Economy

Trump administration to pay farmers $8 billion in relief for fuel, input costs

noah@agri-pulse.com — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 21:29:53 -0400

The Trump Administration is tapping into the Commodity Credit Corporation funding for an $8 billion program offering one-time payments to producers to help offset heightened prices for diesel and other inputs, the Agriculture Department announced Monday.

Daybreak Oct. 16: New IFPA chair pushes offense

sara@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 09:26:26 -0400

Farmers represent just 2% of the population but feed the largest economy in the world, which represents both a challenge and an opportunity, says Elyse Lipman, CEO of Lipman Family Farm and the incoming chair of the International Fresh Produce Association board.

Inflation alarms ring anew with the U.S. midterms 19 days away

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:16:31 -0400

Inflation signals are evident in key economic reports this week, stoking speculation about the Federal Reserve's next move and prompting fresh analysis of how higher costs may impact U.S. elections on Nov. 3.

Daybreak Oct. 14: USDA chided by judge in reorg order

sara@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 09:25:00 -0400

The federal judge who stayed USDA’s reorganization efforts Tuesday in response to a suit brought by federal employee unions says USDA probably should conduct an analysis of the reorganization’s effects.

U.S. soy harvest seen as biggest ever, corn second largest

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 14:38:49 -0400

Corn futures plummeted on Friday after the latest U.S. crop report showed sharply higher-than-expected yields, stoking concern over excess supply.

High diesel prices squeeze farmers, truckers as officials move to blunt costs

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:14:00 -0400

As diesel prices have climbed over the past year, Montana truck driver Trent Stoltz has been puzzling over whether to charge his customers more, knowing that raising rates too much could send them looking for another hauler.

Trump's diesel order spurs new round of fuel policy clashes

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:13:00 -0400

Biofuel producers, oil refiners and farmers are closely watching the Trump administration and Congress for next moves impacting small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Seven questions for USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development Glen Smith

sara@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:11:00 -0400

Agri-Pulse founder Sara Wyant caught up with USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development Glen Smith last week to discuss his vision for one of the agency’s largest mission areas, which includes everything from rural housing to hospitals, rural business loans, wastewater treatment, building domestic fertilizer capacity and more.

Trump diesel order draws praise amid calls for tax-free certainty

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:08:57 -0400

In a bid to lower historically high diesel prices, President Donald Trump signs an order allowing use of tax-exempt, off-road diesel on highways.

Trump poised to act on fuel prices Monday, Rollins says

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:46:27 -0400

President Donald Trump is poised to announce steps on Monday aimed at lowering high fuel prices, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says.

Senate Ag leaders press for farm bill talks as SNAP feud threatens passage

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 18:12:18 -0400

Senate Ag Committee leaders say it's important to get a farm bill passed this year, meaning that talks need to happen over the next five weeks during a congressional recess. But a partisan impasse over SNAP cost sharing for states threatens to derail those efforts.

Indiana is latest state to allow farm diesel on highways

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:06:46 -0400

Amid a historic surge in fuel prices, Indiana is the latest U.S. state to allow farmers to temporarily use off-road, tax exempt diesel on highways as they haul freshly harvested crops to market.

Iowa is one to watch as midterm campaigns enter final stretch

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 06:10:00 -0400

With 34 days until voters across the U.S. head to the polls, key challenges faced by both Republicans and Democrats are on display in Iowa.

USDA sued over limits on rural energy program's solar funding

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 06:08:00 -0400

A coalition of farmers, a solar company, grant consultants and agricultural and energy groups are suing the Agriculture Department, alleging the agency illegally sought to limit solar projects' eligibility for grants and loan guarantees through changes to its Rural Energy for America program.

China must spend $1.2B weekly to meet US ag pledges, Basse says

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 16:57:41 -0400

China needs to spend about $1.2 billion a week through December to fulfill its remaining 2026 agriculture commitments to the U.S., AgResource Co. President Dan Basse says.

