China
As tariffs bite, China cancels U.S. soy deals and hunt is on for new export markets
For Iowa farmer John Heisdorffer, the math is brutal in the U.S.-China tariff war: "You tax soybeans at 25 percent and you have serious damage to U.S. farmers." China, the No. 1 customer for U.S. farm exports, canceled purchases of nearly $140 million worth of U.S. soybeans just before the two countries imposed tit-for-tat tariffs on each other's products. Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst said on Sunday the Trump administration was working on "a number of new free-trade agreements," but China "will be a much longer haul."
Brazil to match U.S. as world’s top soybean grower
After a decade of robust growth, world production of soybeans will grow at a much slower rate of 1.5 percent annually in the years ahead, says two UN agencies in their annual Agricultural Outlook. Brazil, the longtime No. 2 to the United States in soybeans, will reach parity with America, said the report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Farm sector frets as tariffs hit export customers
Farm country is worrying and waiting for the next shoe to drop in Trump administration trade disputes with leading ag export markets, including China, Canada, Mexico, and the European Union. A Purdue University poll of producers found a “tremendous amount of uncertainty about future conditions.”
In rarity, soy tops corn in U.S. plantings
U.S. farmers planted nearly 2 million more acres of corn and soybeans than they planned in late winter, but soybeans, for the first time in 35 years, will be the most widely grown crop in the country, said the USDA's annual Acreage report. The soybean harvest could be the second-largest ever and corn the third-largest, assuming normal weather and yields.
Perdue roots for $10-a-bushel soybeans
If the United States and China settle their ongoing trade dispute, commodity prices could recover from their recent decline, said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Wednesday. At the same time, he promised a USDA backstop in case of trouble.
Trade war could cut U.S. farm exports to China by 40 percent
Chinese economists say Beijing is likely to turn to shipments from friendly nations and encourage domestic farm production if there is a rupture in agricultural trade with the United States, said AgriCensus, based in London.
As commodity prices sink, Perdue says Trump will aid farmers
The typical midwestern corn and soybean grower lost tens of thousands of dollars in potential revenue due to steep declines in commodity prices over the past four weeks, said Purdue economist Brent Gloy, listing global trade uncertainty as an obvious factor.
No pain, no gain in trade dispute with China, says Ross
Negotiations didn’t work, so the Trump administration is relying on the economic discomfort of tariffs to force China to change its trade practices, said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Wednesday. Farm-state senators say there is a risk of the long-term loss of export markets as the dispute escalates.
Farm groups see added risk, and no escape, as U.S.-China dispute escalates
Commodity prices are falling in the wake of President Trump’s threat of round after round of tariffs on China, and on Tuesday, groups representing wheat and soybean growers warned that the White House is making trouble for U.S. agriculture with its aggressive tactics.
Farm sector fears large losses from mounting trade conflict
The Farm Belt will get walloped if China retaliates in equal measure against Washington's $50 billion in announced tariffs on Chinese goods, said economists at Midwestern universities. Ohio State researchers said farmers in the Buckeye State could see a 50 percent drop in farm income while Iowa State's Chad Hart said producers in the Hawkeye State could lose up to $624 million this year, depending on how long the tariffs are in place and if other customers are found.
The last days of the vaquita
Despite a last-ditch effort by a group of radical conservationists, the vaquita — a small porpoise found only in Mexico’s Gulf of California — is going extinct, and will likely disappear this year, reports Ben Goldfarb in FERN’s latest story, published with Pacific Standard. <strong>No paywall</strong>
‘We’re taking on water fast,’ say U.S. hog farmers as Mexico applies tariffs
Mexico, the top importer of U.S. pork, announced retaliatory 10-percent tariffs on Tuesday, rising to 20 percent in a month's time, that would effectively shut the door to the American meat. One of every five pounds of pork produced in the U.S. is sold to a foreign buyer.
‘By the time I finish,’ barriers to U.S. ag exports will be down, Trump says
President Trump told American farmers on Monday, "By the time I finish trade talks," China, Canada and Mexico, the three largest customers for U.S. farm exports, will remove trade barriers to American products. The president issued the assurances on social media after inconclusive talks with China over the weekend and three days after he said he was open to separate trade deals with Mexico and Canada instead of an updated NAFTA.
A Democrat appeals to conservative Republicans in farm country
In the heart of Iowa's rural 4th district, Democratic hopeful J.D. Scholten is making a bid for conservative Republican Steve King's congressional seat, appealing to farmer interests to win support for his campaign, according to FERN's latest story, by Brian Barth, produced in collaboration with Mother Jones. <strong>(No paywall)</strong>
Put out the fire, farm groups say as trade turmoil flares
One-third of U.S. agricultural trade flows through Canada and Mexico, and both nations quickly vowed tit-for-tat tariffs on U.S. food and ag products after President Trump announced duties on steel and aluminum from the North American neighbors on Thursday.
USDA forecasts second-best year ever for ag exports
Stronger prices and rising demand for U.S. farm exports will propel sales to $142.5 billion for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, said the USDA on Thursday. It would be the second-highest export total ever.
Roberts’ farm bill goals: Senate vote in mid-June, no hair on fire
The Senate could vote on the $87 billion-a-year farm bill in mid-June, but the legislation won’t repeat the House’s attempt at major SNAP reform, said Agriculture Committee chairman Pat Roberts on Wednesday.
Hog farmers count losses as White House raps China on trade