agriculture News Updates

The increased optimism comes as Chicago soybean prices have been rising amid a revival of U.S. exports to China and greater clarity expected soon around U.S. biofuels policy in 2026.

“The agreement will provide U.S. and Bangladeshi exporters unprecedented access to each other’s respective markets,” the White House said in a statement.

While the sale of new machines is set to remain sluggish, growers need to update soon and are increasingly retrofitting existing equipment with AI-packed components.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Jan. 20 in an interview on Fox Business that Vice Premier He Lifeng confirmed to him that China has completed their soybean purchases.

Cattle placed in U.S. feedlots, where animals are fed until ready to be slaughtered, are expected to have dropped in November to the lowest levels for the month since 2015, Bloomberg reports.

Cattle prices won’t rise as much as previously expected in 2026, as the closure of a Tyson Foods plant is seen loosening competition for scarce U.S. supplies.

The world’s biggest farm machinery maker said in a statement to Bloomberg that it “has kept focus on supporting our customers and helping them build for the long haul.” 

“This is kind of a Band-Aid — we need more markets more than we need aid,” said Missouri farmer Marty Richardson, adding that he feels like 2026 will be just as bad as this year.

President Trump pressured farm equipment manufacturers to drop prices for tractors, his latest efforts to address Americans’ concerns about shaky economic conditions.

The aid comes amid rising frustration among farmers on the slow pace of Chinese purchases, which Beijing clamped down on earlier this year in retaliation for Trump’s tariff barrage.