Philip Brasher

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai pledged at USDA's Ag Outlook Forum to continue fighting a Mexican ban on biotech corn imports, and she played down the U.S. trade deficit on agricultural products. Two U.S. ambassadors encouraged American ag exporters to take advantage of sales opportunities in Vietnam and the Philippines.

Deere and Co. is lowering its forecast for earnings as farmers slow down their equipment purchases amid a slump in commodity prices this year.

USDA is forecasting lower prices for most major crops this year as input costs remain elevated and farmers face growing export competition. 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack warned lawmakers Wednesday that the Supreme Court’s decision upholding California’s Proposition 12 could lead to “chaos,” if other states follow suit in imposing their own standards for food products.