October 15, 2025

Shutdown Hitting Crucial Tools for Farmers

The government shutdown is hitting the nation’s farmers and ranchers in multiple ways. Politico points out that the shutdown is stalling the delivery of farm loans, the release of critical market reports, and the administration’s plan for emergency assistance for farmers. Row-crop producers who grow corn, wheat, and soybeans have been weathering uncertainty for months, including tariff troubles and high input costs for things like machinery and fertilizer. Politico said every day the government isn’t open adds to the anxiety in farm country, especially as growers are harvesting crops and having to pay bills and their banks. The risks of farm bankruptcies continue to climb this year. A New York Times report said the shutdown is interfering with planning for next year as farmers have to make decisions about what’s ahead in 2026. Those plans depend on information only the federal government can provide, including market data and available loans. 

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Study Shows Ag Exports Faltering

The U.S. has traditionally had a healthy agricultural trade surplus for years. As global dynamics change due to multiple political and economic factors, U.S. agricultural imports now exceed exports. A new study says the deficit is likely to get worse in the years ahead. University of Illinois and Texas Tech University researchers say the U.S. is importing much more than it exports. From 2017 to 2018, the dispute between the U.S. and China resulted in export values dropping by $9 billion (73 percent) for soybeans, $431.7 million (67 percent) for wheat, $92.6 million (61 percent) for corn, and $312.5 million (37 percent) for sorghum. The total value of lost agricultural exports amounted to approximately $14 billion. At the same time, the U.S. is losing export markets to other large grain producers like Brazil, Canada, Australia, and Ukraine. The only good news is that the U.S. is actively working on new trade agreements. 

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FFA Receives a $10 Million Grant

The National FFA Organization is one of six national organizations to receive a $10 million grant from Lily Endowment, Inc. The grants are being awarded through the latest round of Lily Endowment’s initiative, called the “Character Through Youth Programs,” which helps youth-serving organizations with a nationwide reach create, test, implement, and sustain strategies that support character development in young people ages five to 18. “The organizations like National FFA have a long history of supporting young people and helping them grow into healthy, resilient adults,” said Ted Maple, Lily Endowment’s vice president for education and youth programs. “With their distinctive missions and programs, they are embarking on new creative and strategic approaches to support youth-serving organizations through the first round of the initiative.” Ambra Tennery, director of education programs in the programs and events division for the National FFA Organization, said, “We are honored to receive this support from Lily Endowment.”

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China Soybean Imports Surge

Chinese soybean imports jumped year over year in September as total purchases of all products surged. Bank of America Global Research said in a note to clients that soybean imports by volume jumped more than 13 percent last month versus 1.2 percent in August. Imports from Brazil were up 24 percent in September, which compares with a 1.4 percent year-over-year decline in August. However, purchases from the U.S. were down more than 16 percent on an annual basis, in line with the previous month’s decline. Total imports into China jumped 7.4 percent on an annual basis, a surprise to market-watchers. The trade surplus with the U.S. narrowed from $102.3 billion to $90.5 billion. “Despite concerns of an imminent sharp slowdown in external demand, the data from China highlighted continued resilience in exports, supported by the ongoing tech cycle and stable demand outside the U.S.,” said analysts from Bank of America. 

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U.S. and China Roll Out Competing Port Fees

The U.S. and China have begun charging competing port fees on ocean shipping firms that move everything from holiday toys to crude oil. Reuters said the new fees will make the high seas a key front in the continuing trade war between the world’s biggest economies. China has started collecting the levies on U.S.-owned, operated, built, or flagged vessels, but clarified that Chinese-built ships are exempt from the same levies. The China-imposed extra port fees will be collected at the first port of entry on a single voyage or the first five voyages within a year. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump announced plans to levy fees on China-linked ships to loosen the country’s grip on the global maritime industry and boost U.S. shipbuilding. Yahoo said an investigation during former President Joe Biden’s administration found that China uses unfair trade policies and practices to dominate the global maritime, logistics, and building sectors. 

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Fertilizer Industry Celebrates Global Fertilizer Day

The Fertilizer Institute celebrated Global Fertilizer Day on Monday, an annual event recognized around the world by the fertilizer industry in an effort to educate people about the importance of the fertilizer industry. The day highlights the industry’s contributions to feeding both the global population and the global economy, and helps encourage students to explore the many fulfilling career paths available to them within the industry. “We’re extremely proud of the fertilizer industry’s global role and believe we are lucky to be able to not only feed the world by putting food on people’s tables, but to feed economies by providing important and fulfilling careers and working to tirelessly innovate to be good environmental stewards,” said TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “We feed the world sustainably and safely.” This year’s celebration featured a record-setting year for student engagement, with 200 “Fertilizer Fun Boxes” provided to classrooms across the country. 

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