May 13, 2025

U.S. and China Agree to Lower Tariffs

Over the weekend, the U.S. and China agreed to temporarily lower tariffs on each other’s products, which Bloomberg called a dramatic ratcheting down of trade tensions between the two largest economies in the world. For the next 90 days, the combined 145 percent levies on most Chinese imports will be dropped to 30 percent, including the rate tied to fentanyl by May 14. The 125 percent Chinese duties on U.S. goods will drop to ten percent. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the two sides are in agreement that they don’t want to decouple from each other. “We’d love to see China more open to U.S. goods,” Bessent said. “We hope that there will be a purchase agreement that pulls what is our largest bilateral trade deficit back into balance.” The tariff pause with China could at least temporarily help calm some concerns from the U.S. agriculture industry about exports.
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Rollins Suspends Animal Imports through the Southern Border

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border due to the northward expansion of the New World Screwworm virus. “While we are working with Mexico on responding to the screwworm, it’s my duty to take all steps within my control to protect the U.S. livestock industry from this devastating pest,” Rollins said. “The protection of our animals and the safety of our nation’s food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance.” She also said that once the U.S. sees increased surveillance and eradication efforts and the positive results of those actions, the USDA will remain committed to opening the border to livestock trade. “It’s not about politics or punishing Mexico, but rather it’s about food and animal safety.” The first case of NWS in Mexico was reported to the U.S. in November 2024. 
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NCBA Supports Southern Border Closure

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association announced support for the USDA’s decision to close the southern U.S. border to cattle, bison, and horse shipments. The move was made due to the continued northward spread of the New World screwworm in Mexico. “USDA’s border closure was avoidable,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “U.S. government officials, NCBA, and leaders from affiliated state cattle industry associations have been sounding the alarm for months.” He also said it’s unfortunate that the Mexican government created unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles that rendered prevention efforts ineffective and allowed the screwworm cases to spread unchecked beyond control points in southern Mexico. NCBA acknowledged that the border closure will create economic harm for U.S. farmers and ranchers, and create supply chain disruptions, but the costs will be far less than if the screwworm crosses into the United States and we are forced to fight the devastating pest on U.S. soil. 
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NFU Wraps up a Week of Action

The National Farmers Union concluded its Week of Action, which gathered more than 100 farmers from across the country to the halls of Congress and spurred local action from hundreds of farmers and ranchers in their home states. Farmers Union members shared one message: farmers across the country are facing the perfect storm of volatile markets, rising input costs, shrinking federal support, and mounting trade tensions, all with no new farm bill in sight. “We are so deeply indebted to over 100 farm families who have taken time from what is the busiest time of year for many farmers and ranchers to travel here, deliver the news themselves, and tell their stories about why action is so necessary right now,” said NFU President Rob Larew. NFU members strongly pushed for a farm bill that strengthens the farm safety net, builds upon voluntary conservation programs, and fosters fairness in the marketplace.”
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USDA Releases May WASDE Report

The March World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report is calling for a 2025-2026 U.S. corn outlook with record supplies and total use, and higher ending stocks. The corn crop is projected at 15.8 billion bushels, up six percent from a year ago. With the total U.S. corn supply rising more than use, 2025-2026 ending stocks are up 385 million bushels from last year. The season-average farm price is projected at $4.20 a bushel, down 15 cents. The 2025-2026 outlook for U.S. soybeans calls for slightly lower supplies, higher crush, reduced exports, and lower ending stocks compared to the prior marketing year. The season-average soybean price is forecasted at $10.25 per bushel, compared with $9.95 per bushel during the previous year. The wheat outlook is for increased supplies, modestly higher domestic use, reduced exports, and higher stocks. The season-average farm price is $5.30 per bushel, down 20 cents from last year.
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Groups Support Supreme Court Hearing on Glyphosate Case

Groups representing U.S. farmers have filed a brief encouraging the Supreme Court to hear a case on labeling for glyphosate and other pesticides. The groups, which represent a broad swath of agriculture and cover over 300 million acres, argue that glyphosate is a “once-in-a-century” herbicide given its effectiveness at controlling an array of damaging weeds, affordability, and low toxicity. However, uncertainty created by inaccurate interpretations of pesticide labeling requirements has risked farmers’ access to glyphosate and other indispensable tools. The question at the center of the case, Durnell v. Monsanto, is whether manufacturers of glyphosate or other pesticides are liable under state law for failure to warn of alleged cancer or other health risks when federal regulators have thoroughly evaluated the safety of the product and determined their uses are safe. The groups say the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act prevents states from imposing labeling requirements different from EPA findings.   
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