDA to hold referendum over mango checkoff
The mango industry will get to vote on whether to continue the crop's checkoff program next month.
USDA on Monday announced a referendum on whether to continue the Mango Promotion, Research and Information program. The mail-in vote will happen from Oct. 22 through Nov. 12.
Handlers who receive 500,000 or more pounds of fresh mangos can vote along with importers who bring 500,000 or more pounds of mangos into the U.S.
Final Word
“The administration completely understands the anxiety of farmers. We’re very much aware of this issue and it has been a part of … the trade team’s discussions with their Chinese counterparts” – White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, when asked about trade assistance to farmers during her weekly press briefing on Monday.
“I can fully assure you, the entire National Economic Council in this building as well as our Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins have been talking to the trade team about this. There’s been many meetings on this and they are on the ball.” Leavitt continued.
Oliver Ward and Noah Wicks contributed to today’s Daybreak.
