September 05, 2025

USDA Says Farm Sector Profits to Grow in 2025

The USDA’s Economic Research Service says net cash farm income, defined as gross cash income minus cash expenses, is forecast to increase by $36.5 billion, or 25 percent, from 2024 to $180.7 billion in 2025 inflation-adjusted dollars. U.S. net farm income is forecast to increase by $48.8 billion, or 37 percent, to $179.8 billion in 2025. Net farm income is a broader measure of farm sector profitability that incorporates non-cash items like changes in inventories, economic depreciation, and gross imputed rental income. Most of the projected increase in 2025 corresponds with higher direct government payments to farmers, projected to increase from $10.4 billion in 2024 to $40.5 billion in 2025. The increase is expected largely because of supplemental and ad hoc disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers from the American Relief Act of 2025, which authorized economic assistance payments to producers and payments for losses in 2023 and 2024. 

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NCGA Applauds Brazil Trade Investigation

National Corn Growers Association President Kenneth Hartman, Jr., testified before members of a trade panel established by the  U.S. Trade Representative’s Office. He praised the administration for investigating Brazil’s trade practices and encouraged quick action to address any wrongdoing. “Unfortunately, Brazil does not value a level playing field and unfairly penalizes U.S. corn growers,” Hartman said. “Over the past decade, Brazil has taken targeted trade actions aimed at evaporating current and future demand for U.S. farmers.” The testimony took place after the USTR Office initiated a probe, under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, to determine whether Brazil engaged in unfair trade practices. U.S. corn growers and ethanol producers once enjoyed a level playing field in Brazil until 2017, when Brazil imposed a 20 percent tariff on U.S. ethanol without provocation. “As soon as the tariff kicked in, the market was in free-fall decline for U.S. ethanol producers,” Hartman said. 

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Avian Flu Hits North and South Dakota Turkeys

Avian flu has hit turkey farms in North Dakota and South Dakota. Agriculture Dot Com says it’s the first bird flu cases in U.S. commercial flocks since early July. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in northeast South Dakota. That meant 55,400 birds were killed to prevent the spread of the disease. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture said this week that bird flu was confirmed in a farm right along the South Dakota border. “After a quiet summer, it’s not unexpected that we have another case of HPAI as birds are gathering to begin the fall migration,” said North Dakota Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring. The North Dakota State Veterinarian said 60,000 birds had to be destroyed. The USDA also said in August that avian flu was confirmed at a live-bird market in Los Angeles, California County, and in backyard birds in New York state.  

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California Senate Passes E15 Bill

The Renewable Fuels Association applauded the California Senate’s passing of a bill that would allow the sale of E15, saying the state is much closer to cleaner fuel use. The Association said the bill moves on to the governor’s desk for approval. Last year, Governor Gavin Newsom said ethanol blends have massive potential and will lower gas prices while keeping the air clean. Researchers at the University of California-Berkeley and the U.S. Naval Academy said in a report that California consumers may see up to $2.7 billion in savings every year by having E15 available. California is the only state that doesn’t allow sales of the fuel blend. The analysis also finds that a unit increase in octane level results in a value premium of about 11 cents per gallon. California’s transition from E10 to E15 could save about 13 cents per gallon on average due to the lower carbon intensity of E15. 

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Milwaukee Restaurant Gives Out a Lot of Free Beef

The George Webb Restaurant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, gave out a whole lot of free beef recently. During its third-ever free burger promotion, George Webb estimates it gave out between 80,000 and 90,000 free burgers during a 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. window on August 20. Spokesman Brian Meehan said if you include the 100,000 free burger vouchers they handed out that were redeemable in late August, that’s almost 200,000 free burgers. The giveaway celebrated the Milwaukee Brewers’ 12-game winning streak, which eventually reached 14 straight games. The last time it happened was in 2018, when the restaurant said it gave away 90,000 free burgers and issued over 100,000 vouchers. The first time this giveaway took place was in 1987, when the restaurant only handed out 168,000 free burgers. To get ready for this year’s giveaway, George Webb prepped 25,000 pounds of hamburger, 4,000 pounds of onions, and 500,000 pickle slices. 

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Hearing Talks Potential Delisting of the Mexican Wolf Under the ESA

The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildfire, and Fisheries held a hearing on the “Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025.” The legislation would delist the Mexican wolf under the Endangered Species Act. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association, the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, and the Public Lands Council all support passage of the critical bill. “Rural communities are currently facing the grave consequences of an apex predator that should be delisted,” said New Mexico Cattle Growers President-Elect Tom Paterson. “Due to past management focused principally on population numbers, we no longer just have a livestock crisis with Mexican wolves, but they’re now stalking kids and the elderly, snatching cats and dogs right off front porches, and they are even killing horses.” The federal protections that come with a listing on the Endangered Species Act have made it “incredibly hard” to manage the abundant apex predator.

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