July 22, 2025
Beef Prices Hit Record Highs in June
Ground beef prices continue hitting record-high levels. Newsweek says that’s despite still shrinking cattle herds and import restrictions set to push costs even higher. Government data says the average price of a pound of 100 percent ground beef rose to $6.12 in June, 12 percent higher than last year. That’s also up from $5.98 in May and $5.47 in June. Industry experts say this trend shows no signs of slowing down, which means that there may be upward pressure on prices through 2026 and beyond. The average price of all uncooked beef steaks rose eight percent to $11.49 per pound. Axios said the U.S. is dealing with significantly lower beef supplies, and that’s what is driving up the price of beef right now. The number of U.S. farms, including ranches, dropped by seven percent between 2017 and 2022, and it’s taking a long time to rebuild U.S. herds.
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Senator Demands Safeguard for Farmers’ Financial Information
Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is demanding that the USDA safeguard farmers’ personal and financial information and rescind the Department of Government Efficiency’s unprecedented access to USDA’s payment systems. Reports showed that DOGE has access to USDA databases containing farmers’ sensitive financial information. This intrusion breaches farmers’ privacy and raises serious concerns about the future of USDA payments, our nation’s food security, and the consolidation of farmland and processing operations. “Farmers share sensitive financial information with USDA when seeking federal loans or disaster assistance,” Baldwin said. “Historically, only trained Farm Service Agency staff and senior USDA officials have had access to this data.” She also said there is no clear justification for the DOGE access, and it raises serious concerns about data security, farmers’ privacy, and the potential misuse of confidential records. “Farmers face big challenges, and the accessibility and security of USDA resources is more important than ever,” she added.
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Bangladesh Commits to Annual Wheat Purchases
Under a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding with U.S. Wheat Associates, the Bangladesh government committed to purchasing 700,000 metric tons, or 25.7 million bushels, of U.S. wheat annually. The deal reaffirms the country’s commitment to bolstering national food security and advancing trade relations with the United States. The MOU also helps American wheat farmers gain consistent demand in the Bangladesh market. “Through this MOU signing, the Bangladesh government reiterates its commitment to deepening and renewing its longstanding friendship with the U.S.,” said USW President and CEO Mike Spier. “The delegation emphasizes the need to strengthen and expand trade relations between the U.S. and Bangladesh.” The agreement is also an opportunity for U.S. wheat farmers to demonstrate on a large scale how U.S. farmers can reliably meet the country’s need for high-quality milling wheat. USW also says the procurement of U.S. wheat reflects an effort to address the trade imbalance between the countries.
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National FFA Working on New Leadership Labs
The National FFA Organization recently announced a partnership with Vivayic, the nation’s largest learning solution provider for agriculture, to create virtual leadership labs. This unprecedented collection of modules will use a challenge-based learning approach to help prepare FFA members for success. Development of these online programs will start this Fall, with plans to make the leadership labs available to FFA members by the summer of 2026. “We believe partnering with Vivayic on this project is an exciting step forward in making leadership education more accessible, engaging, and impactful for our members,” said Christine White, the chief program officer at the National FFA Organization. “As we expand to reach more than one million members, this collaboration ensures we’re combining innovation with real-world insight to equip every young leader, no matter where they are, with the tools they need to grow and succeed.” Once complete, the labs will be free and available online.
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USDA Issues July Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook
The 2025 beef production forecast is lowered on the slower expected pace of cattle slaughter in the second half of the year. Beef production in 2026 is adjusted upward on greater anticipated marketings. 2025 slaughter steer prices are adjusted higher based on price data through June, and the 2026 forecast is unchanged from June. In dairy, based on recent data in milk cow inventory, dairy cow slaughter, and expectations of favorable margins in the near-term, the forecasts for the average number of dairy cows, milk per cow, and total milk production have all been revised upward for this year and 2026. Total commercial pork production in 2025 is forecast at 28 billion pounds, 0.9 percent higher than in 2024. In 2026, pork production is forecast at 28.5 billion pounds, 1.6 percent greater than this year. In poultry, projected broiler production is adjusted higher in 2025 on strong slaughter weights and near-term hatchery indicators.
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USDA Accepting Applications for Trade Mission to Mexico
The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service is accepting applications for its upcoming agribusiness trade mission to Mexico City, scheduled for November 3-6. U.S. exporters interested in exploring trade opportunities in Mexico’s dynamic agricultural market must apply by July 31. “Strengthening export opportunities for American farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses is a top priority of USDA,” said Deputy Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Michelle Bekkering. “This trade mission will connect U.S. producers with key buyers in Mexico, expanding economic opportunities, supporting rural prosperity, and keeping American agricultural products globally competitive.” Mexico was the largest export market for U.S. agricultural products in 2024, with sales totaling more than $30 billion and supporting approximately 190,000 U.S. jobs. Growing U.S. exports to Mexico are supported by factors like rising disposable income among Mexico’s upper middle class, familiarity with U.S. products, and strong demand for high-quality agricultural goods. Opportunities in Mexico include several agricultural product sectors.
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