Tuesday May 20 Ag News w/ Weekly Crop Progress Update - Ag Sec Rollins in Nebraska

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending May 18, 2025, there were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 35% very short, 40% short, 24% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 38% very short, 43% short, 19% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn planted was 86%, ahead of 76% last year, and near 82% for the five-year average. Emerged was 58%, well ahead of 35% last year, and ahead of 43% average.

Soybeans planted was 80%, well ahead of 57% last year, and ahead of 68% average. Emerged was 44%, well ahead of 19% last year, and ahead of 25% average.

Winter wheat condition rated 20% very poor, 21% poor, 31% fair, 27% good, and 1% excellent. Winter wheat headed was 29%, ahead of 20% last year and 14% average.

Sorghum planted was 21%, ahead of 13% last year, and near 18% average.

Oats condition rated 12% very poor, 15% poor, 48% fair, 24% good, and 1% excellent. Oats planted was 95%, near 97% last year and 96% average. Emerged was 85%, near 88% last year and 86% average.

Dry edible beans planted was 1%, near 3% average.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 13% very poor, 35% poor, 36% fair, 16% good, and 0% excellent.



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Little or no precipitation and warm temperatures allowed Iowa farmers 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 18, 2025, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Corn and soybean planting made rapid progress. There were scattered reports of replanting as early planted crops in some areas had struggled to emerge with the dry conditions.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 8 percent very short, 37 percent short, 53 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 6 percent very short, 34 percent short, 58 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

Corn planted reached 91 percent complete, 12 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of the 5-year average. Fifty-eight percent of corn had emerged, 5 days ahead of last year’s pace and 3 days ahead of normal.

Eighty-four percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted just over 2 weeks ahead of last year and 1 week ahead the 5-year average.  Soybeans emerged reached 42 percent, 8 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of normal.

Eighty-six percent of the State’s oat crop has emerged. Oats headed reached 15 percent. Oat condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 71 percent good and 15 percent excellent.

Twenty-three percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed.  Hay condition rated 78 percent good to excellent.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

U.S. corn planting progress surged ahead last week, maintaining its lead over the five-year average as farmers continued to make significant fieldwork progress, according to USDA NASS' weekly Crop Progress report released on Monday. Soybean planting continued ahead of last year's pace and the five-year average. Winter wheat conditions decreased slightly last week by 2 points, NASS reported.

CORN
-- Planting progress: 78% of corn was planted nationwide as of Sunday, 11 points ahead of 67% last year and 5 points ahead of the five-year average of 73%.
-- Crop development: 50% of corn was emerged as of Sunday. That's 12 points ahead of last year's 38% and 10 points ahead of the five-year average of 40%.

SOYBEANS
-- Planting progress: Soybean planting stayed ahead of the average pace last week with 66% of the crop planted nationwide as of Sunday. That was 16 percentage points ahead of last year's pace of 50% and 13 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 53%.
-- Crop development: 34% of soybeans had emerged as of Sunday, 9 points ahead of last year and 11 points ahead of the five-year average of 23%.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Crop condition: An estimated 52% of winter wheat was rated good to excellent as of May 18, down 2 points from 54% the previous week and 3 points ahead at the same time last year of 49%, according to NASS.
-- Crop development: 64% of winter wheat was headed nationwide as of Sunday. That's 3 percentage points behind last year's 67% but 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 58%.

SPRING WHEAT
-- Planting progress: 82% of the crop was planted nationwide as of May 18, 6 points ahead of last year's 76% and 17 points ahead of 65% for the five-year average.
-- Crop development: 45% of spring wheat was emerged as of Sunday, 5 points ahead of last year and 11 points ahead of the five-year average.

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Smith and Pillen Host Rollins for Visit with Nebraska Producers, Announce USDA Farmers First Initiative

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Governor Jim Pillen hosted U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on a visit to Nebraska. The officials toured the Cargill Bioscience Complex in Blair, NE, the Wholestone Farms pork facility in Fremont, and Ohnoutka family farm in Valparaiso where they held a roundtable with local agriculture producers. Secretary Rollins announced the administration's new Farmers First: Small Family Farms Policy Agenda to support family agriculture operations for a prosperous future.

