South Korea, in a deal struck with the Trump administration last November, agreed to buy at least 132,304 metric tons of U.S. rice annually and the country is getting close to meeting that promise for 2020, according to U.S. government and industry officials.

The U.S. will be losing one of its staunchest advocates in China for U.S. beef, ethanol and other farm goods in early October. That’s when Ambassador Terry Branstad says he is stepping down from being the top U.S. representative in Beijing.

Last week’s Hurricane Laura may have struck near the border of Texas and Louisiana, but most of the damage, including losses in agriculture, is being recorded to the east of the Lone Star State.

American rice farmers are counting on a recent $450 million loan from the U.S. Export-Import bank to Iraq to restart the country’s rice imports.

China Wednesday officially rejected U.S. claims that China has failed to comply with a 2019 World Trade Organization ruling against China’s price supports for its wheat and rice farmers – subsidies that U.S. farmers say hurt international trade.

The U.S. and China are set to go head to head at the World Trade Organization in Geneva next week in a brewing battle over Chinese wheat and rice subsidies, and neither side is showing any sign of backing down.

U.S. rice farmers are still waiting for China to begin importing U.S. rice, and optimism is strong despite years of disappointments.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will be in Florida today as he continues touring the country to promote the Farmers and Families Food Box program even as congressional Democrats raise questions about how USDA is managing it.

The number of people facing hunger is on the rise around the world because of the global COVID-19 crisis, and humanitarian organizations and farm groups are pushing for the Trump administration to boost donations of rice, wheat and other commodities.

The Market Facilitation Program has made a significant difference in liquidity for many farms across the country, including Midwest grain operations as well as cotton and rice growers, but many farms are still likely to end this year with negative ending cash, according to an analysis of the trade assistance.