October 01, 2025
USDA Readying for Possible Government Shutdown
In the event of a possible government shutdown on Wednesday, the USDA says it’s taken steps to be ready. A shutdown could happen when the fiscal year ends on Tuesday night, unless Congress passes another continuing resolution. Back in the 2018 federal shutdown, Food Safety and Inspection Service meat inspection and laboratory testing personnel continued to work. USDA says it is prepared for all possible contingencies covering operations, including critical services and support programs. Two people with direct knowledge of the agency’s plans told Politico that USDA employees may face more layoffs. The department submitted its tentative shutdown contingency plan to the Office of Management and Budget, and it does include a reduction-in-force provision. No further details were provided on which employees could be cut, but the two people said the rest of the proposal largely mirrors USDA’s typical shutdown contingency plan, last updated during the Biden administration.
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Mexico’s Meat Sector Unhappy with New Rules
Mexico’s government instituted new regulations on livestock movement because of the New World screwworm infestation in the country. Restrictions were put in place as tensions with the United States continue to heat up. Mexico’s meat chamber AMEG said restricting the movement of livestock from the south to the northern part of the country “threatens the economic viability of the sector that generated $192 billion in 2024.” Reuters said a document dated September 19 from Mexico’s ag ministry said the anti-parasite drug Ivermectin must be given 72 hours in advance of the movement of cattle under the supervision of staff from the International Regional Organization for Animal and Plant Health. “Recent measures jeopardize the supply chain of the meat production sector,” said AMEG, without specifying which measures they were referring to in the statement. AMEG said the only proven method to eradicate the screwworm was the release of sterile flies.
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Wheat Export Inspections Decline Week to Week
USDA data showed inspections of wheat for overseas delivery declined week to week, while corn and soybean assessments increased. Wheat inspections in the seven days ending on September 25 totaled 738,600 metric tons, down from almost 940,000 tons the previous week. The agency said that’s still well above the 552,000 tons examined in the same week last year. Corn assessments were reported at 1.53 million metric tons versus 1.39 million during the previous week and 1.15 million at the same point in 2024. Soybean inspections totaled 594,000 metric tons, up from 566,000 tons a week earlier, but down from the 684,000 metric tons during the same week last year. Since June 1, the government has inspected 9.54 million metric tons of wheat for export, up from the 8.28 million tons assessed during the same timeframe last year. Corn and soybean inspections are also higher than last year.
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USDA Hosting Agribusiness Trade Mission to Taiwan
Luke Lindberg, USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, arrived in Taiwan to lead an agribusiness trade mission to expand market access and boost U.S. agricultural exports. The delegation includes 39 agribusinesses and trade organizations and representatives from three state agriculture departments. “On a per capita basis, Taiwan already punches above its weight in purchasing high-quality American agriculture, but we will showcase more of our amazing brands and food products,” said Lindberg. The trade mission comes on the heels of an announcement by Taiwan officials who intend to increase purchases of several categories of U.S. agricultural products by over 30 percent during the next four years. The U.S. has a $3.1 billion trade surplus with Taiwan after shipping a total of $3.8 billion in 2024. Trade opportunities include soybeans, corn, wheat, dairy, beef, fresh fruits, tree nuts, and more. USDA’s next trade mission heads to Mexico in November.
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Turkeys Raised Down Three Percent from 2024
The latest Turkeys Raised Report from the USDA shows a continued decline in the total number of birds produced in the U.S. since 2016, with the only bounce higher coming from 2022 to 2023. Turkeys raised in the U.S. during 2025 are forecasted to be 195 million, down three percent from the number raised during 2024. The top six states accounted for a total of 68 percent of all turkeys produced in the U.S. during 2025. The largest turkey-producing state is Minnesota at 32 million turkeys, unchanged from the previous year. Second-place North Carolina produced 28 million turkeys, up four percent from a year ago. Arkansas produced 22 million turkeys, down 12 percent from last year. Indiana produced 20 million turkeys, unchanged from 2024. Missouri produced 15 million turkeys, down three percent from last year. Virginia, down two percent from the previous year, produced 15 million turkeys.
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Corn and Soybean Stocks are Lower
The USDA’s Grain Stocks Report showed corn stocks down 13 percent from last year, soybean stocks are eight percent lower, and all wheat stocks are up six percent from 2024. Old crop corn stocks in all positions on September 1, 2025, totaled 1.53 billion bushels, down 13 percent from September 1, 2024. Both on-farm and off-farm stocks were down from last year. Old crop soybeans stored in all positions on September 1, 2025, totaled 316 million bushels, down eight percent from September 1, 2024. Both on-farm and off-farm stocks were lower. All wheat stored in all positions on September 1, 2025, totaled 2.12 billion bushels, up six percent from a year ago. Based on the 2024 end of the marketing year analysis, corn for grain production was revised up 25 million bushels from the prior estimate. 2024 soybean production was revised up 7.74 million bushels from the previous estimate.
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