October 09, 2025

Farm Aid Reportedly Delayed by Government Shutdown

Four people familiar with the talks told Politico that the White House is delaying its plans to issue economic aid to farmers this week due to the government shutdown. The White House Office of Management and Budget prepared between $12 and $13 billion to be allocated from an internal USDA account. The sources said no final decision has been made yet on the total amount of money that will go for farm aid, and the package likely won’t be coming out soon. It’s possible the timeline was further delayed because some of the USDA’s political appointees have been placed on furlough during the shutdown. Politico also said officials are weighing the possibility of using tariff revenue, the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation fund, and other alternative methods to alleviate farmers’ financial stress. President Trump tapped the USDA fund to dole out $28 billion in assistance during the first trade war with China. 

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Winter Wheat Planting Progress Slowed by Rain

Winter wheat planting in Kansas is moving along, even though rainfall is slowing progress in some parts of the state. “Rains in the central part of the state have things moving slowly with farmers out in the field,” said Aaron Harries, vice president of research and operations for the industry group Kansas Wheat. In an email, he said progress was steady from northwest to southwest, though central and eastern counties are behind their usual pace for this time of year. About 34 percent of the winter-wheat crop in the U.S. was planted as of September 28, the last update before the government shut down. That compares with 20 percent that was planted a week earlier and the prior five-year average for that date of 36 percent. In Kansas, the biggest winter-wheat grower in the U.S., 17 percent was planted as of September 28, versus the typical 30 percent average. 

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Pork Prices Trend Lower

Weekly pork slaughter was estimated to be higher than 2.6 million head, although we won’t know the actual figures as the USDA has furloughed many of its staff due to a funding lapse. Seasonally, pork supply trends higher in the fall, and this year is no different. Slaughter is up 11 percent compared to where it was in mid-August, while weights are up three percent. With nearly 15 percent more pork coming to market, prices have started to trend lower and could see more downside this quarter. Pork trim prices were counter-seasonally higher in the previous three weeks, but the increase in supply has finally started to catch up with this market. Strong demand should keep prices above year-ago levels, but prices in November and December are expected to be lower than the current trends. Ham prices are expected to trade sideways, while belly prices could see more downside. 

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New NCBA Redbooks are Now Available

The 2026 Redbook from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is now available. The pocket-sized booklet can help cattle producers effectively and efficiently record their daily production efforts by simplifying record keeping, which can enhance profitability and reduce stress levels. In addition to Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) practices and information on proper injection techniques, the 2026 Redbook also includes current information about the judicious use of antibiotics in cattle, fitness for transport, and how to build a successful biosecurity plan for each producer’s individual operation. Additional pages have been added to this updated version, providing plenty of room to record calving activity, herd health, pasture use, cattle inventory, body condition, cattle treatment, artificial insemination breeding records, and more. It also contains a calendar and notes section. Redbooks can be purchased online at store.ncba.org for only $8.25 each, plus shipping. Customization is available for larger orders, including adding a company’s logo on the cover.

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Funding Found to Support WIC During Shutdown

An important American food aid program is no longer in danger after funding was found to support it during the government shutdown. Axios (AK-see-ohs) said the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also known as WIC (wick), is relied on heavily by millions of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women and young children. The program provides vouchers for healthy foods and was in danger of running out of funding within weeks amid the government shutdown. The White House said it will transfer funding derived from tariff revenue to keep the program going “for the foreseeable future,” according to a White House official, who described the infusion as a temporary fix and declined to say how much money was being sent. The Office of Management and Budget worked to find a creative solution to preserve WIC, which annually has over six million people benefit from the program. 

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Congressional Coalition Supports EPA Biofuels Plan

A bipartisan group of 47 legislators from both Chambers of Congress petitioned the EPA to finalize its proposal for the Renewable Fuel Standard Program, which includes measures to discourage the use of imports into the U.S. biofuels market. The group sent a letter to Lee Zeldin, the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, asking him to advocate for the proposal. The legislators say it represents a common-sense approach that puts America’s farmers first in line, strengthens U.S. domestic biofuel markets, and delivers tangible economic benefits to rural communities. An EPA proposal in June would change the RFS program to increase the Renewable Volume Obligation, or RVO, reduce the value of the Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) for foreign-produced fuels and biofuel components, and reallocate unmet regulatory costs from exempted small refineries to larger ones. The group argued that the RIN reduction measure would provide essential support for the farm economy.

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