November 04, 2025
White House Releases Fact Sheet on China Agreement
Last week, Donald Trump of the U.S. and Xi (ZHEE) Jinping of China reached a trade and economic deal designed to ease tensions between the two countries. Of particular interest to U.S. farmers, China agrees to suspend all retaliatory tariffs that it has announced since March 4, 2025. This includes tariffs on many American exports, including chicken, wheat, corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. China agreed to purchase at least 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans this year, and at least 25 million metric tons of soybeans in 2026, 2027, and 2028. The U.S. will further extend the expiration date for certain Section 301 tariff exclusions, currently due to expire on November 29, 2025, until November 10, 2026. China will suspend the global implementation of the new export controls on rare earths and related measures it announced on October 9, 2025.
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NCGA Calls for a Full SRE Reallocation
The National Corn Growers Association called on the Environmental Protection Agency to reallocate 100 percent of its waivers for small refineries through a supplemental rule-making process. “A strong, transparent, and balanced Renewable Fuel Standard remains a cornerstone of America’s agricultural and energy success,” said NCGA CEO Neil Caskey. The statement was included in stakeholder comments submitted to EPA at the agency’s request. Under the RFS, the EPA sets the renewable volume obligations each year, specifying the amount of renewable fuel that refiners and importers of petroleum products must blend into the nation’s fuel supply. The EPA has the authority to issue Small Refinery Exemptions to refiners that can demonstrate “disproportionate economic harm” from compliance. NCGA has long argued that a dependable Renewable Fuel Standard is critical to unlocking America’s domestic energy potential, promoting ethanol growth, and driving corn demand. For years, the NCGA has also discouraged the overuse of RFS exemptions.
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NASS Reports Returning This Month
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will release several key agriculture reports in November, including a monthly crop supply and demand report that wasn’t issued last month because of the government shutdown. According to a post on its website, NASS will release the crop production and world ag supply and demand estimates on November 14. Reuters said the report had been scheduled for November 10 and will provide the government’s first estimate of U.S. corn and soybean production since September, when most of the Midwestern harvest hadn’t begun. Multiple social media posts by U.S. farmers have said that the USDA’s yield forecast was much too high. The USDA’s monthly cattle on feed report will be released as scheduled on November 21, after the October report didn’t take place. Allan Featherstone of Kansas State University told Ag Web that the markets rely on those reports to figure out what’s really taking place.
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H-2A Processing Will Resume Despite Shutdown
The U.S. Labor Department’s updated shutdown plan confirms that the Office of Foreign Labor Certification will resume processing H-2A temporary labor certification applications during the lapse in appropriations. The Western Growers Association sent a letter to the White House last week asking the Department to resume processing H-2A petitions during the government shutdown. As a direct response to the letter, the WGA met with senior administration officials to outline the chief concerns and highlight the challenges that this ongoing pause in H-2A processing is causing for producers. During the meeting, the Western Growers were asked to provide data on the estimated farm losses due to the challenges associated with the shutdown. Association membership provided information that was critical in the favorable decision made by the Trump administration. Page 18 of the Labor Department’s contingency plan said that OFLC “will process prevailing wage determinations and labor certification applications” next week.
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Klobuchar Applauds Court Ruling on SNAP Funding
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Ag Committee, applauded a District Court ruling that the Trump administration is required to provide November SNAP benefits to Americans in need. “The decision confirms what we’ve said all week: The administration is choosing not to feed Americans in need, despite being legally required to do so,” Klobuchar said. “The Court was clear that the administration is required to use those contingency funds as necessary for the SNAP program, and there’s no excuse to withhold food assistance from Americans.” She also said if the White House decides not to issue SNAP despite the court ruling, it would be a purely political decision, not a legal one. Klobuchar also joined the Democratic caucus in introducing the “Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025,” which would prevent the administration from withholding available funds for the SNAP and WIC (wick) Programs.
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National FFA Elects New Officer Team
The next student leaders of National FFA were elected to help guide this premier youth leadership organization during the coming year. The new team was announced on Saturday during the final session of the 98th annual National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana. Members from Delaware, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Tennessee were elected by the National FFA Delegates and will lead the organization over the next year. Trey Myers of Oklahoma was elected national president, and Lily Nyland of Michigan was elected national secretary. The members were selected from 37 candidates vying for the honor. Candidates participated in an extensive interview process with the National FFA Officer Nominating Committee before the selection. The new officers will interact with business and industry leaders, FFA members, instructors, and many other people to help guide the future of FFA. A complete list of the new officers is available at ffa.org.
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