One of the great honors of my role as American Farm Bureau Federation president is sharing the stories of farmers and ranchers from across this country with leaders who are making decisions that directly impact our work, our families and our livelihoods.

In the year ahead, the United Soybean Board will boost demand for U.S. soy, drive on-farm resilience and bring value to the nearly half a million U.S. soybean farmers.

The agricultural economic outlook across the Corn Belt’s Federal Reserve Districts remain subdued.

U.S. cattle producers with an interest in strengthening the economic position of their individual farms and ranches and in ensuring the health and safety of their livestock herd would not knowingly support policies that conflict with their own interests and goals.

With data from the recent survey-based acreage and grain stocks reports, the U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered new corn and soybean production estimates in its supply and demand estimates report.

Incorporating cover crops into their regenerative farming system has been a learning process for the Riskedal family this spring.

Farmers truly share a bond, no matter where we live or what we grow and raise.

Farming is an uncertain business. Farmers and ranchers received some certainty, however, with the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

With 2025 half gone, the cautious American ag economy, like the slowing U.S. economy, now tiptoes into its second half.

Farmers were less optimistic about the ag economy in June, according to the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, which dropped 12 points.

At a glance, the July agricultural supply and demand estimates report looked positive for the market with lower than expected ending stocks, but the trade thought otherwise.

A pair of crop reports fell primarily in line with trade expectations as the market turned its focus toward weather in the last quarter of the marketing year.

Shares of General Motors rose before the opening bell after announcing plans to invest $4 billion to shift some production from Mexico to U.S. manufacturing plants as the automaker navigates tariffs that could drive prices higher.

Agriculture leaders voiced support for the massive spending and tax package bill that includes significant new farm program funding.

The U.S. pork industry is charting a new course to engage with American consumers and boost domestic demand as trade policy and global market dynamics threaten the pace of export sales.

Corn Belt agricultural conditions ranged from weak to slightly favorable in the latest Federal Reserve’s Beige Book.

If you’re in charge of reversing American agriculture’s three-years-old-and-growing trade deficit, your list of options is as limited as it is unworkable.

Farmer sentiment improved for the second consecutive month in May, reaching its highest level since May 2021.

The recently released MAHA report was the work product of the commission established by President Donald Trump’s executive order to “Make America Healthy Again.”

President Donald Trump’s doubling of tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum could hit Americans in an unexpected place: grocery aisles.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visited Rome during a recent trade delegation to advocate for American market access.

Our independent cattle and sheep industries have been steaming along through history as if they were without a strategic vision — rudderless and directionless.

Ninety-nine people from 19 countries graduated from the Soybean Oil Masters program this year, an event designed by the U.S. Soybean Export Council and the Indiana Soybean Alliance.

June agricultural supply and demand reports are typically focused more on old crop demand adjustments and that was the case in the June 12 estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Increases in corn and wheat exports lowered ending stocks, while the soybean domestic balance sheet was unchanged in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s supply and demand estimates report.

Ford Motor Co.’s top executive welcomed revisions to auto import rules, but said more work is needed to craft trade policies that spur growth in the U.S. auto industry.

A first-look at the 2025-2026 crop balance sheet was rolled out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce is the independent voice for businesses across the state.

Farmer Dan Glessing isn’t ready to get too upset over President Donald Trump’s trade wars.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts soybean ending stocks will decrease 16%, or 55 million bushels less than 2024, and corn ending stocks will increase 27%, or 385 million bushels from 2024.

New crop corn and soybean ending stock estimates were lower than pre-report trade expectations in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s supply and demand report.

After two bitter tariff wars in less than a decade, China now sees Brazil as a better long-term bet for groceries than the United States.

Farmer optimism about the ag economy improved in April, according to the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.

Saying we’re facing uncertainty in rural America is an understatement. We’re in the midst of a seismic shift — a true paradigm shift.

Let’s say you could have President Donald Trump’s attention for 20 minutes. What would you ask him to do for our domestic cattle and sheep industries?

Rancher Brett Kenzy hopes President Donald Trump’s tariffs will make imported beef expensive enough that Americans will turn to cattle raised at home for all their hamburgers and steaks.

Heading into this year, most U.S. farmers were hoping to break even or maybe record a small profit if they could find a way to limit their sky-high costs.

China shifted a major portion of its soybean purchases to Brazil when the 2018 trade war kicked in. What could new tariffs bring?

If you are one of the millions of Americans who pollsters say “voted for change” last November, boy, are you getting it now.

Automakers in China are fighting not to be edged aside in the world’s largest car market while watching for U.S. President Donald Trump’s next steps in his trade war.

Longtime readers of this weekly effort may recall my affection for the word “woodenheadedness.” It comes from “The March of Folly,” Barbara Tuchman’s 1984 book.

Free trade dogma suggests that more imports benefit consumers by affording them more choices and lower prices. Let’s see if this holds true in the U.S. beef market.

The Trump administration may grant U.S. agriculture special exemptions from parts of its ever-changing tariff regime, but it can’t exempt it from everyday economic reality.

A unexpected reduction in corn ending stocks was among the few surprises in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s April supply and demand estimates report.

The animals are smelling green grass and are tired of eating their winter vittles. The rye looks great, but the cool temps have slowed its growth enough that I have decided to delay the usual turnout a few days.

Farmers were less optimistic about the agriculture economy in March due to trade and farm policy concerns, according to the latest reading of the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.

The current political news brings concerning thoughts about the economic future of farming as we are faced with higher interest rates, lower grain prices and import markets at risk due to trade wars and tariffs.

R-CALF USA is aggressively pursuing tariffs for cattle, sheep, beef and lamb. And it seems we’re the only national livestock association that is doing so.

The futures market is reacting as expected with all this tariff news creating plenty of uncertainty which usually trends lower as most players look to eliminate risk.

We have faced several consecutive days over a six-state area where there have been multiple tornados causing damage, a lot of rain, lightning, hail and serious flooding and washouts of roads and bridges.