August 28, 2025
China is not Buying U.S. Soybeans
The world’s top soybean importer, China, doesn’t seem to have bought a single American cargo ship’s worth of soybeans for the coming year. Bloomberg said that’s despite the typical U.S. soybean export season beginning in days. U.S. government data shows Chinese buyers are standing pat on U.S. soybeans while the two countries continue to negotiate an end to the trade hostilities that have upended commodity markets. America’s soybean farmers have told the White House that the current stalemate has them hanging on the edge of a financial precipice. China imposed retaliatory tariffs on American soybean imports in March, making the cargoes less competitive in the Chinese market. The U.S. harvest typically starts in September. Chinese mills that crush the oilseed into animal feed will usually book ahead to take advantage of cheaper prices and ensure their needs are met for the first few weeks or months of the crop year.
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Why the Delay in Reporting the Screwworm?
The Maryland Department of Health said the patient with the first human infection of a travel-associated New World screwworm in the U.S. has recovered from the flesh-eating parasite. There was also no sign of transmission to other people or animals. The Health and Human Services Department said the disease was confirmed on August 4 in a person who traveled to El Salvador. The CDC then reported it on August 24 after a three-week delay. R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard indicated that neither the CDC nor the USDA had disclosed the NWS detection to the public. Instead, one or both agencies had selectively notified only certain industry participants of the detection, thereby giving them insider information regarding an issue with potentially severe ramifications. “Independent U.S. livestock producers rely exclusively on the USDA to protect the health and safety of their livestock herds against the introduction of foreign pests,” Bullard said.
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NCGA: Corn is Unprofitable at Current Price Levels
The National Corn Growers Association issued a report saying corn prices have dropped about 50 percent since hitting a peak in 2022. However, the cost of production has declined only modestly, making the production of corn unprofitable. The group said despite the plunging prices, the cost of growing an acre of corn this year is down only 3.3 percent from when prices topped out in 2022. “This is particularly problematic for farmers trying to cash flow high production costs while the corn price has tanked,” NCGA said in the report. Production of the grain is set to reach 16.742 billion bushels on a yield of 188.8 bushels per acre in the 2025-2026 marketing year. The average cost to grow a bushel of corn this year is projected at approximately $4.75 a bushel, and USDA expects farmers to receive about $3.90 per bushel, resulting in an 85-cent per bushel loss.
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Checkoff Launches Dairy Health Innovation Contest
Dairy Management, Inc. is now accepting entries for its 2026 New Product Competition. They’re inviting undergraduate and graduate students from across the U.S. to develop innovative dairy-based products that meet today’s consumer demands for bone, muscle health, and weight management. This annual contest challenges students to create forward-thinking products that showcase the power and versatility of dairy in promoting health and wellness. The deadline for entries is January 12. As consumers increasingly seek functional foods to support active and healthy lifestyles, dairy’s nutrient-rich profile presents a major opportunity. The competition encourages students to tap into current industry and consumer insights and aims to bring fresh dairy-based concepts to market. DMI says the competition is about more than just innovation, but also about preparing the next generation of food and dairy leaders to respond to evolving consumer needs with dairy at the center. The first-place Platinum Dairy Innovator Award winner gets $10,000.
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Sorghum Checkoff Launches First Human Clinical Trial
The United Sorghum Checkoff Program announced the launch of the first human clinical trial to evaluate whole grain sorghum’s health benefits. Funded by the Checkoff and conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the landmark study will investigate how daily consumption of two whole-grain sorghum varieties – a traditional white sorghum and a “sumac” sorghum – influences key health markers such as insulin resistance, inflammation, and gut microbiome composition. “The first of its kind human study is a direct result of sorghum producers’ commitment to scientific research,” said Lanier Dabruzzi, director of nutrition and innovation with the Sorghum Checkoff. “By investing in rigorous clinical research, we aim to provide the science-backed evidence health professionals and food companies need to recognize sorghum as a truly beneficial grain for whole-body health.” Tim Lust, CEO of the Sorghum Checkoff, said farmers are proving how special sorghum is on the biggest stage, which is human nutrition.
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Future Beef Leaders Receive $100,000
The next generation of leaders in the beef industry is already putting in the hard work on ranches, in classrooms, and in research labs. The Colvin Scholarship Fund recognizes and supports their dedication by awarding 27 students across the country a combined $100,000 this year to continue their pursuit of innovation, growth, and leadership in the beef industry. Each recipient is actively pursuing a career in production agriculture, industry research, or other agricultural endeavors. With their aspirations for success in the beef industry, they are continuing the legacy of Louis “Mick” Colvin, Certified Angus Beef co-founder and long-time executive director. “Seeing these students pursue their passions in agriculture is truly inspiring,” says Danielle Matter, CAB director of content strategy. “Each scholarship recipient is not only talented and driven, but also represents the innovation, leadership, and dedication that will shape the future of the beef industry, and we’re proud to support them.”
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