National Ag News for June 25, 2025
U.S.-China Trade Tensions Cost Farmers $2 Billion
United States and China tensions and the resulting tariffs cost U.S. farmers $2 billion in lost exports this year. A new study from North Dakota State University’s Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies says the lost sales to China far surpass modest gains elsewhere. From January to April, agricultural exports to China contracted by over $5 billion, leaving export volumes up to 55 percent lower than the previous year. U.S. ag exports to South Asia, the European Union, and Central America climbed by 43, 39, and 24 percent, respectively. However, U.S. gains didn’t get high enough to offset the losses in the Chinese market. Both countries reduced tariffs as part of a deal negotiated in Switzerland. However, the U.S. preserved a baseline ten percent tariff on Chinese products and a 20 percent tariff applied over China’s role in the fentanyl crisis. Beijing has a ten percent tariff in place.
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Tim Tebow to Keynote the American Farm Bureau National Convention
The American Farm Bureau announced that former college and NFL quarterback Tim Tebow will keynote the 2026 AFBF annual convention. He’ll speak during the closing session of the 2026 convention on Monday, January 12, 2026, in Anaheim, California. Tebow is a two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner, College Football Hall of Fame inductee, first-round NFL draft pick, and a former professional baseball player. More than that, he’s a five-time New York Times best-selling author, speaker, and college football analyst, but is most passionate about his work with the Tim Tebow Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to bring faith, hope, and love to those needing a brighter day in the darkest hour of need. The foundation is currently fighting for some of the most vulnerable people around the world. He’ll inspire convention attendees with his unique approach to leadership, growth, and success. The Farm Bureau Convention is January 9-14, 2026, in Anaheim, California.
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Appeals Court Upholds RFS Set Challenge
Growth Energy applauded a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., that defended the RFS Set. The decision rejected an attempt by oil industry interests to undermine the Renewable Fuel Standard, a program requiring refiners to include a certain amount of biofuels in the nation’s fuel blend. “The oil industry’s arguments in this case were fatally flawed and relied on tenuous legal arguments that ran contrary to the facts and plain language of the RFS statute,” said Growth Energy in a statement. Oil and environmental groups challenged EPA’s RFS Set Rule, which established Renewable Volume Obligations for 2023-2025, on various grounds. In its ruling late last week, the country rejected most of their claims, finding that the challenges were without merit. The decision also remands the rule back to the EPA and the Fish and Wildlife Service to better explain its conclusions while allowing the set rule to remain.
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Rollins Rescinds Roadless Rule
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins is rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule. Rescinding the rule will remove prohibitions on road construction, reconstruction, and timber harvest on nearly 59 million acres of the National Forest System, allowing fire prevention and responsible timber production. This rule is overly restrictive and poses real harm to millions of acres of U.S. national forests. In total, 30 percent of National Forest System lands are impacted by the rule. For example, almost 60 percent of forest service land in Utah is restricted from road development and is unable to be managed for fire risk. That number in Montana is 58 percent. “This move opens a new era of consistency and sustainability for our nation’s forests,” said Rollins. “It is abundantly clear that properly managing our forests preserves them from devastating fires and allows future generations of Americans to enjoy and reap the benefits of this great land.”
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Beginning Farmer Institute Registration Deadline Extended
There is still time to apply to the Beginning Farmer Institute from the National Farmers Union. The registration deadline has been extended to July 15, 2025. The Institute is a free, ten-week farm business management program. It’s a comprehensive course designed to strengthen the long-term success and resilience of farms and ranches across the country. From October through December, participants will have weekly online trainings led by farm business management experts and engage in peer-to-peer learning. Participants who complete all the necessary course requirements will be considered for an additional in-person session the following spring, which will include additional trainings, farm tours, and networking opportunities with the National Farmers Union’s leadership team. The Beginning Farmer Institute is open to any U.S. producer over 18. Applicants must currently be farming or ranching at a for-profit operation. Operations of any size and type may apply. For more information, go to the event webpage(Link is external).
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May Egg Production Drops Six Percent
A USDA report says May egg output dropped year over year, as did the number of total egg layers in the U.S. Production fell to 8.59 billion eggs last month, down six percent year over year. About 7.3 billion were table eggs, and 1.29 billion were hatching eggs. Of the hatching eggs, 1.18 billion were broiler-type. USDA also said the number of egg layers in the U.S. on June 1 totaled 350 million, a six percent drop from the same date last year. Approximately 285 million layers produced table or market eggs, 60.3 million laid broiler-type hatching eggs, and 4.13 million produced egg-type hatching eggs. The rate of production averaged 79 eggs per 100 layers, a slight decrease from June 2024. Hatchings in May included 60.9 million egg-type chicks, an eight percent increase from the same month last year. Eggs in incubators jumped 11 percent to 59.6 million.
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