November 13, 2025
Chinese Purchases of U.S. Soybeans Have Stalled
Chinese purchases of soybeans from the U.S. appear to have stalled only two weeks after the U.S. touted a wide-ranging trade truce between the two countries. Bloomberg said it appeared to show a thawing in relations between the world’s biggest economies. Chinese imports of American cargoes seem to have faltered after a flurry of orders in October. That’s according to traders who asked not to be identified while discussing confidential information with Bloomberg. “The traders said they were not aware of any new shipments,” Bloomberg said. “The pause is causing significant uncertainty over whether the biggest consumer of American soybeans will be back in the market at a level the White House claimed to expect.” An agricultural broker with StoneX in Singapore said many experts view China’s commitment to purchase 12 million tons of U.S. soybeans this year to be more of a diplomatic gesture than a firm agreement.
***********************************************************************************
NCBA Supports Legislation to Expand Local Beef Sales
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association announced its continued support for the Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act. The legislation would increase marketing opportunities for smaller meat processors and give consumers more options to buy local beef. “The cattle business benefits greatly from expanding marketing opportunities, and the DIRECT Act opens the door to the growing number of cattle producers seeking to grow their market across state lines,” said Buck Wehrbein (WHERE-byne), president of the NCBA. “The increased market exposure for these cattlemen and women who are selling beef directly to consumers adds value and promotes tremendous benefit for our farmers and ranchers.” The DIRECT Act would allow state-inspected meat processors to sell their beef across state lines, in limited quantities and through e-commerce, directly to consumers. The bill also protects food safety by ensuring a paper trail exists for tracing and containing potential food safety issues.
***********************************************************************************
Milk Producers Elect New Federation Chair
Brian Rexing, an Indiana dairy farmer and member of the Dairy Farmers of America cooperative, was chosen as the 15th chairman at the National Milk Producers Federation’s Joint Annual Meeting. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your chairman,” Rexing said in his first remarks since being named to the position by the NMPF Board of Governors. “I may be stepping into this role, but it isn’t about me, but about who we represent and the future we’re building together.” Rexing and his wife, Renell, operate the New Generation Dairy near Owensville, Indiana. They milk 1,200 cows and farm 3,500 acres of corn, beans, wheat, and alfalfa. Brian is a fourth-generation farmer and has four children. He’s the vice president of the Evansville Young Dairymen and received Indiana’s Producer of the Year Award in 2010. In 2021, Brian purchased a meat processing plant with a retail store.
**********************************************************************************
Mending the “Stress Fence” in Farm Country
Farmers and their families can learn to recognize stress, manage their well-being, and access resources by attending an upcoming Penn State Extension webinar promoting resilience and mental health in agriculture. “Mending the Stress Fence” will take place from 7–8 pm Eastern time on December 8 and from 9-10 am on December 16. The webinar specifically addresses the unique challenges of farm life by focusing on stress management, balanced well-being, and reducing the stigma around seeking mental health support. Organizers pointed out that agriculture is among the most stressful and hazardous industries in the country. Workshop participants will learn the signs and symptoms of stress, how to self-identify stress, how to balance the dimensions of wellness, how to ask open-ended questions that demonstrate care, the warning signs of suicide, and where to find resources to support someone in need. The event is offered at no cost to participants, but preregistration is required.
***********************************************************************************
Minnesota Crews Put Out Weeklong Grain Bin Fire
A Minnesota farmer lost about 12,000 bushels of corn during a grain bin fire that smoldered for more than a week before it was put out on Monday. Local reports near Dover, Minnesota, say one day after finishing harvest in his fields, owner Brian LaBare found smoke coming from his grain dryer on Monday, November 3. “We had just finished the field on a Sunday and came back Monday morning to see smoke coming out of the top,” he said. “I tried to turn the augers on, but everything was frozen up.” The cause of the fire is suspected to be the faulty gearbox of the bin’s auger that began the fire. The bins had just been installed last spring and had already passed inspection. “The seat of the fire was so low that it actually took an excavator to finally suppress the fire for good,” said local Fire Chief Ryan Pike.
***********************************************************************************
CattleCon 2026 Prepares the Next Generation of Producers
College students and recent graduates are encouraged to attend CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, February 3–5, 2026. The event will prepare them for careers in the cattle industry. Future agricultural leaders will have the opportunity to engage with potential employers during the new “Career Crawl” at the NCBA Trade Show on Thursday, February 5, 2026. “The largest cattle industry event of the year is a great place for the next generation to network with some of our industry’s most impactful companies,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein (WHERE-byne). “We hope this new career event opens doors for future leaders.” Attendees can visit with participating “Career Crawl” companies at the NCBA Trade Show on Thursday to explore internships, job openings, and career opportunities, while engaging in meaningful conversations with agriculture professionals. Also, the first 250 FFA members and 250 4-H members to register will receive complimentary one-day Thursday registration, courtesy of Culver’s and Nationwide.
***********************************************************************************