Trump and Xi meet as farmers press for concrete trade actions

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:45:54 -0400

Today's meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping has ag policy watchers on edge as they wait to find out if the talks yield any positive developments for U.S. farmers.

Daybreak Sept. 24: Boozman says farm bill can’t wait

noah@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:39:14 -0400

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., says he’s ready to work with Democrats and House leaders over the October recess to reach agreement on a final five-year farm bill.

Trump and Xi to meet with billions in ag trade at stake

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:12:00 -0400

President Trump's Washington summit with Chinese President Xi will be under close watch as billions of dollars in agricultural trade is at stake.

USDA awards $26.5 million to value-added agricultural projects

hguthoerl@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:07:00 -0400

USDA Rural Development is awarding $26.5 million to 194 agricultural projects across the United States through the Value-Added Producer Grant program. The funding will help agricultural producers develop value-added products, conduct research and implement business and marketing strategies designed to expand their customer base and increase revenue.

For Yuma lettuce growers, it’s full speed ahead

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:02:00 -0400

Farmers in the Yuma, Arizona, region are expecting to plant their full acreages of lettuce this fall as federal officials say the cyclospora outbreak that sickened almost 13,000 people this past summer has abated.

Daybreak Sept. 22: Tom seeks to ease tensions on fertilizer

noah@agri-pulse.com — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 08:34:00 -0400

Kip Tom, Indiana farmer and the former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. food agencies, is pushing back on corn growers’ rhetoric in the fertilizer price debate. President Trump says he’s working on a “massive deal” to buy potash from Belarus.

Rollins tells dairy, other checkoffs to halt ESG initiatives

noah@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 20:28:49 -0400

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Thursday told the chair of the National Dairy Board and other checkoff organizations to stop several of what she labeled as its environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, saying they were not aligned with Trump Administration policy.

House passes Russia sanctions bill giving Trump new tariff authority

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 22:17:06 -0400

The House passed Russian sanctions legislation that would give the President Donald Trump broad new tariff authority. The bill now heads to the president for his signature.

Trump urged by Rep. Davis to secure China soy pledge with Xi

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:06:15 -0400

Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., asks President Donald Trump to use next week's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to secure a clear timeline for Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans. He also raises concerns about increasing U.S. competition with South America in the world's ag market.

Why ag groups want book-and-claim system for 45Z biofuel credit

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 06:11:00 -0400

Farmers and biofuel producers say the so-called book-and-claim method for carbon accounting under 45Z is crucial for ag producers to get maximum value out of the tax credit.

US trade war with Canada and beyond triggers biofuel worries

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 06:10:00 -0400

U.S. trade tensions are spurring concern over potential impact on the biofuel industry.

The Beef Bulk-Up Part 3: Meat cuts get larger but create challenges for presentation and processing

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 06:09:00 -0400

Meatpackers, retailers and consumers are increasingly being forced to adapt as growing cattle carcass sizes reshape how much meat each cut yields. The trend has left retailers puzzling over how to plate increasingly larger ribeyes and strip loins.

House Dems' report outlines policy recommendations for ag, rural communities

hguthoerl@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 06:06:00 -0400

A wide-ranging report released by a group of House Democrats recommends increased ag research funding, expanded access to credit for farmers, and streamlined regulatory approval for biotech solutions.

California’s diesel price spike to have short-term, long-term impacts

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 06:02:00 -0400

California’s average price for diesel fuel has topped $8 a gallon in recent days, just as growers are harvesting a multitude of crops. The immediate impact on growers depends on the commodity, but the increase is likely to have long-term effects on food prices.

Daybreak Sept. 15: CRA gets new leader

noah@agri-pulse.com — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 08:49:15 -0400

The outlook for a Senate Agriculture Committee farm bill brightened considerably on Monday after Sen. Mitch McConnell cast his first vote on the Senate floor since June.