May 22, 2026
U.S. Farmers Lost $15 Billion to Tariffs
Recent studies by North Dakota State University revealed that U.S. tariffs and resulting retaliatory actions are driving significant economic losses for American agriculture, heavily impacting exports and raising farming costs. The study found that retaliatory tariffs from China caused roughly $15 billion in annualized losses for American agricultural exports. China’s embargo on U.S. soybeans alone accounts for almost half the total at $6.8 billion. It’s also caused significant damage to beef, poultry, and cotton exports. The study also showed that tariffs levied on agricultural imports, particularly those enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, have sharply increased costs for farmers. Trade Monitor analysis shows that tariffs on food and agricultural inputs have heavily reshaped global sourcing. While imports from tariffed countries like Brazil and India have dropped sharply, reliance on geopolitically volatile markets like Russia has increased, opening the U.S. to longer-term supply chain vulnerabilities.
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Cargill Locks Out 1,700 Workers at Colorado Beef Plant
Cargill has stopped paying approximately 1,700 employees at its beef processing facility in Fort Morgan, Colorado, as a labor dispute between the company and Teamsters Union workers continues to escalate. According to the workers’ union, the company halted pay on Wednesday after suspending cattle slaughter operations at the plant about a month ago. Cargill said it initiated a lockout after employees rejected what the company described as a fair contract proposal representing an estimated $33.4 million investment in workers. Reuters said the dispute comes during a turbulent period for the U.S. beef industry. Beef prices have reached record highs this year as consumer demand remains strong while the nation’s cattle herd sits at its lowest level in 75 years. Meatpackers have faced mounting pressure from tighter cattle supplies and rising livestock costs that have outpaced gains from higher beef prices. Workers have continued pushing for higher wages amid rising living costs.
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DOJ Secures Anticompetitive Commitments from Bayer
The Justice Department announced Bayer CropScience has agreed to remove potentially anticompetitive provisions from its seed loyalty program amid an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into the corn and soybean seed markets. The DOJ said Bayer modified its Premier Performance Program after concerns were raised that the company’s policies could discourage competition among seed providers and limit choices for farmers and independent seed companies. One key change removes a provision that required seed companies to meet combined corn and soybean sales targets to qualify for discounts. Federal officials said that the structure raised concerns about anticompetitive tying between corn and soybean seed products. Bayer eliminated the requirement for the 2025 planting season and agreed not to reinstate it for seven years. The company also removed incentives that officials said may have discouraged seed companies from licensing competing technologies. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins praised the move, saying it strengthens competition throughout agricultural supply chains and improves fairness for farmers.
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Ethanol Production Hits Highest Level in Over a Month
U.S. ethanol production climbed to its highest level in five weeks while inventories edged slightly higher, according to new data from the Energy Information Administration. Ethanol output averaged 1.111 million barrels per day during the week ending May 15, up from 1.082 million barrels the previous week. It marked the strongest weekly production level since April 10. The Midwest, the nation’s primary ethanol-producing region, led the increase. Production there averaged 1.056 million barrels per day, compared to 1.022 million barrels the week before, also reaching a five-week-high. East Coast production rose modestly to 13,000 barrels per day from 10,000 barrels a week earlier. Production in the Rocky Mountain and West Coast regions remained unchanged at 11,000 and 10,000 barrels per day, respectively. Meanwhile, Gulf Coast production declined to 21,000 barrels per day from 29,000 barrels the prior week. Ethanol inventories increased slightly, rising to 24.875 million barrels from 24.87 million barrels the week before.
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Trump Reverses Position on Chinese Farmland Ownership
President Donald Trump defended Chinese purchases of U.S. farmland during a visit to Beijing, arguing that restricting foreign ownership could reduce farmland values and financially hurt American farmers. Speaking during an interview with Fox News, Trump said removing Chinese buyers from the market would negatively impact farm real estate prices. “You want to see farm prices drop, you want to see farmers lose a lot of money? Just take that out of the market,” Trump said. The comments marked a notable shift from Trump’s earlier hardline position on Chinese ownership of U.S. agricultural land and drew renewed attention from farmers and national security advocates concerned about foreign investment in farmland near military installations. The remarks also appeared to conflict with actions previously taken by Trump’s administration. In 2025, the USDA announced a National Farm Security Action Plan aimed at restricting future Chinese farmland purchases and encouraging divestment of existing holdings tied to foreign adversaries, including China.
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Sugar Producers Applaud Congressional Letter on Unfair Trade Practices
America’s sugarbeet and sugarcane producers are applauding a bipartisan group of lawmakers urging the U.S. Trade Representative to investigate what they describe as unfair foreign sugar trade practices harming the domestic sugar industry. The letter was signed by more than 110 members of Congress. Lawmakers called on the administration to use Section 301 authority to examine over-quota sugar imports that producers say are disrupting the U.S. sugar market. According to the letter, excessive imports have undermined U.S. sugar policy and contributed to more than $3 billion in estimated industry losses over the past two years. Michigan sugarbeet farmer Clint Hagen said many producers face the possibility of losing hundreds of dollars per acre because of continued imports. Louisiana sugarcane farmer Stephen Simoneaux (SIGH-mon-oh) said maintaining domestic sugar production is critical to protecting U.S. food security, manufacturing jobs, and family farms. The American sugar industry supports more than 151,000 jobs throughout the sugar supply chain.
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