“Welcoming Secretary Rollins to Nebraska alongside Governor Pillen provided a tremendous opportunity to showcase Nebraska’s world-leading livestock, crop, and biofuels producers. As we mark 163 years since the signing of the Homestead Act, agriculture remains the economic driver of our state and the nation’s Heartland. USDA’s new Farmers First strategy will expand markets, deliver regulatory relief, promote long-term certainty, and ensure the accessibility of USDA resources for American farming families working tirelessly to feed and fuel the world. I will continue to work with Secretary Rollins and President Trump to unleash prosperity for generations to come,” said Representative Smith.

“Nebraska is helping to lead the nation in agriculture! Great to meet with the farmers, ranchers, and producers from the Cornhusker State who are working to feed, fuel, and clothe the world. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are returning USDA to a Farmers First department, and that starts with giving farmers a seat at the table,” said Secretary Rollins.

“Our family-owned farms and ranches are at the heart of agriculture in America and are the backbone of the economy in states like Nebraska. Generations of producers have passed down the love of farming, strongly-rooted values, and common-sense stewardship of our land and water to the next generation. I’m glad that Secretary Rollins and the USDA are highlighting the value and importance of family owned and small operations as part of our efforts to put Farmers First. I look forward to this tremendous initiative, and I am thrilled that she chose to launch it from a family farm right here in Nebraska,” said Governor Pillen.



Secretary Rollins Announces Farmers First: Small Family Farms Policy Agenda

After nearly 100 days of traveling the nation and visiting directly with hundreds of farmers across America, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today released the first set of policy proposals under her newly launched Make Agriculture Great Again Initiative. These initial proposals are a comprehensive set of policy solutions aimed at improving the viability and longevity of smaller-scale family farms for generations to come. About 86 percent of all farms in the United States are small family farms. To ensure small family farmers can start and stay in business, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has outlined a toolkit of actions, including the streamlining of application processes, improving reliable access to credit, farmland, and markets, and appropriate business planning tools.

The Small Family Farms Policy Agenda provides actionable solutions to a variety of challenges faced by small family farmers:
    Ensure Simple Streamlined and Transparent Tools and Applications;
    Ensure Reliable Access to Credit;
    Ensure Working Farmland is Used to Farm;
    Ensure Small Farms Can Be Passed On to the Next Generation for Generations to Come;
    Hyperfocus USDA Programs for Farmers on Farmers;
    Labor Reform;
    Enhance Access to Risk Management and Business Planning Tools;
    Ensure Definitions of Farm Size Reflect Modern Day Realities;
    Enhance Farmer Access to Educational Resources;
    Other Small Farm Resources Available.

This policy rollout builds on the Farmers First Roundtable event recently held at the USDA Headquarters in Washington D.C., where the Secretary met with and heard from more than 20 farmers and ranchers from 11 states who run smaller-scale, family-owned operations, as well as Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) about challenges facing smaller-scale family farms across America.

“America’s family farms help feed, fuel, and clothe the world, but they also face some of the greatest challenges in getting their farms started and keeping them running. Putting Farmers First means addressing the issues farmers face head-on and fostering an economic environment that doesn’t put up roadblocks on business creation but removes them,” said Secretary Rollins. “Today’s policy agenda is tailored specifically to support small-scale farms to thrive for generations to come. President Trump knows America’s economic prosperity depends on the success of our farmers and ranchers. That is why we are working to ensure those who want to start and keep their own farms for generations to come are able to.”



USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins Announces Farmers First Initiative, Approves Nebraska SNAP Waiver During Tour of Ag Businesses with Gov. Pillen
 
Monday, Governor Jim Pillen hosted U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on a day-long visit that included three separate stops and two significant announcements. He was joined in the visits by Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Sherry Vinton and U.S. Congressman Adrian Smith.
 
