USDA Begins Phased Reopening of Southwest Livestock Ports

USDA began reopening Southwest ports for livestock trade Monday, more than a year after suspending crossings to slow the spread of New World Screwworm. The phased reopening starts with the Douglas, Arizona, port, while USDA also prepares to reopen Santa Teresa (tuh-RAY-suh) and Columbus in New Mexico. Agri-Pulse said the move comes after a recent screwworm case was detected in a cow in southern Sonora (suh-NOR-uh), about 292 miles from the U.S. border. USDA says livestock entering the country will undergo full inspections for signs of the pest. “The necessary resources — personnel, technology, laboratory support, and inter-agency coordination — are in place and ready in Douglas,” the department said. Mexico has activated surveillance and control measures, including releasing 360,000 sterile flies. USDA says it is monitoring more than 100 screwworm traps and 8,000 insect traps while deploying drones and dispersing 100 million sterile flies weekly in Mexico and Texas.

John Deere Workers Reject Contract Extension

Members of the United Auto Workers at John Deere have rejected the company’s proposal to extend their current collective bargaining agreement through 2029. UAW President Shawn Fain said workers remain concerned about job security, noting 1,600 employees are still laid off while Deere continues outsourcing some jobs. “The company failed to make an offer that addressed the issues weighing on the minds of our members, especially job security,” Fain said. A union statement points to Deere’s financial performance as another reason workers rejected the proposal. The company earned nearly $5 billion in profit last year and expects between $4.5 billion and $5 billion this year. Deere also spent $1.1 billion on stock buybacks and paid $1.7 billion in dividends in 2025. UAW Vice President Laura Dickerson said workers believe they deserve a greater share of those gains. The current contract remains in place, with negotiations expected to resume before the agreement expires in 2027.

Former Farm Leaders Warn of Crisis in Rural America

A group of former agricultural association leaders, farmers, and USDA officials says farm country is facing a serious crisis—and farmers are increasingly afraid to speak publicly about it. The group, Restore American Agriculture, launched a website where farmers and ranchers can share how trade, budget, and regulatory policies are affecting their operations. Former National Corn Growers Association CEO Jon Doggett said commodity groups may fear retaliation from the administration. “Farmers want markets. They don’t want handouts,” said Bob Dinneen, former president of the Renewable Fuels Association. “Ad hoc assistance is necessary, but it’s not sustainable, and it’s not what farmers want.” Iowa farmer and former NCGA President Pam Johnson pointed to rising diesel costs, fertilizer availability, and weak farm income. “It’s projected that farmers aren’t going to make any money for the next two years,” Johnson said. “This is a serious crisis out here in farm country.”

USDA Purchases U.S. Pork for Food Assistance Programs

USDA is purchasing U.S. pork for federal food assistance programs, a move welcomed by the National Pork Producers Council as hog producers face a challenging market. National Pork Producers Council President Rob Brenneman, an Iowa pork producer, said the purchase will help put more American pork into schools and food banks nationwide. “More high-quality, wholesome, and nutrient-dense protein is on its way to American schools and food banks across the country thanks to this purchase of U.S. pork,” Brenneman said. The purchase is being made under Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1935. The law allows USDA to buy agricultural commodities and provide disaster assistance using funds tied to annual U.S. customs receipts. USDA routinely purchases pork and other commodities for federal food programs, including school breakfast and lunch programs.

Farm Bureau Urges U.S., Canada to Resume Trade Talks

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall is urging the United States and Canada to return to the negotiating table after trade talks broke down and additional tariffs were imposed. Duvall said Canada has been one of U.S. agriculture’s most important trading partners since the first free trade agreement between the two countries in 1989. He warned that further tariff increases and Canadian retaliation could hurt farmers and ranchers already dealing with difficult economic conditions. “Our strong agreements with Canada and Mexico have eliminated nearly all tariffs for U.S. agriculture, allowing the majority of our farm products to enter those markets duty- and quota-free,” Duvall said. He emphasized that agricultural exports are critical to farm profitability and generate economic activity beyond the farm gate. Duvall called for de-escalation of the trade dispute and renewal of the USMCA while maintaining duty-free market access for U.S. agricultural products.

USDA Trade Mission Targets Australia, Pacific Markets

USDA is sending a delegation of American agribusinesses and state agriculture officials to Australia this week to strengthen export opportunities for U.S. farmers and ranchers. The Foreign Agricultural Service trade mission runs August 30 through September 2 in Melbourne and will include 38 agribusinesses and trade organizations, along with representatives from ten state agriculture departments. Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg will lead the delegation. “There’s no substitute for getting our producers face-to-face with overseas buyers,” Lindberg said. “It’s the best way to showcase the best of what American agriculture has to offer.” Australia imported nearly $1.7 billion in U.S. agricultural products last year, making it America’s 18th-largest agricultural export market. Consumer-oriented products accounted for 85 percent of that total. U.S. exports to New Zealand reached $612 million in 2025. The mission will also target opportunities in New Zealand and Pacific Island markets through buyer meetings, market briefings, and site visits.

Wednesday Watch List

Markets

First thing on Wednesday, the Bureau of Economic Analysis will be out with the second estimate of second quarter U.S. GDP, as well as the July Personal Consumption Expenditure report at 7:30 a.m. CDT. Later in the morning, the Energy Information Administration will release the weekly Petroleum Status report at 9:30 a.m. CDT.

Weather

A stalled front continues to produce showers near the Gulf Coast for Wednesday. But it will be a front that continues to push into the Southern Plains up through the Midwest Wednesday that will be more significant. That front could produce areas of severe weather throughout the day, including where it butts up to the Rockies in the central High Plains.