April 2, 2025
Farmer Sentiment Slips on Policy Uncertainty
Farmer sentiment dropped during March as concerns over agricultural trade and farm policy weighed on producers’ outlook for the future. The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell 12 points to 140, down from 152 in February. The Index saw a 15-point drop in the Index of Future Expectations to 144, and the Current Conditions Index fell five points to 132. The drop was influenced by falling crop prices since mid-February, along with the increasing uncertainty surrounding agricultural trade and farm policy. The Farm Capital Investment Index fell five points to 54 in March. Despite the dip, that’s the second-highest reading since June 2021. The Short-Term Farmland Value Expectations Index remained steady at 118 in March, only six points lower than in March 2024. The Farm Financial Performance Index also dropped eight points to 102. The Index indicates that producers still anticipate better financial performance this year than in 2024.
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Rollins Heads Overseas to Expand Market Access
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins will visit six international markets in her first six months on the job to help expand markets and boost American agricultural exports. At a time when the agricultural trade deficit is at almost $50 billion following the previous administration’s little to no action taken in the international marketplace, the USDA is now working to diversify global markets, strengthen existing markets, and hold existing trade partners accountable for their end of the deal. “USDA remains committed to expanding market access around the world,” Rollins said. “I’m going abroad to sell the bounty of American agriculture and to ensure the prosperity of our hard-working agricultural producers. Everything is on the table to get more markets for our products.” This year, the Ag Secretary will visit Vietnam, Japan, India, Peru, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. Other USDA trade missions include stops in Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, and Mexico.
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Meat Export Federation Says Shipbuilding Idea Not Feasible
The U.S. Trade Representative recently held hearings on a proposal to impose million-dollar port call fees on Chinese vessels. The U.S. Meat Export Federation joined more than 300 other organizations in saying the fees would hurt U.S. exports. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom supports the intent of the proposal to incentivize U.S. shipbuilding. “The reality is it’s not feasible right now,” Halstrom said. “It’s going to take some time to become viable, and we don’t want to have our exporters get penalized by other countries while we wait for this to happen.” Shippers have already indicated they would reduce port calls, including a key port for the red meat industry. “The Port of Oakland represents about 40 percent of our waterborne exports on the beef side,” he said. “We’ve had some companies publicly say that Oakland would be a candidate to stop service to if this current policy were installed.”
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Poultry Markets Strong but Face Headwinds
Improved economic conditions in many regions, together with ongoing high prices for other proteins, make poultry an attractive option for worldwide consumers. Rabobank says global consumption growth is predicted to reach 2.5 to three percent this year. This marks the second year of above-average market growth, which led to significant improvements in margin performance. However, dealing with avian influenza remains a significant challenge for the U.S. poultry industry and one of its biggest concerns. Additionally, the supply of parent stock remains tight, and hatching egg prices are still high, restricting growth. Aside from the ongoing flu risk, rising geopolitical tensions and competition pose the biggest challenges for global trade. The geopolitical tension includes U.S. tariffs on imports and retaliatory tariffs on U.S. poultry from affected regions, which could lead to a trade war and shifting global trade flows. Rabobank says global traders should be prepared to respond quickly to developments.
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AFT Again Sponsors “America the Bountiful”
American Farmland Trust has renewed its sponsorship of the national public television series “America the Bountiful,” which began season number two on April 1, 2025. “America the Bountiful” is a food, history, and travel series exploring the regional food traditions of America’s heartland and it’s hosted by TV personality, cookbook author, and radio podcast host Capri Cafaro. In the second season, the series takes viewers on a journey into America’s heartland to learn about culture and find inspiration in the chronicles of farmers, artisans, restaurants, and home cooks through the bounty they grow, produce, and eat. “AFT is focused on saving the land that sustains all of us, and our Season Two partnership with ‘America the Bountiful’ will help us reach an important national public television audience of engaged and committed conservationists, farmers, and food lovers across the country,” says AFT President and CEO John Piotti (pee-OT-tee). “It’s an exciting partnership.”
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AVMA Echoes Calls for Getting More Veterinarians into High-Need Areas
After working with congressional offices and other stakeholders, the American Veterinary Medical Association’s advocacy work led to the reintroduction of the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act in the House and Senate. The bipartisan legislation would help recruit and retain veterinarians in underserved and rural areas. The AVMA strongly endorses the bill, which would expand the reach and maximize the allocated funding of the highly successful Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, which helps by assisting with the significant obstacle of educational debt. Earlier this year, the USDA declared 243 rural veterinary shortage areas in 46 states, which is the highest number of shortage areas ever. The Association says recruiting and retaining veterinarians through the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act is key to protecting our nation’s food supply, preserving animal welfare, and upholding public health. Livestock and public health veterinarians are essential to strengthening the nation’s animal health infrastructure and the animal agriculture economy.
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