“I’m pleased that Sec. Rollins has had the opportunity to experience the depth and breadth of Nebraska agriculture and what our state is doing to help feed the world and save the planet,” said Gov. Pillen. “Today, she heard from a diverse group of producers, visited a typical multi-generational Nebraska family farm, and got a first-hand look at what sets our state apart for the future -- value-added agriculture.  I’m glad we could make these connections and look forward to continuing the work that makes Nebraska the innovative agricultural leader it is, between crop, livestock and ethanol production.”

The ag tour kicked off at the Cargill Bioscience 650-acre facility in Blair this morning. That facility is Cargill’s largest and directly employs approximately 600 Nebraskans while processing over 340,000 bushels of corn daily to produce products such as fuel grade ethanol, corn gluten meal and meat for poultry, pet food and cattle feed. The company also makes sweetener, corn syrup and other corn-based products such as enzymes, biopolymers, and amino acids.

Upon arriving at Wholestone Farms in Fremont, Sec. Rollins took a few minutes to greet employees waiting inside. The group witnessed part of the plant’s hog processing operation and later gathered in the staff cafeteria with members of the media. There. Sec. Rollins signed off on Nebraska’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) waiver request, excluding soda and energy drinks from the list of approved purchases. Nebraska submitted its waiver in early April and is the first state in the nation to have its application approved by the USDA, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

“Today’s waiver to remove soda and energy drinks from SNAP is the first of its kind, and it is a historic step to Make America Healthy Again. Under President Trump’s leadership, I have encouraged states to serve as the ‘laboratories of innovation.’ Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and Governors in Iowa, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, West Virginia, and Colorado are pioneers in improving the health of our nation,” said Sec. Rollins.  
 
“There’s absolutely zero reason for taxpayers to be subsidizing purchases of soda and energy drinks. SNAP is about helping families in need get healthy food into their diets, but there’s nothing nutritious about the junk we’re removing with today’s waiver. I’m grateful to have worked with Secretary Rollins and the Trump Administration to get this effort across the finish line. It is a tremendous step toward improving the health and well-being of our state. We have to act because we can’t keep letting Nebraskans starve in the midst of plenty,” said Gov. Pillen.

Gov. Pillen, Sec. Rollins, Rep. Smith and NDA Dir. Vinton wrapped up their tour of ag businesses with a stop in the afternoon at Ohnoutka Family Farm in Valparaiso. There, the group engaged in a roundtable with invited producers from across the state. Discussion hit on a variety of topics, from tariffs to grants, water quantity and quality, educating youth about agriculture and keeping generational farming going in Nebraska. Prior to the roundtable event, the group was greeted by youth from the local FFA chapter.

Following the roundtable, Sec. Rollins made her second announcement – a policy initiative aimed at supporting small family farms. Called Farmers First, the program is part of the USDA’s Make Agriculture Great Again agenda and outlines 10 action items that aim to help the 86 percent of small family farms across the nation.

“Welcoming Secretary Rollins to Nebraska alongside Governor Pillen provided a tremendous opportunity to showcase Nebraska’s world-leading livestock, crop, and biofuels producers,” said Rep. Smith, who represents the state’s third district. “As we mark 163 years since the signing of the Homestead Act, agriculture remains the economic driver of our state and the nation’s Heartland. USDA’s new Farmers First strategy will expand markets, deliver regulatory relief, promote long-term certainty, and ensure the accessibility of USDA resources for American farming families working tirelessly to feed and fuel the world. I will continue to work with Secretary Rollins and President Trump to unleash prosperity for generations to come.”
 
