National Ag News for October 22, 2025

Groups React to Beef Imports from Argentina

Groups like the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association have expressed significant concerns about President Donald Trump’s plan to buy beef from Argentina to lower the price of beef for U.S. consumers. “Argentina has a history of Foot and Mouth Disease,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “Consumer demand remains strong because of the work producers have done to improve the quality and safety of U.S. beef.” Rob Larew, president of the National Farmers Union, said lowering beef prices for consumers starts with restoring fairness in the marketplace. “Plus, the White House bailed out Argentina with $40 billion in taxpayer-backed aid, and Argentina responded by striking new deals to sell soybeans to China.” American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said adverse weather and low cattle prices drove herd numbers to levels not seen in decades. “Weaker cattle prices are the last thing needed in farm country as farmers consider investing to rebuild their herds,” Duvall said.  

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The Global Ethanol Summit Began on Monday

The first day of the Global Ethanol Summit on Monday began with three keynote speakers, a panel, and two flash talks focused on the day’s theme, “Ethanol is Renewable and Available.” U.S. Grains and Biofuels Products Chair Mark Wilson opened the event with an announcement. “We’re excited to announce that we have a new interactive tool that allows users to compare the blending economics and greenhouse gas reduction benefits of ethanol around the world,” Wilson said. “Designed to support policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers alike, it showcases the global impact of bioethanol with real-world data and the U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council’s commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions through data-driven innovation.” The Summit is an education and trade forum, hosted by the USGBC and supported by Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Alliance, and BASF. It’s designed to elevate bioethanol’s international visibility as a viable decarbonization solution for the transportation sector. 

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Brazil Begins Planting Another Record Crop

Brazil’s farmers are planting a record number of corn and soybean acres for the 2025-2026 crop season. CONAB, Brazil’s food supply and statistics agency, released its first outlook for the new crop cycle and projects an increase in planted area. The expansion is driven by growing domestic demand for biofuels and strong export performance. A University of Illinois Farmdoc article says, despite the expected acreage growth, gross margins for both crops are likely to decline significantly due to rising production costs and lower prices. CONAB predicts Brazil’s soybean acreage will increase by 3.5 percent to 121 million acres. That would be the largest area on record. Like soybeans, corn acreage is expected to expand, jumping four percent to a total of 56 million acres in the initial estimates. While Brazil gains ground in export markets, margins are getting squeezed by rising input costs, lower prices, and high interest rates. 

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California E15 Mandate Good for the U.S.

The National Corn Growers Association is pointing to California as an example of what could be achieved around the country after the state enacted a law extending access to E15 fuels. It’s estimated that if consumers had been able to access E15 in California during 2025, it would have created a demand for close to 250 million additional bushels of corn, which would represent 12 percent of the expected excess corn supply this year. “The sheer buying power of the millions of people on the road in California promises to increase demand for corn in ethanol, which is good news for the nation’s corn growers,” said NCGA President Joe Bower. “Now we want to see Congress act to extend access to year-round E15 to every state in the country.” He added that “Farmers see what’s possible with California’s new law, and it’s time for Congress to follow suit.”

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Farmers Risk Losing Billions Without Reallocation

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing supplemental SRE reallocation volumes to the 2026 and 2027 Renewable Fuel Standard Volumes. Clean Fuels America shared the potential impact on U.S. soybean farmers and processors with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. EPA is co-proposing to either fully (100 percent) or partially (50 percent) account for 2023-2025 small refinery exemptions granted this year by adding a supplemental volume in 2026 and 2027. “U.S. soybean farmers and processors could lose between $3.2 billion and $7.5 billion in crop value over the next two years if the EPA doesn’t completely reallocate recently exempted RFS volumes,” said Clean Fuels in a letter to Zeldin. “Facing Chinese tariffs and growing global competition from Argentina and Brazil, America’s farmers can’t afford to lose the value that U.S. biomass-based diesel brings.” A 50 percent reallocation will include 490 million gallons lost in biomass-based diesel production and $1.4 billion in lost farm revenue. 

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Farmers Union Issues Action Alert

There is a crisis in U.S. farm country. Family farmers are facing severe economic and financial challenges, with each passing day becoming increasingly dire. Recently enacted trade policies, along with the corresponding reaction by other countries, have wreaked havoc on our commodity markets. And the consequences for U.S. family farmers and rural America are getting increasingly dire. Crop prices are plummeting far below the cost of production. Input costs are projected to reach record levels in 2025. Plus, the number of farm bankruptcies is rapidly rising. Family farmers are on the brink of collapse and cannot wait any longer. They need immediate economic assistance to weather this storm of uncertainty and chaos. Without intervention, many family farms and operations are at risk. The Farmers Union urges its members and non-members to tell Congress and President Trump that family farmers need immediate economic assistance and long-term reforms that restore fairness in U.S. agriculture.

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