National Ag News for September 04, 2025
Chicken Producers Applaud EPA Decision
The Environmental Protection Agency determined that more restrictive federal wastewater regulations and new cost burdens would be harmful for U.S. meat and poultry processing operations. The agency also concluded that the current system of federal, state, and local requirements already in place under the Clean Water Act is effective and works well. “The National Chicken Council appreciates EPA’s commonsense approach in regulating water quality and for recognizing that industry is already being regulated effectively,” said Dr. Ashley Peterson, NCC senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs. “The Biden administration didn’t allow adequate time for meaningful public comment on the proposed rule, which, if enacted, would have led to numerous facility closures, major job losses, and higher production costs.” The EPA engaged in a comprehensive and multi-year review to determine whether the existing federal effluent limitations for the meat, poultry, and rendering industries are sufficiently protective or if additional regulations were necessary.
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USDA Extends Reorganization Public Comment Deadline to September 30
The USDA extended the public comment period for its controversial reorganization plan to September 30. Politico says that doubles the length of time provided for input on an initiative that has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans since it was unveiled last month. The agency originally released the plan for public comment on July 24 for a period of 30 days. A department webpage that earlier listed the deadline as August 31 now says September 30. A USDA spokesperson said the additional days in the comment period are to ensure everyone who wants to submit feedback can do so. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle criticized USDA over its rollout of the plan, which calls for relocating much of its Washington-area workforce to five regional hubs across the country. Senate Democrats sent a letter urging Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins to extend the comment period by at least 60 days.
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NCGA Highlights High Production Costs Amid Crisis
The National Corn Growers Association continued to raise the alarm about the economic crisis hitting rural America, as commodity prices drop at a time when input costs remain at near-record highs. As NCGA urges Congress and the administration to act to drive increased demand for corn, such as higher blends of ethanol and increased foreign market access, it has also raised concerns about input costs. “At a time when many corn farmers are facing a reality of losing money after yet another year of hard work,” said NCGA President Kenneth Hartmann, Jr., “it’s essential that we examine all factors contributing to the economic hardships facing corn growers.” Average corn production costs have dropped only three percent from their peak in 2022 to 2025, while corn prices have declined by over 50 percent in the same period. Even with higher yields, farmers are unlikely to be able to offset these high costs.
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USDA Funding More Forest Health Resilience Projects
The USDA is investing more than $8 million in five new projects to reduce wildfire risk, protect water quality, and improve forest health across the nation. The Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership Program is a collaborative effort between USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Forest Service to work across public-private boundaries and at a landscape scale. The $8 million investment in new projects is in addition to $32 million for 24 existing three-year-long Joint Chiefs’ projects. The five new projects are in Alabama, Colorado and Wyoming, Montana, North Carolina, and Oregon. “Wildfires have no boundaries, and neither should prevention work,” said Tom Schultz, chief of the National Forest Service. “We need everyone at the table to deliver the kind of active management that will return our forests to health and productivity.” NRCS Chief Aubrey Bettencourt added that funding assistance for private forest landowners is the key to supporting locally-led conservation.
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Dairy Exports Surge in June
Good news for U.S. dairy as exports surged higher in June, reaching 18.7 percent of domestic milk solids production, the highest level since 2022. Meanwhile, stocks of major dairy products held steady from May to June. U.S. fluid milk sales rose 0.5 percent from a year earlier in June, while domestic yogurt consumption jumped 12.2 percent. Overall, domestic commercial use of milk solids in all dairy products increased by three percent year-over-year. Meanwhile, exports accounted for 18.7 percent of domestic milk solids, a sharp rise compared with recent levels. U.S. milk production growth accelerated in the second quarter, with milk solids composition also trending higher. Despite this, stocks of major dairy products held steady from May to June, as did the national average all-milk price. The Dairy Margin Coverage margin improved by 70 cents per hundredweight, supported by lower feed costs. Retail dairy prices haven’t changed much in three years.
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U.S. Continues Suspension Agreements on Mexican Sugar
The U.S. International Trade Commission unanimously voted to maintain the Suspension Agreements on sugar imported from Mexico. This concludes a legal and procedural process required to be undertaken by the Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce every five years to ensure that the Suspension Agreements remain effective and working as intended. “Sugar is an essential ingredient for American consumers and food manufacturers, and our farmers and workers are proud to produce sugar here in the U.S.,” said Dr. Rob Johannson, director of economics and policy analysis for the American Sugar Alliance. ‘However, predatory international trade practices threaten U.S. family farms and American factories, and the USITC’s decision to continue the suspension agreements reflects that reality.” Without the suspension agreements in place, Johansson added that the USITC found it likely that American farmers and workers would once again experience material injury due to dumped and subsidized Mexican sugar.
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