Farm groups expressed disappointment after a ruling in the U.S. District Court of Eastern California could force the Labor Department to recalibrate wages for farm workers. The department changed the Adverse Effect Wage Rate last year, reducing farmer pay to migrant workers by an estimated $2.46 billion.
Farmers remain hesitant about adopting new technologies.
The presidents of the American Farm Bureau Federation, Livestock Marketing Association, National Cattlemen's Beef Association and U.S. Cattlemen's Association co-signed a letter to Trump challenging the value of flooding the market with discounted foreign beef, stating that it is not the way to rebuild the domestic cattle herd.
John Deere is testing E98 ethanol-powered tractors across U.S. farm fields with commercial launch still four to five years away, while also advancing B30 biodiesel certification and biofuels blend research.
For the fifth consecutive week, prices for five of the eight major fertilizers are lower compared to last month, with the remaining three nutrients being slightly higher. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more. UAN28 is the only nutrient with a significant price move compared to a month earlier.
The U.S.-Mexico border reopened to cattle imports at Douglas, Arizona, following a USDA phased plan with safeguards against New World screwworm. Experts estimate 150,000--250,000 head may cross by year's end.
The Canadian tariffs, ranging from 15% to 50%, are set to take effect Sept. 8 in retaliation for U.S. tariffs on roughly $20 billion in Canadian products that took effect after trade talks collapsed late last week.
Economists at Kansas State University highlighted how producers in major cattle-producing states are relying more on USDA's Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) policies, especially to protect feeder cattle prices.
Corn was rated 57% in good-to-excellent condition, and soybeans were rated 60% in good-to-excellent condition as of Sunday, Aug. 23. Spring wheat harvest reached 62% complete.
Senate farm bill text expected this week includes year-round E15 language as lawmakers negotiate a compromise ahead of an anticipated markup on Aug. 6.
