The Agribusiness Update

The U.S.–Canada trade dispute is creating new concerns for American farmers as retaliatory tariffs and import restrictions kick in, and the 2026 wheat harvest continues to make progress, with hard red winter wheat now complete and soft white wheat nearing the finish line.

Nutrient Management Level 2 is part of the award-winning Greenhouse Online Training program offered by the University of Florida IFAS Extension, and the 2026 National Cover Crop Report indicates growing interest in cover crops.

With harvest underway, California farmers are again struggling to find buyers for their winegrapes, and the 2026 National Cover Crop Report indicates growing interest in cover crops.

President Trump signed two executive orders aimed at strengthening the U.S. cattle industry, and the Department of Justice is expanding its investigation into record-high beef prices.

Georgia Farm Bureau increased its overall membership for the first time in 11 years, pushing numbers to 216,621 statewide, and Tyson Foods lowered its fiscal 2026 profit and sales forecasts.

California is moving closer to making E15 gas available after lawmakers unanimously approved legislation removing the final barriers to selling the higher-ethanol blend, and Tyson Foods lowered its fiscal 2026 profit and sales forecasts.

The Smoke, Wine, and Grapes Analytical Chemistry Lab at Oregon State University is open for business, and USDA is launching a pilot project that relies more heavily on technology to improve its U.S. crop acreage and yield estimates.

A dispute over cheese names has become a sticking point in U.S.-Mexico trade negotiations, and USDA is rolling out a broad package of programs aimed at rebuilding America’s beef herd and strengthening the nation’s cattle industry.

U.S. dairy producers are stepping up efforts to increase the protein content of milk due to changing market incentives and global demand, and Canada’s retaliatory tariffs may not be directly aimed at American farmers, but ...!

A court ruling casts uncertainty over recent reforms to the H-2A ag guestworker program, leaving current wage rates in place for now, and U.S. ag exports are expected to strengthen as USDA raised its trade forecast and projected a smaller ag trade deficit for 2026.

Canada is escalating its trade fight with the U.S., announcing retaliatory tariffs on about $19.9 billion worth of U.S. goods, including dairy and agricultural equipment, and ag leaders say farm country is facing a serious crisis and farmers are increasingly afraid to speak publicly.

USDA began reopening Southwest ports for livestock trade last week, more than a year after suspending crossings to slow the spread of New World Screwworm, and USDA sent a delegation to Australia last week to strengthen export opportunities for U.S. farmers and ranchers.

During the Southeast Summer Conference in July, six state pork organizations announced the formation of the Southeast Pork Alliance, and American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall is urging the U.S. and Canada to return to the negotiating table.

California lettuce was not implicated in a sprawling cyclospora outbreak that’s sickened thousands of people this summer, and American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall is urging the U.S. and Canada to return to the negotiating table.

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.

Lynda Hopkins, of the California Air Resources Board, criticized anticipated cuts to state-funded programs that incentivize climate-smart farming practices, and Democratic senators seeking answers from the USDA after a major error in U.S. beef export sales data.

Florida Farm Bureau member Kate English has been appointed to the EPA’s Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee, and Democratic senators seeking answers from the USDA after a major error in U.S. beef export sales data.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called steep new U.S. tariffs on $20 billion worth of his country’s goods “a miscalculation” after trade talks with Canada collapsed, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association criticized a social media post by President Trump regarding beef imports.

Canada has temporarily avoided a 50% U.S. tariff after reaching a last-minute agreement with the Trump administration, and retail potato sales remained stable during the 12-month period from July 2025 through June 2026.

More than 700 Alabama farmers wandered on down to Mobile Bay for the Alabama Farmers Federation Farm & Land Conference, and U.S. fruit production has declined 32% and vegetable have fallen 10%, while fresh fruit and vegetable IMPORTS have each increased about 70%.

Tyson Foods will close two beef facilities and seek a buyer for a third, and U.S. fruit production has declined 32% and vegetable have fallen 10%, while fresh fruit and vegetable IMPORTS have each increased about 70%.

Georgia Farm Bureau presented Representative Lynn Smith with its 2026 GFB Commodity Award, and the summer abundance of U.S.-grown produce makes it the perfect time to enjoy fruit pies and other desserts.

USDA says a Texas facility designed to produce sterile flies for New World Screwworm control will open next spring, earlier than expected, and Canadian trade officials are meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer as both countries work to avoid new tariffs scheduled to take effect tonight.

U.S. agricultural tractor sales dropped nearly 11% in July compared to last year, with combine sales down more than 5%, and Hard Red Winter wheat harvest is nearly complete, with less than 10% remaining, and the crop continues to grade U.S. No. 1.

The USDA has $35 million for partnerships to respond to the threat of feral swine to American agriculture, and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar says she’s committed to working with Senate Ag Chair John Boozman to advance a new Farm Bill.