December 30, 2025
Drone Ban Could Impact Farmers
The Federal Communications Commission recently blacklisted all new foreign-made drones and components due to concerns that the foreign equipment is an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security. Politico said the technology is on the Commission’s “Covered List,” barring foreign drone manufacturers from receiving the FCC’s approval to sell new drone models for import or sale into the U.S. Agri-Pulse said the ban’s timing hurts as many farmers are financially struggling because of high production costs, which makes the precise application of crop protection products and fertilizers especially important. Most precision agriculture is increasingly accomplished through using drones. “Foreign-manufactured drones represent a significant majority of the agricultural drone market, and sudden restrictions on their use without sufficient domestic alternatives would add new financial burdens on already over-stressed farmers,” the American Soybean Association said in a statement. The FCC said the ban won’t ground the thousands of already deployed unmanned aircraft in the U.S.
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Ag Forecasts for 2026
Since 2020, AgriBusiness Global has developed a yearly forecast of key events likely to impact global agriculture and agribusiness in the year ahead. Among the top forecasts for 2026 are input prices staying flat or increasing as suppliers compete for farm purchases. They also said China’s economy will continue to be challenged as the country’s enormous pesticide manufacturing capacity continues to drive margin erosion globally. While this is a positive for end-users of crop inputs, profitability for the supply channel remains challenging. Agro-industry “stagflation” is expected to continue into next year. Flat global demand in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific nations is being driven by aging, shrinking populations, and in the U.S., especially, food consumption may drop because of the increasing use of obesity drugs and the Make America Healthy Again program. The energy outlook will remain positive, except where political taxes play a role.
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Study Estimates the Impact of Tyson’s Plant Closure in Nebraska
On Friday, November 22, 2025, Tyson Foods announced it will permanently close its beef processing facility in Lexington, Nebraska, effective on January 20, 2026. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln said this is the first time that one of the “Big Four” meatpacking companies has permanently closed a major plant, and it will have a substantial economic impact. After crunching the numbers, the estimated annual statewide economic impact of the Tyson plant closure is $3.283 billion, including both direct and multiplier effects on the Nebraska economy. Total labor income losses are projected to be $530.41 million dollars per year across just over 7,000 jobs that support those workers in other sectors. The closure will also substantially reduce tax revenues. Annual losses in state personal income tax revenue are estimated at $23.209 million dollars. Nebraska state sales tax revenues are projected to decline by $10.16 million dollars per year.
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Rollins, Congressional Ag Leaders to Speak at AFBF Convention
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins and the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees will all be featured speakers at the American Farm Bureau Convention. Secretary Rollins will speak about the challenges and opportunities ahead for American agriculture during the closing general session on Monday, January 12. The chair of the Senate Ag Committee, John Boozman (R-AR), and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) will be joined by the chair of the House Ag Committee, GT Thompson (R-PA), and Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN) on a panel to discuss their vision for the future of U.S. agriculture and their plans for 2026. The congressional panel will take place during the mid-general session on Sunday, January 11. The Farm Bureau’s 107th annual convention is on January 9-14, 2026, in Anaheim, California. The theme is “Imagine. Grow. Lead.” A full lineup of workshops will be offered in four tracks: public policy, rural development, member engagement, and consumer engagement.
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Vermont Bucking the Ag Export Slump
It’s no secret that U.S. agricultural trade has been in disarray because of the trade dispute between the U.S. and China. However, Valley News said Vermont is bucking the trend of lower agricultural exports affecting many other rural states. In the first eight months of 2025, Vermont’s ag export value has boomed, increasing by 78.3 percent compared to the first eight months of last year. Farm Flavor, an agriculture company in Tennessee, said USDA data shows almost all the state’s $2.7 million increase came from dairy products, and more specifically, whey. Whey is a cheese byproduct used for protein powder, baby formula, a food additive, and in animal feed. A report from Farm Flavor said that, on average, agricultural exports to China from the U.S. dropped 54 percent compared to 2024. “Vermont is on track to break all records for whey exports to China compared to anything in the last five years,” said Brendan Wilson, CEO of Food Export Northeast.
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USDA Announces Six Agribusiness Trade Missions in 2026
As a part of its commitment to expanding and diversifying global market opportunities for U.S. agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will host six international Agribusiness Trade Missions in 2026. “Boosting exports is critical to the success of the agricultural economy, and the American economy as a whole,” said Luke Lindberg, USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. “Each year, USDA’s team of marketing and trade experts pinpoint new and growing global markets that offer top-notch prospects for U.S. exporters.” He also said the agency is focusing its efforts on markets where USDA’s trade-expansion efforts have put America’s farmers and ranchers on a more level playing field across the globe. The missions include Indonesia in February, the Philippines in April, Turkey in May, Australia and New Zealand in August, Saudi Arabia in September, and Vietnam in November.
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