Some of the efforts in the Farmers First initiative include:
     Streamlining Processes: Simplifying USDA applications, like the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), to reduce barriers for farmers
    Credit and Land Access: Reforming loan programs and using tools like the Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) to help farmers buy and protect land
    Farm Transitions: Calling on Congress to adjust tax policies, like expanding Section 179, to ease passing farms to the next generation
    Market and Infrastructure: Prioritizing local farmers in procurement and reforming programs to ensure funds reach producers, not special interests
    Labor Access: Working with other agencies to address labor shortages, including exploring visa reforms for agricultural workers
    Risk Management: Making USDA programs simpler and launching a disaster portal for better access to assistance
    Energy and Regulations: Supporting affordable energy and reviewing environmental permitting to lower costs for farmers

“Our family-owned farms and ranches are at the heart of agriculture in America and are the backbone of the economy in states like Nebraska. Generations of producers have passed down the love of farming, strongly rooted values, and common-sense stewardship of our land and water to the next generation,” said Gov. Pillen. “I’m glad that Secretary Rollins and the USDA are highlighting the value and importance of family owned and small operations as part of our efforts to put Farmers First. I look forward to this tremendous initiative, and I am thrilled that she chose to launch it from a family farm right here in Nebraska.”



Gov Pillen Joins Sec Rollins as She Approves First-in-the-Nation Waiver to Restrict Soda & Energy Drinks from Food Stamps in Nebraska
 
Governor Jim Pillen hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins in Nebraska today as she signed the first-in-the-nation waiver to amend the statutory definition of food for purchase for Nebraska’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Effective January 1, 2026, taxpayers will no longer be subsidizing the purchase of soda or energy drinks in the State of Nebraska.
 
“There’s absolutely zero reason for taxpayers to be subsidizing purchases of soda and energy drinks. SNAP is about helping families in need get healthy food into their diets, but there’s nothing nutritious about the junk we’re removing with today’s waiver. I’m grateful to have worked with Secretary Rollins and the Trump Administration to get this effort across the finish line. It is a tremendous step toward improving the health and well-being of our state. We have to act because we can’t keep letting Nebraskans starve in the midst of plenty,” said Governor Jim Pillen.
 
“Today’s waiver to remove soda and energy drinks from SNAP is the first of its kind, and it is a historic step to Make America Healthy Again. Under President Trump’s leadership, I have encouraged states to serve as the ‘laboratories of innovation.’
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and Governors in Iowa, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, West Virginia, and Colorado are pioneers in improving the health of our nation,” said Secretary Rollins.  
 
Prior to this waiver, SNAP recipients could buy anything except alcohol, tobacco, hot foods, and personal care products. This historic action adds soda and energy drinks to the list of products excluded from SNAP purchases in the state of Nebraska.
 
As part of the Make America Healthy Again agenda, this historic action seeks to reverse alarming disease trends across the country. Prediabetes now affects one in three children ages 12 to 19; 40% of school-aged children and adolescents have at least one chronic condition; and 15% of high school students drink one or more sodas daily.



Secretary Rollins Approves First Ever State Waiver to Restrict Soda and Energy Drinks from Food Stamps in Nebraska

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins Monday signed the first-ever waiver to amend the statutory definition of food for purchase for Nebraska’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Effective Jan. 1, 2026, taxpayers will no longer be subsidizing the purchase of soda or energy drinks in the State of Nebraska.

“Today’s waiver to remove soda and energy drinks from SNAP is the first of its kind, and it is a historic step to Make America Healthy Again. Under President Trump’s leadership, I have encouraged states to serve as the ‘laboratories of innovation.’ Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and Governors in Iowa, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, West Virginia, and Colorado are pioneers in improving the health of our nation,” said Secretary Rollins.

“There’s absolutely zero reason for taxpayers to be subsidizing purchases of soda and energy drinks. SNAP is about helping families in need get healthy food into their diets, but there’s nothing nutritious about the junk we’re removing with today’s waiver. I’m grateful to have worked with Secretary Rollins and the Trump Administration to get this effort across the finish line. It is a tremendous step toward improving the health and well-being of our state. We have to act because we can’t keep letting Nebraskans starve in the midst of plenty,” said Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen.
Secretary Rollins announces the approval of the first-ever SNAP waiver with Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen.

Secretary Rollins announces the approval of the first-ever SNAP waiver with Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen.

Prior to this waiver, SNAP recipients could buy anything except alcohol, tobacco, hot foods, and personal care products. This historic action adds soda and energy drinks to the list of products excluded from SNAP purchases in the state of Nebraska.

