August 5, 2025
Lindberg Confirmed as Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs
On Saturday, August 2, the U.S. Senate confirmed Luke Lindberg as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (TFAA) with a vote of 77-18. During his confirmation hearing earlier this spring, Lindberg told the Senate Ag Committee that he supports free trade agreements that could help reverse the growing deficit. America’s agricultural trade deficit, which is the worst in the nation’s history, is driven by a number of factors, but principally by the lack of an America-first trade agenda that prioritizes market access for our farmers and ranchers, Lindberg said. For too long, we’ve let other countries access our market and not negotiated reciprocal access to theirs. Lindberg previously served as Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer at the Export-Import Bank of the United States during President Trump’s first term. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of South Dakota Trade, a public–private partnership focused on expanding international market access for regional exporters.
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Repair Rights at a Crossroads as Deere Launches $195 Diagnostics Tool
While biological and chemical threats to corn yields are well understood, a more technological conflict has been center: farm equipment repair availability. In what seems to be a direct response to antitrust allegations in the ongoing FTC v. John Deere right-to-repair lawsuit, the equipment giant has unveiled a revamped digital service platform aimed at giving equipment owners greater control over the maintenance, diagnostics, and repair of their machinery. The new tool, Operations Center PRO Service, is now accessible through the John Deere Operations Center app for equipment owners in the U.S. and Canada. It is designed to allow equipment owners to access repair diagnostics and service data. Available via annual subscription starting at $195 per machine. Deere says development of the tool supports customer self-repair.
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New-Crop U.S. Soybean Export Sales at 20-Year Low
Zaner Ag Hedge’s Karen Braun reported that as of July 24, U.S. soybean exporters had sold just over 3 million metric tons of soybeans for export in marketing year 2025/2026, which begins Sept. 1. That volume is a 20-year low for the date and is down 12% from last year. New-crop sales are struggling because China has yet to buy a single cargo, and this is China’s latest start in the U.S. bean market since 2005. However, in 2005, the first Chinese purchase came during the week ending August 11. If China sits out beyond that timeframe this year, it will be the latest they have waited to start buying since at least 1999, the extent of USDA’s online database. This would thrust the U.S.-China soybean trade flow into uncharted waters. High-level U.S. and Chinese officials met in Stockholm last week to discuss trade, and U.S. Secretary Scott Bessent said late last week that the “makings of a deal” were there and he was optimistic about the path forward.
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Used Equipment Values Have Stabilized in 2025, But the Surprising Trend Might Not Last
The price of used high-horsepower tractors fell between 18% and 23% from 2023/24 levels, while regional auctions report used equipment values fell by as much as 40%. So far in 2025, used equipment values found footing, a trend on the verge of reversing due to growing strains in the farm economy. According to the Machinery Pete website, “After the huge rate of drop we saw in 2024, which mirrored the big dropoff in 2014 to 2015, I thought it would keep sliding a little bit longer,” says Greg Peterson, who’s also known as Machinery Pete. Instead, it has leveled off through the first half of the year. The catalyst for the dramatic drop in used equipment values in 2024 was the amount of used equipment flooding the auction market. It was a total supply issue, according to Peterson.
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Tyson Raises 2025 Outlook as Chicken Boom Offsets Beef Crash
Tyson Foods Inc. raised its full-year earnings forecast as strong US chicken demand and cheap feed costs help it withstand losses in its beef business. Operating earnings, excluding some items, are expected to range from $2.1 billion to $2.3 billion in fiscal year 2025, an increase of $100 million at the midpoint from the prior guidance range, Tyson said in a statement. The increase was largely driven by a more optimistic view of its chicken business. A severe shortage of cattle has sent prices for slaughter-weight animals surging to record levels, eroding profits for beef processors as they struggle to pass higher costs on to consumers. Tyson managed to cushion the impact thanks to stronger demand for chicken as meat eaters seek cheaper alternatives. Its poultry operations have also benefited from ample grain supplies, which have kept a lid on feed costs.
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Farm Real Estate Prices Up Year-Over-Year
Farm real estate prices rose year-over-year nationally, as every state saw gains in land values, according to an annual report from the Ag Department. The value of land and buildings on farms rose 4.3% this year, to $4,350, the agency said after a survey of more than 28,000 operations conducted April–June. Cropland costs increased 4.7%, to $5,830 an acre, and pasture value rose 4.9%, to $1,920 an acre. Iowa ag land was valued at $9,790 an acre, up 3.9% on an annual basis, and Illinois saw gains of 2.6%, to $8,930 an acre, the USDA said. Iowa and Illinois are the biggest producers of corn and soybeans in the U.S. Nebraska land values rose to $4,250 an acre versus $4,080 a year earlier. Kansas ag real estate increased 4.4%, to $3,100 an acre, on average. South Dakota valuations were up 6.8%, to $2,970 an acre. North Dakota values gained 4.4%, to $2,360 an acre. *************************************************************************************