July 17, 2025
New USDA Plan Will Boost Meat and Poultry Safety
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a new comprehensive plan to boost USDA’s efforts to combat foodborne illness. She spoke during the opening of USDA’s new, modernized Midwestern Food Safety Laboratory. The Plan will better position USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, which is responsible for ensuring meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled, to protect the nation’s food supply. The Plan includes steps like enhancing microbiological testing and inspection oversight. USDA will also equip FSIS Inspectors with updated training and tools, empower those inspectors to take action to drive compliance, strengthen state partnerships, and find a more effective and achievable approach to address salmonella in poultry products. “We’re charting a new course in giving consumers confidence that their meat, poultry, and egg products meet the best-in-class food safety standards,” Rollins said. “I look forward to continued collaboration with states and food producers to protect public health.”
***********************************************************************************
Poultry Producers Respond to USDA Food Safety Plan
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a new plan to boost her agency’s efforts to combat foodborne illness. “America’s chicken producers appreciate USDA’s common sense and science-based approach to achieving improvements in food safety,” said Dr. Ashley Peterson, senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs. “We share the department’s goals to further reduce foodborne illnesses and promote public health, with an emphasis on reducing regulatory burdens.” NCC also applauded USDA for withdrawing earlier this year the proposed Salmonella regulations that were introduced by the Biden administration. “As it was proposed based on misinterpretation of the science, it would have had no meaningful impact on public health, would have led to an extraordinary amount of food waste, and increased costs for consumers and producers,” Peterson added. “We thank the Secretary for her leadership and the agency’s commitment to finding a more effective and achievable plan to combat salmonella in U.S. poultry products.”
***********************************************************************************
USTR Announces Section 301 Investigation of Brazil
The Office of the United States Trade Representative initiated an investigation of Brazil under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The Office will seek to determine whether the acts, policies, and practices of Brazil’s government related to things like preferential tariffs, ethanol market access, and several other factors are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict U.S. commerce. The U.S. Grains Council appreciates that USTR is taking this step. “The Council is encouraged by the news of the investigation into Brazil that has for years placed unfair tariffs on American ethanol imports,” said USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand. “Finally, we may see U.S. ethanol, its farmers, and producers get a fair shake when it comes to access in Brazil.” The U.S. Trade Representative’s Office has detailed Brazil’s unfair trade practices in its annual National Trade Estimate Report(Link is external). “Brazil’s barriers to trade merit a thorough investigation,” said USTR Jamieson Greer.
***********************************************************************************
U.S. Corn Export Sales Forecast at Record Levels
The USDA’s Economic Research Service says U.S. corn export sales have continued at a rapid pace and support a 100 million bushel month-to-month increase for the 2024-2025 marketing year. That raises the forecast to a record-high 2.75 billion bushels. If that number is realized, 2024-2025 corn exports will exceed the 2023-2024 estimate by nearly 500 million bushels, or 22 percent. The ERS says that through 300 days of the marketing year, export sales are nearly on pace to match the previously record-setting level realized in the 2020-2021 marketing year. Elevated exports are supported by sizable growth in corn shipments to South Korea, Mexico, and Spain. What’s even more surprising is that U.S. corn exports have surged without significant demand from China. In 2020-2021, shipments to China made up almost 31 percent of U.S. corn exports. This year, shipments to China make up less than one percent of total exports through May 2025.
***********************************************************************************
Farmland Prices Holding Steady
Farmers National Company says that despite ongoing challenges in commodity markets and uncertain farm profitability, agricultural land values remained surprisingly stable through mid-2025. While producers remain the main buyers of ag land, interest from individual and institutional investors can’t be ignored. As land values stabilize after reaching peaks during the past five years, investors are increasingly attracted by both annual returns and long-term appreciation. Inventory remains limited, with listings down 20-25 percent from the peak in 2020-2021. “The USDA forecasts 2025 net farm income to be the lowest since 2020,” says Paul Shadegg, senior vice president of real estate. “This will influence producer purchasing power and investor returns, especially as input costs, commodity prices, and interest rates fluctuate.” He also says any negative movement in the ag economy could quickly impact the land market. Geopolitical developments like trade policies, tariffs, and global unrest can also create uncertainty in domestic and international markets.
***********************************************************************************
Bankers Release Report on U.S. Farm Banks
The American Bankers Association released its annual Farm Bank Performance Report(Link is external), highlighting the critical role farm banks played in supporting U.S. agriculture in 2024. Despite continued challenges from global uncertainty and lingering supply chain disruptions, farm banks posted solid financial performance, improved asset quality, and increased lending to America’s farmers and ranchers. The U.S. banking industry remains the single largest provider of agricultural credit, holding $205 billion in farm loans by the end of 2024, accounting for nearly 38 percent of total farm lending nationwide. Of that, farm banks held $115 billion, with a focus on small microloans critical to rural producers. “Farm banks continue to be a cornerstone of rural America’s financial well-being,” said Ed Elfmann, ABA’s senior vice president of agricultural and rural banking policy. “In 2024, these institutions demonstrated the strength and resiliency that comes from deep community roots and a commitment to farmers and ranchers,” he added.
**********************************************************************************