December 19, 2025
China Halfway to Soybean Purchase Commitment
China has secured at least seven million tons of U.S. soybeans after multiple purchases during the past two weeks. Bloomberg said that puts the Asian country over halfway to meeting the 12-million-ton purchase agreement it made with the Trump administration. People familiar with the deals say the total comes from purchases by Sinograin, the state company in charge of managing China’s strategic grain stockpiles. The company purchased about two million tons in the last week alone, with buys continuing into this week. Bloomberg reports that at least seven soybean cargoes were purchased, totaling over 400,000 tons. Officially, the USDA has reported under four million tons of soybeans sold to China, but industry insiders say the total is likely much higher. Unfortunately, prices will likely stay under pressure, even though U.S. sellers and Chinese buyers expect the target to be met. It’s unknown exactly when the beans will ship.
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Ethanol Production Hits Another Record High
The Energy Information Administration said ethanol output jumped to a new record high in the seven days ending on December 12. U.S. production rose to an average of 1.131 million barrels a day, which the agency said is up from 1.105 million the previous week and eclipsed a record set two weeks earlier. In the Midwest, output rose to an average of 1.078 million barrels a day, up from 1.046 million the prior week. That was all the gains for the week. East Coast production was steady at 11,000 barrels a day, on average, for the fourth-straight week. West Coast output held steady at 9,000 barrels a day. Gulf Coast production dropped by 4,000 barrels to an average of 28,000 per day, and Rocky Mountain output dropped by 2,000 barrels a day to 9,000. Inventories during the week fell to 22.353 million barrels.
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Thank You Farmers Project Hits $8 Million Milestone
When Culver’s launched the “Thank You Farmers Project” in 2013, the goal was simple. The company wanted to support the agricultural community and show gratitude to the farmers who feed the country. That mission has always included uplifting agricultural education and supporting caretakers of our land to ensure a viable food supply for years to come. Culver’s was excited to announce that the project hit a record milestone of $8 million in total donations since the program began. In 2025 alone, thanks to the generosity of guests and local fundraising efforts, more than $1.5 million was raised to benefit the future of U.S. agriculture. “Behind every meal we serve in our restaurants are local hardworking farmers,” said Alison Demmer, Culver’s senior public relations manager. “We’re proud to work alongside our guests to create something like this that is truly meaningful.”
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American Lamb Board Releases Annual Report
In 2025, the American Lamb Board continued its mission to grow consumer demand, expand strategic partnerships, and invest in research and education to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of American lamb. Across marketing, research, education, and industry outreach, ALB programs reached consumers, retail, and foodservice customers and influencers nationwide, while providing new tools and opportunities for producers. The highlights included growing consumer demand through Lamb Jam, seasonal campaigns, recipes and cooking classes, retail promotions, events, and social media engagements. Other highlights of 2025 included improving product quality and consistency, increasing productivity and year-round supply, and expanding checkoff engagement. “Demand is rising, and the challenge is clear: we must expand the domestic supply to meet the growing interest,” said ALB Chair Jeff Ebert. “This is an exciting time to be part of the industry, and we have every reason to be proud of how far we’ve come.” ALB is very optimistic about the opportunities ahead.
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Diversification Drives Corn Growth, Cushions Soybean Declines
The U.S. agricultural export scenario experienced a transformation in 2025, with diversification of export destinations emerging as an important factor for both the corn and soybean markets. Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture says the biggest change in U.S. soybean exports between 2024 and 2025 has been the diversification of destination markets. While 2025 soybean export levels are tracking below 2024 and aren’t likely to reach last year’s volumes even with November and December data, the diversification has helped moderate what could have been a far more severe reduction. Despite reductions in corn purchases from top markets like Mexico, Japan, and Colombia, overall export volumes have already exceeded 2024 levels, even with data only available through early November. This shows diversification can not only cushion declines but also drive growth with favorable market conditions.
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Lawsuit Putting Poultry Grower Contracts in Jeopardy
Tyson Foods has told poultry growers within the Illinois River watershed that they may not have their contracts renewed next year. That could affect growers in eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas and cause significant economic fallout in the region’s biggest agricultural sector. The watershed covers more than one million acres across both states. Yahoo Finance said that the area includes parts of northwest Arkansas, where poultry production is a pillar supporting the local economy. Poultry actually accounts for over half of Arkansas’s cash receipts and supports over 175,000 direct and indirect jobs statewide. The potential contract reductions are tied to a long-running lawsuit filed by the State of Oklahoma in 2005 against Tyson Foods and other poultry companies over alleged pollution in the Illinois River Watershed. Oklahoma says the phosphorus and bacteria from the land application of poultry litter contaminated rivers, streams, and groundwater.
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