As part of the Make America Healthy Again agenda, this historic action seeks to reverse alarming disease trends across the country. Prediabetes now affects one in three children ages 12 to 19; 40% of school-aged children and adolescents have at least one chronic condition; and 15% of high school students drink one or more sodas daily.

At the direction of President Trump, USDA is ensuring programs work harder to encourage healthy eating and lifestyle habits. On Secretary Rollins’ first full day in office, she sent a letter to the nation’s governors, outlining her vision for the Department and inviting them to participate in a new “Laboratories of Innovation” initiative to create bold solutions to long-ignored challenges. Secretary Rollins and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote an opinion piece in USA Today outlining their plan to Make America Healthy Again, including through SNAP waivers like the one signed in Nebraska.



Ricketts Introduces the SNAP Next Step Act

Last week, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the SNAP Next Step Act. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined the bill as the leading Democrat co-sponsor. The bill would authorize the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds for employment and training activities under the Workplace Innovation and Opportunity Act. The bill was modeled after a successful State of Nebraska program initiated when Ricketts was Governor.

“SNAP Next Step worked in Nebraska and will help workers across America on the path to a stable financial situation,” said Senator Ricketts. “When I was governor, this program helped workers find better employment. It helped increase monthly income. And it reduced or eliminated their need for government assistance. I am eager to work with my colleagues to make this proven Nebraska solution a reality for workers across America.”

The SNAP Next Step Act assists SNAP beneficiaries in pursuing better job and career opportunities through services like job search coaching, interview preparation, and resume writing. This legislation adds no new costs to taxpayers. It would allow already available SNAP administrative funds to be utilized in enrolling SNAP recipients in Department of Labor Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Programs. The bill also urges states to develop benefits calculators that show participants the real-world impacts of increased wages on eligibility for all government assistance programs.

In 2016, then-Governor Ricketts’ administration implemented SNAP Next Step. Since then, SNAP Next Step has helped hundreds of Nebraska families find new employment and more predictable hours, allowing them to spend more time together as a family. They’ve also increased their monthly income by more than $2,100. About 60% of these families no longer rely on state food assistance and the other 40% have reduced their need for SNAP benefits.



Exports Stumble Out of the Gate . . .
NeFB Newsletter

If U.S. agricultural exports were a thoroughbred horse, bettors would be sorely disappointed with the horse’s start out of the gate this year. The value of exports through March has stumbled, off 5% compared to the same three months in 2024. And last year’s pace wasn’t particularly derby-winning, down 4% in the first quarter and 1% for the year. Red meats (beef, pork, and lamb), corn, and ethanol exports were higher compared to last year while the value of wheat, animal feed, and soybeans were lower.

Corn exports led the way in the first quarter, up 24%. Purchases by Japan, South Korea, and the European Union, along with continued healthy purchases by Mexico helped pace the gain. The value of ethanol exports was up 13% with Canada setting the pace. And the export value of red meats in the first quarter was up 1% with both beef and pork seeing improved tempos. Taiwan and Mexico led the growth in beef sales. Mexico and Central America pushed pork exports higher. Among the strugglers, soybean exports were off 33% due to slower purchases by China. Wheat exports were down 18% with many countries purchasing less and animal feeds and oil meal were off 13%.  

Projections for the remainder of the year are mixed, especially for Nebraska’s top three export commodities: corn, beef, and soybeans. Corn exports are projected to remain strong, while soybean and beef exports are expected to lag. Of course, the nature of the race could change dramatically given the on-and-off again tariff and trade decisions by the Trump administration. And any trade agreements which might be reached could also alter the course. Farmers, ranchers, and others betting on this year’s export race could be in for a wild ride.   



CAP Webinar: Livestock Insurance Basics – Part 1
May 22, 2025 07:00 PM
Shannon Sand, Agricultural Economist, UNL Center for Agricultural Profitability

Understanding the fundamentals of livestock insurance is essential to managing risk in today’s agricultural environment. In this introductory session, we’ll explore what livestock insurance is, how it can benefit your operation, and the different types of coverage available. We’ll also define key terms to help you build a strong foundation for future decisions. This is the first in a two-part series designed to help producers better evaluate their insurance options.

