National Ag News for June 23, 2025
Trump’s Border Czar: Immigration Raids at Farms to Continue
Following a week of immigration whiplash, President Trump’s border czar Tom Homan confirmed late last week that immigration raids will continue in the agriculture and hospitality industries. The Trump administration had said it was pausing some ICE raids that would hurt those industries, but Homan’s comments reaffirm that it is reversing course. While workers at places like farms, restaurants, and hotels will be targeted, people with criminal backgrounds will be a priority for immigration enforcement officials, Homan said. “We’re going to continue to do worksite enforcement operations, even on farms and hotels, but based on a prioritized basis. Criminals come first,” Homan told reporters. Asked what he would say to farmers concerned the raids will hurt their jobs and the U.S. economy, Homan said, “Well, first of all, there’s a right way and wrong way to hire workers. There are legal programs that bring farm workers in. Second of all, I’ve been saying for years, Congress needs to address this. But because Congress failed, it just doesn’t mean we ignore it. It’s illegal to knowingly hire an illegal alien.”
*************************************************************************************
Key Differences Between House and Senate BBB Versions Could Impact Farmers
Senate Republicans are racing against the clock to finish their version of President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. As the Senate continues to roll out its versions of the reconciliation bill, there are some differences between the House and Senate proposals when it comes to agriculture. The main variations come down to changes in the tax provisions, but it’s key to note proposed changes to the farm safety net are similar in both the House and the Senate. The House and Senate will now need to work out their differences in the two versions of the Big Beautiful Bill. President Trump said he wants to sign the legislation on July 4, but many reports cast doubt Congress can meet that approaching deadline. Politico even reported last week that the Senate GOP’s version of the bill is “facing major headwinds in the House.”
*************************************************************************************
U.S. Headed Toward Record Ag Trade Deficit
The U.S. agricultural trade deficit is widening in 2025, driven by shifting global trade dynamics and rising import demand. USDA’s Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade report provides projections for exports and imports, offering insight into current trade trends. From January through April, the United States imported $78.2 billion in agricultural products while exporting just $58.5 billion. This $19.7 billion deficit is the largest ever recorded for the first four months of a year and signals that the 2025 deficit could surpass previous records. After decades of consistent trade surpluses, U.S. agriculture has been in an agricultural trade deficit since 2022. In fiscal year (FY) 2023, the trade gap reached $16.7 billion and nearly doubles in FY 2024 to $31.8 billion. USDA now forecasts the FY 2025 deficit will rise to approximately $49.5 billion, which would mark the largest agricultural trade imbalance on record.
*************************************************************************************
EPA Concludes Hearings on WOTUS Rule
Public listening sessions on the future of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule have wrapped up, and the Trump administration said it plans to have the rule completed by the end of the year. Throughout the sessions, there was a clear divide between what agriculture and industry groups and environmental groups are seeking in WOTUS, as ag reps said they wanted clearer definitions while environmental groups asked for no changes to the rule. DTN reports the continued back and forth of definitions and re-definitions from administration to administration in the past 20 years has led to what is currently a patchwork of differing versions of the WOTUS definition from state to state because of a series of legal cases. The agencies held nine listening sessions including two public sessions in West Virginia and Utah, and said in the news release that they “heard from people who are frustrated with the constantly shifting” WOTUS definition.
*************************************************************************************
Growers Call for Abbott to Veto Bill Banning Texas Hemp
Grassroots momentum is accelerating in Texas as a growing coalition of veterans, small business owners, farmers and everyday Texans call on Governor Greg Abbott to veto Senate Bill 3. The Texas Hemp Business Council (THBC) announced Friday that its petition to stop the controversial hemp ban has reached 147,979 signatures. The surge in support follows the release of a new poll conducted by GOP pollster Chris Perkins of Ragnar Research Partners, revealing that Texas Republican voters overwhelmingly reject the central aim of SB 3, which is to ban hemp-derived products. According to the poll, 47% of Texas Republican primary voters oppose such a ban, while only 37% are in favor. Texas implemented strong hemp regulations in 2019. However, if signed into law, SB 3 would ban hemp-derived products currently legal under both federal and Texas law. The legislation will eliminate $4.3 billion in annual revenue and 53,000 jobs, and also flood the state with unregulated, unsafe products.
*************************************************************************************
NASS to Survey Cattle Operations
On Friday, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) mailed the July cattle survey to about 18,000 cattle operations nationwide to provide an up-to-date measure of U.S. cattle inventories. This is the first July cattle survey mailed to producers since the reinstatement of key reports was announced earlier this year. “This information helps producers make timely, informed business decisions and plan for herd expansion or reduction,” said NASS Livestock Branch Chief Travis Averill. “It also helps packers and government leaders evaluate expected slaughter volume for future months and determine potential supplies for export.” During the first two weeks of July, U.S. cattle producers will have the opportunity to report their beef and dairy cattle inventories, calf crop, death loss and cattle on feed information. The July Cattle report will be released on July 25, 2025, at 3 p.m. ET.
*************************************************************************************