October 07, 2025

Low Mississippi River Levels Again Set to Disrupt Harvest Shipping

For the fourth straight year, water levels in the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers will soon be critically low, forcing shippers to light-load grain barges during harvest season. As barge rates get higher, those higher costs are making their way down to the farm level. Gary Williams, director of the Upper Mississippi River Water Association, told Agri-Pulse that between low commodity prices and high shipping costs, “Corn and soybean growers are looking to stash their commodities in every nook and cranny they can find.” A Forbes report said this could not come at a worse time for farmers. “This is a peak period when corn and soybeans from the Midwest get shipped downriver to New Orleans for export to the international marketplace.” If the lower levels get worse, Mike Steenhoek (STEEN-hook) of the Soy Transportation Coalition said that may mean lost profits for farmers because of an inefficient transportation system.” 

**********************************************************************************
Record Harvest, Uneven Exports to Tangle Logistics

The U.S. is bracing for a record grain harvest totaling 21.5 billion bushels of corn, soybeans, and grain sorghum this fall. The bumper crop arrives during a period of heightened uncertainty surrounding the future of the U.S.-China trade relationship. It all means grain storage and transportation logistics will be much more complicated than usual. CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange said grain storage space will be extraordinarily tight this fall, with grain merchandisers charging higher fees due to limited capacity and strained infrastructure. While grain elevators stand to benefit from buying cheaper basis and capturing wider carries in the futures markets, the profit opportunities aren’t risk-free. “Among the top 12 corn-producing states, the U.S. is facing a 1.4-billion-bushel shortage of upright grain storage this year, with elevators relying on bunkers and ground piles.” This year’s shortage is in stark contrast to last year, when the top corn-producing states had 361 million bushels of excess storage.

***********************************************************************************
Coalition Calls for Permits for Agricultural Workers

U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) joined the American Business Immigration Coalition and dairy industry leaders at the World Dairy Expo to address the urgent labor shortages facing America’s dairy farmers. They also championed practical immigration reforms tailored to the industry’s needs. Speakers highlighted the essential role of workers in keeping dairy operations safe, efficient, and productive. “If we deport every undocumented person working in the agriculture, hospitality, and construction industries, all of them will shutter at a moment’s notice,” Van Orden said. “If our farms close, we’ll be completely dependent on other countries to feed our people, and that is unacceptable.” He called that situation a national security issue. Brian Rexing of Dairy Farmers of America said taking hard-working employees off farms doesn’t make communities safer. “We need Congress and the administration to address our broken agricultural visa program,” he said. “We don’t want shortcuts. We want reform.”

***********************************************************************************
NFU and Other Ag Groups Celebrate National Co-op Month

October is National Co-op Month, an annual opportunity to raise awareness of a trusted, proven way to do business and build resilient communities. The National Farmers Union is joining with cooperatives and credit unions across rural America to celebrate. During October, the NFU is joining over 65,000 cooperatives across the U.S. in observing National Co-op Month, observed in the U.S. since 1964. The theme for this year is “Cooperatives Build a Better World,” and it was chosen by the National Cooperative Business Association to echo the United Nations declaration of 2025 as the second International Year of Cooperatives. Cooperative enterprise is central to the mission of the Farmers Union, which was founded in 1914 as the “Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America.” Throughout its history, the organization has played a key role in supporting cooperative development in the U.S., including policy advocacy, educational resources, and organizing the annual College Conference on Cooperatives. 

***********************************************************************************
World Food Prices Fall

September saw global food commodity prices drop as declines in the sugar and dairy industries offset a new peak for meat prices. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s Food Price Index, which tracks a basket of internationally traded food commodities, averaged 128.8 points in September, down from a revised 129.7 in August. The index was 3.4 percent higher than the same month last year, though it had fallen about 20 percent from the record level in March 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The fall in the sugar index reflected an improving supply outlook, with higher-than-expected production in Brazil and favorable harvest prospects elsewhere. The dairy index slipped 2.6 percent month on month, driven in turn by a sharp decline in butter prices amid increased production prospects. Elsewhere, the FAO’s meat price indicator rose by another 0.7 percent to a new record high as beef and sheep meat quotations continued higher. 

***********************************************************************************
Wheat Growers Select a New CEO

The National Association of Wheat Growers announced that Sam Kieffer is the organization’s next CEO, and he’ll start on November 1. He brings more than 20 years of experience in agricultural leadership and farm policy to the role. Kieffer said he’s honored to join the Association at such a pivotal time for wheat growers across the country. “Having grown up on a farm, it has been a privilege to dedicate my career to serving farmers, and I’m proud to champion their cause in this new role,” Kieffer said. “I look forward to working alongside NAWG’s dedicated members, board, and staff to tackle challenges and ensure a bright future for farm families and rural America.” Pat Clements, NAWG President, said Kieffer brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the policy landscape and the needs of wheat growers. Kieffer was the Vice President of Public Policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation. 

***********************************************************************************