Poll: 71 Percent of Farm Families Back Candidates Supporting E15

A new poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of Rural Voices USA found that 71 percent of farm families across five Midwestern states say they’re more likely to support a Congressional candidate who votes for year-round E15 legislation. The survey included respondents from Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, and it also found that a majority of all rural voters, at 57 percent, say a candidate’s support of E15 would make them more likely to vote for that candidate. “Rural voters see the farm crisis enveloping their communities and are looking for answers from Congress,” said Rural Voices USA Chairman Chris Gibbs. “This survey shows that rural voters and farm families want their members of Congress to go to bat for them on E15 because it ripples across the farm economy.” Gibbs also said that members of Congress would be wise to listen and stop the delays in passing the legislation.

Farmer Frustrations Voiced at Commodity Classic

Farmers are facing high input costs, trade uncertainty, and surging grain production. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins spoke directly about those challenges during the recent Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas, her home state. The Secretary told attendees that between 2020 and 2024, fuel costs increased 33 percent, seed costs were up 19 percent, fertilizer prices rose by 48 percent, labor was up 44 percent, and interest expenses were up 71 percent. “We’re seven years out from the last farm bill and all of this information we’re trying to work with is so outdated,” said Jed Bower, president of the National Corn Growers Association, to AgWeb. “Our costs are so different that we have to get something done. It’s like they’ve forgotten about rural America.” Chris Clayton of DTN/The Progressive Farmer reported that there were some angry conversations between farm leaders and representatives of major seed, fertilizer, machinery, and chemical companies during the opening day of the Commodity Classic. 

Larew Re-Elected President of the National Farmers Union

Delegates to the National Farmers Union’s 124th anniversary convention unanimously re-elected Rob Larew and Jeff Kipley as the organization’s president and vice president, respectively. Each will serve another two-year term. “I’m honored to have been given the full faith and confidence of the Farmers Union membership to continue fighting for family agriculture every day,” said Larew. “America’s family farmers and ranchers are the cornerstone of our country, and NFU is the strongest and most dedicated national organization fighting for them.” During his three terms as President, Larew has led an organizational focus on member engagement, particularly among the next generation of Farmers Union members. “Being trusted by family farmers and ranchers to advocate for them in Washington and across the country is one of the greatest honors of my career,” said South Dakota’s Kipley, who is beginning his third term as NFU Vice President.

NPPC Welcomes New Leadership

The National Pork Producers Council elected new officers and board members to lead the organization through the 2026-2027 term. These experienced leaders will guide NPPC’s advocacy efforts, advancing policies that support growth, sustainability, and long-term resilience of the U.S. pork industry. “These leaders are stepping up at an important moment for our industry,” said NPPC CEO Bryan Humphreys. “These devoted people understand the importance of standing together to advocate for policies that protect and advance U.S. pork production.” The 2026-2027 Board Officers include Rob Brenneman as President. He owns and operates Brenneman Pork, a multi-generational family farm in Washington, Iowa. The President-Elect is Pat Hord of Ohio. The new Vice President is Todd Marotz of Minnesota, and the Immediate Past President is now Duane Stateler of Ohio. The new board members include Robert Britt of Virginia, Dr. Jay Miller of Illinois, and Joe Popplewall of Oklahoma. 

Montana Attorney General Joins Coalition Supporting Uniform Herbicide Labeling

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen joined a 15-state coalition in asking the Supreme Court to uphold uniform national labeling requirements for farming herbicides. The goal is to ensure farmers have access to glyphosate, a proven safe and environmentally friendly weed control tool in agriculture. The brief was filed in “Monsanto v. John Durnell.” “Permitting states to impose labeling requirements on glyphosate products will have disastrous consequences for farmers and agriculture industries,” the attorneys general wrote in the brief. “Prices will increase, discouraging use of the best and safest product and causing deteriorating downstream effects on consumers and the environment.” Without a nationwide standard, states such as California could impose individual labeling requirements that disrupt supply chains nationwide, leading to increased costs for farmers around the country and threatening their access to glyphosate. Less access could force farmers to use other, often more toxic herbicides in place of glyphosate. 

Lamb Shines at the Power of Meat Conference

The American Lamb Board connected with professionals from across the retail meat industry at the 2026 Annual Meat Conference in Maryland. For U.S. sheep producers, ALB’s presence at the event is an important opportunity to engage with the retailers and lamb suppliers who ultimately influence how lamb is positioned, promoted, and priced in the meat case. ALB hosted a session that highlighted lamb as a premium yet underutilized protein with growing consumer demand. Presenters emphasized that younger generations are helping to drive growth in lamb retail sales. “When retailers, packers, and foodservice leaders understand the quality, consistency, and story behind American Lamb, they’re better equipped to feature it in ways that reward both consumers and producers,” said David Fisher, chairman of the American Lamb Board. “That’s how we turn checkoff dollars into long-term demand for U.S. lamb.” 

Tuesday Watch List

Markets

The headline event for Tuesday is the release of the March World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report from USDA at 11 a.m. CDT, which will give traders an update on grain and oilseed fundamentals amid recent geopolitically driven market volatility.

Weather

A pair of storm systems are moving into the middle of the country on Tuesday. The northern portion has already brought a bit of light snow Tuesday morning and will erupt with scattered showers and thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon across the Midwest, some of which are likely to be severe, especially from Missouri into Indiana. Similarly, a system in the Southwest will move out into the Southern Plains and produce widespread showers and thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon, with some of those likely to be severe as well, especially across Texas. A band of snow will follow across the Northern Plains into the Upper Midwest and may mix with some freezing rain across Wisconsin and Michigan going into Wednesday.