May 21, 2026

Accelerated Permitting, Grant Program to Boost U.S. Fertilizer Production

The USDA announced new steps aimed at expanding domestic fertilizer production and lowering input costs for American farmers. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the administration plans to accelerate permitting for fertilizer projects and revive a grant program to support domestic production. The effort could increase U.S. fertilizer output by approximately 4.5 million tons annually, benefiting an estimated 400,000 producers across 290 million acres of farmland. The administration is also reviewing additional short-term measures, including transportation regulations and countervailing duties involving fertilizer imports from Morocco. DTN also said administration officials highlighted the proposed $4 billion Blue Point low-carbon ammonia facility in Louisiana. Army Corps of Engineers officials said permitting decisions on the project could come within 45 days as part of a broader push to reduce regulatory delays. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the administration will expedite Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act permits tied to fertilizer projects.

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China Talks Tariff Cuts Without Specific Details

China and the United States agreed to reduce tariffs on agricultural trade as part of a broader trade agreement announced following meetings between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. China’s Ministry of Commerce said both countries agreed “in principle” to include agricultural products within a reciprocal tariff reduction framework while establishing goals to expand two-way agricultural trade. But Reuters said Chinese officials didn’t specify which products would be included or provide implementation details. The announcement follows White House statements that China agreed to purchase an additional $17 billion worth of U.S. agricultural products annually, on top of existing soybean commitments already negotiated between the two countries. Analysts say fulfilling those commitments would likely require China to reduce tariffs on U.S. agricultural products. The proposed purchases could return Chinese imports of U.S. products closer to record levels. China’s statement largely mirrored earlier comments from Washington but was more limited in detail.

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TFI Welcomes USDA Crop Inputs Economist

The Fertilizer Institute is praising the USDA’s decision to reestablish a Crop Inputs Economist position within the Office of the Chief Economist. Announced by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the position will provide independent analysis and reporting on fertilizer and other crop input markets, including supply, demand, production, trade, and pricing trends. TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch said the move responds to concerns from farmers seeking greater market transparency and more reliable information to navigate volatility in the global fertilizer market. The organization previously supported the creation of the position during testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee, arguing that fertilizer markets require detailed analysis because domestic production alone does not fully represent the competitive global marketplace serving U.S. growers. Rosenbusch said improved communication and transparency across the agricultural supply chain will help support farmers and ensure a stable fertilizer supply. The fertilizer industry continues investing in domestic production, transportation infrastructure, and distribution networks to strengthen long-term supply availability.

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Young Pork Advocates to Compete for $10K Scholarship 

NOVUS and Nutra Blend are once again partnering to sponsor the Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet during the 2026 World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa. Now in its third year, the event is June 3-4 and hosted by the National Pork Producers Council. The competition features participants ages 18 to 22 presenting solutions to challenges facing the pork industry. Competitors then turn those ideas into mock policy motions modeled after the NPPC’s policy development process, giving young producers firsthand experience in how industry decisions are made. Scholarship prizes will be awarded to the top finishers, including a $10,000 scholarship and an all-expenses-paid trip to the NPPC’s Fall Legislative Action Conference in Washington, D.C., for the first-place winner. NOVUS Regional Sales Manager Eric Sanny said the competition highlights the best and brightest of the next generation’s pork industry leaders. Preliminary rounds will take place June 3 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, with the championship round scheduled for June 4.

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Egg Production Up Five Percent in April

U.S. egg production rose five percent year-over-year in April as the number of layers also increased, the USDA said in a monthly report. Output totaled 8.92 billion eggs last month, up from 8.49 billion during the same month last year. That included 7.65 billion table eggs and 1.27 billion hatching eggs. Of the latter, 1.16 billion were broiler types, and 112 million were egg types. U.S. egg layers on May 1 totaled 373 million, a four percent increase on an annual basis. That consisted of 307 million producing table eggs, 61.5 million laying broiler-type hatching varieties, and 4.61 million producing egg-type hatching eggs. Hatchings of egg-type chicks fell slightly to 61 million in April, while eggs in incubators on May 1 fell two percent to 59.5 million. April broiler-type chicks hatched rose three percent annually to 867 million, while eggs in incubators in early April totaled 770 million, also a three percent increase.

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MN Beef Checkoff Increase Failed by Three Votes

Minnesota cattle producers narrowly rejected a proposed increase to the state beef checkoff program. That’s according to results announced by Minnesota’s Department of Agriculture. The referendum would have raised the current $1-per-head beef checkoff fee to $1.50 per animal sold, while allowing producers to request a refundable 50-cent portion of the increase. State officials said the proposal failed by just three votes. Of the eligible ballots submitted, 380 producers voted against the increase while 377 voted in favor. A total of 3,477 ballots were mailed to cattle producers statewide. Minnesota’s beef checkoff has remained unchanged since 1986. Under the current structure, half of each dollar collected goes to the Minnesota Beef Council, while the remaining portion supports the  National Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the National Beef Checkoff program. Checkoff funds are used to support beef promotion, advertising, education, research, public relations, and product development programs designed to increase beef demand at both the state and national levels.

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