USDA Reorganization Halted and Beef Imports Below Expectations

The Agribusiness Update
A federal judge has ordered the USDA to halt certain office closures and employee relocations tied to its reorganization, and additional beef imports under the President’s temporary tariff-rate quota fell well short of the first monthly target.

FFA Next Gen Conference and Trump & Xi Reach Agreement

The Agribusiness Update
The National FFA recently hosted its third Next Gen Conference of the year, bringing 72 FFA members from 23 states to Kansas City for a closer look at careers in animal agriculture, and President Trump and China's President Xi Jinping agree to a two-month extension of their tariff truce and announced next steps for their Board of Trade.

Rented Farmland Stats and Tractor Sales Down

The Agribusiness Update
Over 2 million landowners rented out 348 million acres of farmland, according to the 2024 TOTAL survey from the National Ag Statistics Service, and the sales of all tractors during February in the U.S. were down 12% from the same month last year.

California Plants Fewer Cotton Acres and October Tractor Sales Down

The Agribusiness Update
With stagnating cotton prices, California growers planted fewer acres this year than almost any time in the past century, and the Association of Equipment Manufacturer's monthly "Flash Report" shows October sales for all tractors in the U.S. were down 20% from the same month last year.

Georgia Foundation for Ag Scholarships and October Tractor Sales Down

The Agribusiness Update
The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture is offering $66,000 worth of scholarships in 2026 in support of students studying for careers in ag-related fields, and the Association of Equipment Manufacturer's monthly "Flash Report" shows October sales for all tractors in the U.S. were down 20% from the same month last year.

AI Predictions or Avocados and Tractor Sales Up Slightly

The Agribusiness Update
Researchers have developed a smartphone-based AI system that accurately predicts the ripeness and internal quality of avocados, and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ monthly Flash Report shows the sales of all tractors in September were up 4% from last year.

AI Predictions or Avocados and Tractor Sales Up Slightly

The Agribusiness Update
Researchers have developed a smartphone-based AI system that accurately predicts the ripeness and internal quality of avocados, and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ monthly Flash Report shows the sales of all tractors in September were up 4% from last year.

Ransomware Attacks on Ag and Over 15,000 USDA Employees Leave

The Agribusiness Update
There were 84 ransomware attacks against the food and agriculture industry in the first three months of 2025, and over 15,000 USDA employees have taken one of the

Trump administration's two financial incentive offers to leave the agency.

Tariffs Factored In

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
USDA has started figuring the president’s tariffs against China and the resulting retaliation into this month’s grain and livestock reports.

Ag Braces for Port Strike and U.S. Egg Production Down

The Agribusiness Update
U.S. agriculture is bracing for a potential work stoppage at East and Gulf Coast ports that could greatly disrupt American red meat exports, U.S. egg production totaled 8.92 billion during November, down 4% from last year.

Ag Economists Split on Recession and Tariff Threat Leaves Uncertainty

The Agribusiness Update
56% of agricultural economists in the latest Monthly Monitor say U.S. ag ended 2024 in a recession, and the prospect of new tariff disputes when Donald Trump returns to the White House has the global economy in an uncertain position.

Mormon's Buy Up Farmland and Global Ag Productivity Falling

The Agribusiness Update
The Mormon Church’s real estate arm is spending $289 million to acquire tens of thousands of acres of farmland across eight states, and global agriculture productivity is falling behind the curve according to a new report by Virginia Tech.

Surprises Await Ag Economy and Italy Bans Cultivated Meat

The Agribusiness Update
Geopolitical factors, elections, and other surprises await the agricultural economy in 2024, and Italy is first country to ban cultivated meat, grown from stem cells.

Not Surprising in 2024 and Biological Push Continues in 2024

The Agribusiness Update
Farm Journal and Purdue University’s December Economists’

Monthly Monitor shows views slightly more optimistic than a month ago as they look at unexpected headlines they wouldn’t be surprised to see in 2024, and AgriThority put together its top ten trends for the new year.

CFB Calls for Securing Water Supplies and Cheese Production Higher

The Agribusiness Update
California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson calls on lawmakers to work on securing water supplies, and USDA’s Monthly Dairy Report shows total cheese output, excluding cottage cheese, was 1.19 billion pounds, up .8%.

Tri-State Fruit & Vegetable Meeting and Cheese Production Higher

The Agribusiness Update
Tri-State Fruit & Vegetable Annual Conference coming up January 31st, and USDA’s Monthly Dairy Report shows total cheese output, excluding cottage cheese, was 1.19 billion pounds, up .8%.

Cost of Production Expected to Grow and Latest WASDE Report

The Agribusiness Update
USDA’s first cost of production forecast for major field crops shows input costs are expected to remain elevated into the next growing season, and the latest Monthly World Ag Supply and Demand report is out.

AFBF on Right to Repair and Egg Prices Down

The Agribusiness Update
The American Farm Bureau signs MOU with CLAAS of America regarding right to repair, and egg prices finally on a downward trend.

AFBF on Right to Repair and Egg Prices Down

The Agribusiness Update
The American Farm Bureau signs MOU with CLAAS of America regarding right to repair, and egg prices finally on a downward trend.

California Signs of Improvement and El Nino Forecast Official

The Agribusiness Update
The outlook for California’s agricultural economy shows some signs of improvement after wet year, and in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's monthly outlook, forecasters issue an El Niño Advisory.