May 20, 2026

Right-to-Repair Settlement Gets Preliminary Approval

A federal court has granted preliminary approval to John Deere’s proposed $99 million antitrust settlement involving farmer right-to-repair lawsuits. DTN said that clears the way for producers to review or challenge the agreement before final approval later this year. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois approved the preliminary settlement on Monday in a case involving lawsuits filed by farmers in 2022. Plaintiffs alleged that Deere monopolized the repair market by restricting access to diagnostic software and repair tools for company equipment. The court said the proposed agreement appears fair, reasonable, and adequate pending a final fairness hearing scheduled for Oct. 29, 2026. Under the agreement, Deere would establish a $99 million settlement fund for eligible farmers who paid authorized dealers for repairs since January 2018. The company also agreed to provide farmers access to digital diagnostic and repair tools for large agricultural equipment for the next ten years.

***********************************************************************************
USDA Announces Livestock Insurance Program Enhancements

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency has announced several updates to livestock and dairy insurance programs beginning with the 2027 crop year. The changes affect the Livestock Risk Protection, Livestock Gross Margin, and Dairy Revenue Protection programs and were approved by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board of Directors. Among the updates are new subsidy capture language addressing off-exchange contracts, revised definitions and subsidy percentages for beginning farmers and ranchers to align with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and expanded flexibility allowing concurrent coverage between similar livestock programs. RMA also said policies that have not earned premiums for three consecutive years may now be subject to cancellation. Additional revisions clarify when insurance coverage can be transferred and update policy language for consistency across RMA insurance products. RMA Administrator Pat Swanson said the changes are designed to strengthen risk management tools for livestock and dairy producers nationwide.

***********************************************************************************
Soybean and Grain Export Inspections Drop

U.S. soybean and grain export inspections declined week over week, according to the latest data from the USDA. The agency said soybean inspections for offshore delivery totaled 483,881 metric tons during the week ending May 14. That was down from 663,400 tons the previous week but above the 225,350 tons inspected during the same week last year. Corn inspections also declined, falling to 1.38 million metric tons from 1.7 million the week before. However, inspections remain well ahead of last year’s pace overall despite trailing the 1.76 million tons reported during the same week in 2025. Wheat export inspections dropped sharply to 224,000 metric tons from 511,700 tons the previous week and 431,300 tons a year ago. Since the beginning of the marketing year, soybean inspections have totaled 34.5 million metric tons, below last year’s 44.2 million. Corn inspections reached 58.6 million metric tons, while wheat inspections climbed to 23.1 million tons.

**********************************************************************************
American Meat Demand Stays High Despite Rising Prices 

Americans continue to buy more meat despite rising grocery store prices. That’s according to a new Market Intel analysis from the American Farm Bureau Federation ahead of the Memorial Day grilling season. The report said meat sales reached $112 billion in 2025, with more than 98 percent of U.S. households purchasing meat for meals. USDA also forecasts that beef, pork, and chicken consumption will increase again in 2026. Beef prices remain at record highs, averaging $9.64 per pound in April, up 13 percent from a year earlier. Farm Bureau economists cited strong demand and the smallest U.S. cattle herd in 75 years as major factors behind higher prices. Pork prices rose modestly, with pork chops averaging $4.33 per pound, while chicken prices remained relatively stable. Boneless chicken breasts averaged $4.17 per pound in April, slightly below year-ago levels as poultry production continues recovering from avian influenza outbreaks. AFBF President Zippy Duvall urged policymakers to support ranchers as producers work to rebuild livestock herds and meet consumer demand.

***********************************************************************************
Pearce Officially Confirmed as BLM Head

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the American Sheep Industry Association, and Public Lands Council are congratulating former New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce following his Senate confirmation as Director of the Bureau of Land Management. The livestock organizations said they strongly supported Pearce’s nomination, arguing that ranchers need permanent leadership at the BLM to help manage grazing permits and federal land operations more efficiently. NCBA President Gene Copenhaver said Pearce is well-positioned to strengthen partnerships with ranchers who manage millions of acres of rangeland and pasture across the West. ASI President Ben Lehfeldt said the sheep industry looks forward to working with Pearce in the months ahead. PLC President Tim Canturbury said Pearce has long supported the multiple-use mandate guiding federal land policy and understands the role ranchers play in conservation efforts on public lands. Industry groups said they expect Pearce’s leadership to help advance policies supporting grazing access, voluntary conservation work, and more efficient management of federal lands used by western livestock producers.

***********************************************************************************
2026 U.S. Rice Crop Will Be Significantly Smaller

The USDA is forecasting a significantly smaller U.S. rice crop for the 2026-27 marketing year, according to the May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. USDA projects rice production at 175.2 million hundredweight, down more than 31 million hundredweight, or 15 percent, from the previous year. If realized, it would mark the smallest U.S. rice crop since the 2022-23 marketing year. The decline is largely tied to reduced acreage. USDA estimates farmers planted 493,000 fewer acres of rice this season, leading to a 17 percent drop in harvested area to 2.27 million acres. Partially offsetting the acreage decline is an expected increase in yields. USDA forecasts average yields at 7,732 pounds per acre, up 188 pounds from last year. Harvested acreage estimates are based on USDA’s Prospective Plantings report and a ten-year harvested-to-planted ratio average. Updated acreage figures are expected in USDA’s Acreage report scheduled for release June 30.

***********************************************************************************