The U.S. agricultural export scenario has experienced a transformation in 2025, with diversification of export destinations emerging as an important factor for both the corn and soybean markets. While these two major commodities have followed different trajectories, with corn exports expanding and soybean exports contracting, both demonstrate the strategic value of diversified market portfolios rather than keeping a high dependence on a single market.

On Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) cut the federal funds target range by another 25 basis points to 3.50–3.75 percent, marking the third reduction this year and extending…

The next edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is scheduled to be released in 2025 but has been notably delayed and is now expected in early 2026. In this post, using the Gardner Food and Agricultural Policy Survey, we found that the vast majority of consumers (75% or greater) currently agree with recommendations from the 2020-2025 DGA. Over 50% strongly agreed with both the recommendation to eat all types of vegetables and to choose foods and beverages with less added sugars.

Over the last two years, Federal crop insurance premium subsidies have been raised far more by procedures outside the Farm Bill than inside the Farm Bill. Two USDA administrative actions raised the premium subsidy rate for ECO insurance to 80%. They conservatively are estimated to raise Federal premium subsidies by $13.2 billion over 10 FYs. This case study illustrates how the Federal budget process can be circumvented, calling into question its fiscal integrity and usefulness.

Incomes on Illinois grain farms in 2024 were lower than in any other year since the early 1990s. In this article, we compare three primary uses of funds to the sum of farm and non-farm income. Two major uses of income – machinery and building purchases and family living withdrawals – have exceeded historical levels relative to farm income. Non-farm income remains an important source of stability for many Illinois farms, buffering the large swings in farm income.

US federally subsidized crop insurance has monetized field crop production risk into a multi-billion dollar income flow to farmers. Monetized value has grown with higher market value of production, higher premium subsidies, higher coverage levels, and, recently, higher use of area add-up insurance. Monetization will continue as the 2025 Farm Bill has raised premium subsidies for nearly all insurance products including an 80% subsidy for 95% coverage ECO area add-up insurance.