CAP Webinar: Livestock Insurance Basics - Part 2
May 29, 2025 12:00 PM
Shannon Sand, Agricultural Economist, UNL Center for Agricultural Profitability

Building on the first session, this webinar dives deeper into the mechanics of livestock insurance. Learn how premiums and deductibles work, including how to evaluate different deductible levels to determine what’s needed to break even. We’ll also introduce other important insurance considerations such as umbrella policies and liability coverage, giving you a broader understanding of how to protect your operation.

Miss the live webinar or want to review it again? Recordings are available — typically within 24 hours of the live webinar — in the archive section of the Center for Agricultural Profitability's webinar page, https://cap.unl.edu/webinars. Also use this link to register for the webinars.  



Secretary Naig Announces Animal Welfare Handbook to Support Law Enforcement Partners in Responding to Animal Neglect Cases

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has developed a tool that law enforcement agencies and county attorneys can reference to plan and execute timely, effective responses to animal welfare complaints. The animal welfare handbook outlines each agency’s regulatory authority and role in a coordinated response. It also provides species-specific, science-based standards of care to help responders objectively evaluate the health of domestic animals and production livestock.

“The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responsible for keeping animals in our state safe and healthy, and it’s a responsibility we take very seriously. We can’t do it alone. When suspected animal welfare cases arise, we collaborate with local law enforcement to investigate and take the appropriate actions,” said Secretary Naig. “The Department’s animal health experts developed this animal welfare handbook to ensure our law enforcement partners have the tools and support they need to safely and effectively respond to and resolve these unfortunate situations.”

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will host a webinar at noon/CT on Wednesday, May 28, to provide an overview of the animal welfare handbook. Register for the free webinar here.

Overview of the Animal Welfare Handbook
The animal welfare handbook was designed to support law enforcement agencies, county attorneys and animal control groups operating in Iowa.
    The first section of the handbook outlines each agency’s role and regulatory jurisdiction based on Iowa Code 717 and 717B.
    The second section emphasizes the importance of advanced planning, including building relationships with local response partners and researching temporary housing options, which leads to more positive outcomes.
    The third section outlines each animal species’ unique housing, nutrition and veterinary needs to help law enforcement objectively evaluate potential neglect and welfare concerns. It also includes step-by-step guidance to help county attorneys document the situation and build a strong animal neglect case.

The animal welfare handbook is a free resource and can be viewed or downloaded from the Department's animal welfare webpage.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship welcomes the opportunity to meet with local law enforcement agencies, county attorneys and animal control groups to discuss and gather feedback on the handbook. If agencies have questions about their roles in responding to potential animal neglect/welfare cases, they can contact the Department at animalwelfare@iowaagriculture.gov or 515-281-6358.



USDA seeks feedback from producers about 2025 crops, stocks, inventories, and values

Over the next several weeks, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the June Agricultural Survey. The agency will contact nearly 92,000 producers across the nation to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1, 2025.

“The June Agricultural Survey is one of the most important and well-known surveys NASS conducts,” said Joseph L. Parsons, USDA NASS Administrator. “When producers respond to the survey, they provide essential information that helps determine the expected acreage and supply of major commodities in the United States for the 2025 crop year. The results are used by farmers and ranchers, USDA, exporters, researchers, economists, policymakers, and others to inform a wide range of decisions.”

Producers can respond to the June Agricultural Survey online at agcounts.usda.gov, by phone, or mail. They will be asked to provide information on planted and harvested acreage, including acreage for biotech crops and grain stocks.

“NASS safeguards the privacy of respondents by keeping all individual information confidential and publishing the data in aggregate form only to ensure that no operation or producer can be identified,” said Parsons. “We recognize that this is a busy time for farmers, but the information they provide helps U.S. agriculture remain viable and capable. I urge them to respond to these surveys and thank them for their participation.”

