September 10, 2025
NCGA Responds to MAHA Recommendations
On Tuesday the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission released its policy recommendations geared toward addressing chronic childhood disease. The report reflected NCGA’s recommendation of reinforcing the Environmental Protection Agency’s robust, globally respected pesticide review process. In response to this development, Illinois farmer and NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr., released the following statement: “The policy recommendations related to crop production, released today by the MAHA Commission, appear to be a reasonable and science-based approach for achieving its objectives. We are encouraged that when the commission engaged with agricultural stakeholders and followed the science, it reaffirmed what we already know: EPA is the appropriate agency for regulating crop inputs. We are also delighted to see precision agriculture, soil health and land stewardship prioritized, as these are areas in which corn farmers have led the way for many years. We look forward to working with the administration and Congress as they turn to the implementation of the report.”
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China Soybean Imports at a Record High in August, but Not from U.S.
China imported a record volume of soybeans for August to build a buffer against possible shortages as a protracted trade war with the U.S. — its second-largest supplier — drags on. Bloomberg reports that China, the world’s biggest soybean importer, purchased 12.28 million metric tons in August, the highest ever recorded for the month, shoring up local availability before U.S. supplies begin to dominate the global market. China has traditionally sourced a large share of its soybean imports from the US, but ongoing trade tensions have pushed it to favor Brazil. The recent purchases reflect a strategic move to reduce reliance on US shipments ahead of the export season that is expected to peak in the coming months. Abundant imports, mainly from Brazil, have left Chinese crushers better prepared for a winter possibly without US soybeans. China’s stockpiles of imported soybeans totaled about 6.8 million tons as of last Friday, nearly the highest amount since March.
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Ag Trade Deficit Hit Another Record High in July
The U.S. agricultural trade deficit widened further in July, highlighting the challenge facing President Donald Trump as he vows to reverse the trend. Agricultural exports lagged imports by $4.97 billion in July, a gap 9% wider than a year earlier and the largest on record for the month. That pushed the sector’s deficit to an unprecedented $33.6 billion for the first seven months of the year, according to data released Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The widening farm trade gap this year has been mostly driven by a jump in imports, just as Trump slapped tariffs on other countries in a push to shrink the overall deficit. That further cements a shift that has been building since the president’s first term, with a sector that has long run major trade surpluses becoming a consistent net importer.
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USDA’s Discontinuation of Farm Labor Survey Seen as Win for Producers
Specialty crop growers scored a significant win last week when the USDA announced its intention to discontinue the Farm Labor Survey (FLS). The FLS helped the Department of Labor determine the AEWR, the minimum wage for H-2A workers in every state. Rates have spiraled out of control in recent years. Michael Marsh, president and chief executive officer of the National Council of Agricultural Employers, outlines the significance of the announcement made by the USDA. I think it is a big win. Our association has been bringing litigation against the Department of Labor since 2019, trying to get them to divorce themselves from using the Farm Labor Survey to establish wage rates for workers in the H-2A temporary ag worker program. It’s a wage rate that’s disconnected from the marketplace for agricultural wages anywhere in the world. It’s unfortunately had the consequence of making US employers non-competitive with their foreign competition.
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Applications for NCBA Spring 2026 Internships Now Open
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has opened applications for spring 2026 semester internships in the association’s Colorado headquarters and Washington, D.C. office. Internships are available for public policy, producer education and sustainability, and meetings and events. “Since 1898, NCBA has been the trusted leader and definitive voice of the U.S. cattle and beef industry,” said NCBA President-Elect and Virginia cattleman Gene Copenhaver. “NCBA interns directly support the critical work of this association and make sure that our farming and ranching legacy continues in the future. I strongly encourage you to apply and start your career with NCBA.” In addition, NCBA, in conjunction with the Public Lands Council, has an opportunity for students interested in government and public policy to serve as public policy interns. This internship supports NCBA’s Government Affairs team and will allow students to learn more about lobbying, government relations, and advocacy on behalf of the cattle and sheep industries. This internship is full-time and based in NCBA’s Center for Public Policy in Washington, D.C.
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