Sunbelt Agricultural Expo and U.S.-India Trade Talks Stall

The Agribusiness Update
The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition will celebrate its 48th anniversary show October 20-22, and trade negotiations between the U.S. and India appear to have stalled.

Canadian Farmers Trusted and U.S.-India Trade Talks Stall

The Agribusiness Update
Canadian farmers remain the most trusted stakeholders in that country’s food system, even as Canadians are becoming less certain about where its headed, and trade negotiations between the U.S. and India appear to have stalled.

Dyed Diesel Use

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
President Trump’s executive order eased the limits on usage of tax-exempt dyed diesel fuel to give farmers a break during the busy harvest season.

California Farm Bureau to D.C. and Farmer Sentiment Down

The Agribusiness Update
California Farm Bureau delegation including members, staff and executives traveled to Washington, D.C. last month to advocate issues affecting farmers and ranchers, and farmer sentiment weakened in September as higher input costs continued to weigh on producers’ financial outlook.

Georgia National Fair and Farmer Sentiment Down

The Agribusiness Update
October is harvest season and worthy of celebration, so the Georgia Farm Bureau recommends a visit to the Georgia National Fair now thru Oct. 18, and farmer sentiment weakened in September as higher input costs continued to weigh on producers’ financial outlook.

EPA Grants RFS Exemptions, USDA Introduces New Rancher Intiative

Line on Agriculture
The Environmental Protection Agency has granted 1.76 billion gallons of exemptions from the 2025 Renewable Fuel Standard. EPA plans to reallocate these volumes to 2026 and 2027 obligations, effectively neutralizing the impact.

Meanwhile, the USDA's Ranchers First Initiative introduces a new insurance option for ranchers to retain heifers for breeding, expands disaster assistance, supports small beef processors, and prioritizes American beef in federal procurement.

California Farmers Urge USMCA Renewal and Canadian Tariff Exemptions

The Agribusiness Update
California farmers, agribusiness leaders and state officials are urging the U.S., Mexico and Canada to extend and strengthen the USMCA, and the Agricultural Coalition for the USMCA is urging the Trump administration to exempt all products from new 50% tariffs on Canadian goods.

Brazilan Beef Tariff Exemption Proposal Causes Concern

Line on Agriculture
The White House is considering an exemption for Brazilian beef imports to increase supply and lower beef prices for consumers. Sigrid Johannes, Director of Government Affairs at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, expresses concerns about the proposal.

WSTFA Lobbying Efforts

Fruit Grower Report
Much of what the Washington State Tree Fruit Association is focused on is engagement in state government affairs to help address the market uncertainty driven by government policy.

New Tax Benefits

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
With the April 15th tax deadline in a couple of days, farmers are looking for shelters and other benefits they may not have had in the past.

Regulatory Shift Could Benefit California Dairy Processors

California Ag Today
The National Milk Producers Federation says the exemption cuts unnecessary requirements tied to the Food Traceability List.

FDA Grants Cottage Cheese Exemption

Southeast Regional Ag News
The National Milk Producers Federation says existing dairy safety oversight made additional traceability requirements unnecessary.

Ag Priorities in Olympia

Fruit Grower Report
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association came into this year’s legislative session with a list of priorities and will leave with plenty of following up to do.

California Snowpack Low and New 10% Tariffs

The Agribusiness Update
Despite a strong start to California’s wet season, the snowpack remains below average, which could mean less water available for summer irrigation, and a new 10% U.S. tariff on goods from around the world took effect last Tuesday.

National Peanut Board Donates to FARE and New 10% Tariffs

The Agribusiness Update
Food Allergy Research & Education, or FARE, announced a $2.5 million investment from the National Peanut Board to accelerate a cure for food allergies, and a new 10% U.S. tariff on goods from around the world took effect last Tuesday.

Ag Union Problems

Fruit Grower Report
When Senate Bill 6045 failed to get a deadline vote last week, many were relieved that giving collective bargaining rights to Washington farm workers was shelved for now.

Agriculture Crisis

Fruit Grower Report
David DuCharme, lobbyist for the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, says the situation agriculture finds itself in today is undeniable.

WSTFA Lobbying Efforts

Fruit Grower Report
Washington State Tree Fruit Association members and staff gathered in Olympia recently to try and help close the ag knowledge gap between lawmakers and growers. WSTFA lobbyist, David Ducharme ...

Federal CARE Act Aims to Update Child Labor Standards for Agriculture

Southeast Regional Ag News
Rep. Raul Ruiz reintroduces the bill as national farmworker groups and limited past Southeast support highlight ongoing safety concerns for young workers

Federal CARE Act Reintroduced to Strengthen Child Labor Protections in Agriculture

California Ag Today
California Congressman Raul Ruiz revives legislation aimed at aligning farm labor rules for minors with national standards