NASS will publish the data in a series of USDA reports, including the annual Acreage and quarterly Grain Stocks reports on June 30, 2025. This data also contributes to NASS monthly and annual Crop Production reports, the annual Small Grains Summary, the annual Farms and Land in Farms report, the Land Values report, various livestock reports, including Cattle, Sheep and Goats, Hogs and Pigs, and USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.



Statement from Farmers of Major U.S. Agriculture Groups on Pending MAHA Report

The Make America Healthy Again Commission is expected to soon release a report that will have significant bearing on America’s farmers, producers and ranchers, and the public’s trust in our food system. In anticipation, the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, International Fresh Produce Association, and in turn, the farmers these groups represent, are imploring the administration to consider the consequences of this MAHA Commission report before it is finalized.

“American agriculture’s strong relationship with President Trump is based on his longstanding commitment to farmers, growers and ranchers. That is why farmers represented by the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, and International Fresh Produce Association are imploring the administration to carefully consider the content and consequences of the forthcoming Make America Healthy Again Commission report before it is finalized.

“Despite the effort of many of our organizations to work with the MAHA Commission to provide factual information about American food production, we have heard disturbing accounts that the commission report may suggest U.S. farmers are harming Americans through their production practices and ‘creating foods that is [sic] destroying our microbiome and bodies—leading directly to our chronic disease crisis.’ Nothing could be further from the truth. Nutrition matters, health matters, and the confidence of consumers in the food supply matters tremendously. Such a conclusion would run counter to the scientific evidence and decades of findings from the Environmental Protection Agency.

“Should the MAHA Commission report baselessly attack and, worse yet, make claims that are simply untrue against the hardworking men and women who feed our nation, it will make further cooperation on this initiative very difficult and potentially put American food production at risk. We urge President Trump to ensure that the MAHA Commission report is based on sound science and evidence-based claims rather than opinions and preferences of social influencers and single-issue activists with little to no experience in actual farming or food production.”

The groups represent hundreds of thousands of farmers across the United States—farmers whose livelihoods are at stake if the report turns to conjecture and opinion to form its content.



Early Tariff Impacts on Beef Exports
David Anderson, Extension Specialist - Texas A&M University

It’s been about six weeks since U.S. tariffs and retaliatory tariffs were announced, impacting beef. One of the reasons the beef trade market is so interesting is that the U.S. imports and exports beef. The mix of products varies by country, including muscle cuts, trimmings, variety meats, and hides. Even though tariff levels continue to fluctuate, enough time has passed to begin to see some impacts on beef exports to one market in particular – China.

Weekly fresh and frozen beef muscle cut export data is available through the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. The data is reported for a large number of countries and can be aggregated to regions. U.S. exports to China averaged 2.42 metric tons per week during the first quarter of 2025. Following the announcements of tariffs and retaliation, exports dropped dramatically to only 17 metric tons for the week of May 8. That was the smallest weekly export total since the week of April 11, 2019, when 0 tons were exported.   

Often in trade, the closing of one market creates new, larger exports to other countries. Beef exports to Japan and South Korea over the last 6 weeks are larger than during the first quarter of the year. Some more detailed information might be necessary to determine if the increase is normal week-to-week variation, or some redirecting of shipments following the tariff announcement, or finding new sales. Of perhaps more interest, export data to Hong Kong is still broken out from mainland China exports. Exports to Hong Kong averaged 369 metric tons per week during the first quarter of the year and 600 tons per week since early April.

For a little added context, fresh and frozen beef muscle cut exports to China are a relatively new phenomenon. Exports did not exceed 1,000 tons in a week until November 2019. But exports rapidly grew since then to become the U.S.’s third-largest beef export market. As exports to mainland China grew, they largely supplanted those to Hong Kong. Exports to China in 2024 accounted for an equivalent of about 1.7 percent of U.S. beef production.

There will likely be more volatility in trade as negotiations on tariffs move forward. These individual country markets will be interesting to monitor in the future.