News, Insights & Interviews Archive

Soybean farmers and the various people connected to their industry are asking themselves, “Could it finally be true?” They want to know if a deal really is close in Congress to finally extend E-15 – the 15% ethanol fuel blend – for year-round sales across the United States. They have been hoping that a campaign pledge would turn into action when Donald Trump returned to the White House. President Trump gave them hope this week when he addressed several hundred supporters in a

With 2025 in the rearview mirror, what’s ahead for farmers and landowners in 2026? That question can cause anxiety for those who make their living off the land.  Jim Knuth, senior vice president of lending in Iowa for Farm Credit Services of America, said that when he looks at what happened last year, there is reason to be cautious—but also optimistic. Knuth spoke during one of the breakout sessions at the Land Investment Expo held earlier this month in Des Moines, Iowa.  Her

After complaining about not getting awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, President Donald Trump later announced 10% tariffs against Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland. The countries opposed Trump’s threats to take over Greenland, which would violate the principles of the countries’ long-standing NATO alliance.  Trump threatened the tariffs until, “a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland.” However, he la

After a 15-year absence, whole milk is set to return to school lunches. President Donald Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025  into law. The law marks a significant shift in federal school nutrition policy and has been welcomed by dairy producers, rural advocates, and policymakers who see it as a boost to the dairy sector and an expansion of choice for school nutrition programs.  Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Acts of 2025 The 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids A

National security, farm policy, and modernization are key priorities for the Trump Administration’s U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Speaking at the morning keynote address of the 2026 Land Investment Expo, USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden spoke on some of the most important topics happening at the federal level.  Foreign Ownership of U.S. Farmland With security as a priority, Vaden emphasized the USDA’s commitment to enforce and monitor the Agriculture Foreign Inves

Rural America has long faced a familiar set of challenges: declining populations, limited access to capital, and fewer economic opportunities for younger generations. But according to Ron Diamond, Diamond Wealth Founder and Chairman, a powerful and relatively new policy tool may help change that trajectory: rural Opportunity Zones. Diamond told American Farmland Owner that outside investment could be the missing ingredient rural communities need to regain momentum. “I think i

A new year has delivered a new food pyramid from the Trump administration, and we will see how it impacts what Americans buy from farmers. On January 7th, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled an updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030. It was complete with a redesigned food pyramid that departs sharply from models of the past. This policy shift, centered on a message to “eat real food,”  could have significant impl

MAHA, Make America Healthy Again, will influence America’s food system in 2026, although it may be too early to know how deeply. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy, Junior, has made a host of claims about ultra-processed foods, synthetic dyes, and pesticides and discussed thematic changes to better promote good health in Americans, especially children. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February 2025 that created the MAHA Commission. I

As farmers wait to find out how much a new federal bridge payment could replace some of the income that they have lost from higher costs, lower market prices, and international trade complexities, they are assessing their finances for 2026. Jerry Gulke is president of the Gulke Group, an Illinois-based research and information analysis firm that provides marketing strategies for agribusinesses. Gulke has also farmed corn and soybeans for the past 40 years, but he isn’t sure t

For generations, U.S. farmers have competed in global markets on the strength of productivity, innovation, and trust. But today, Brazil seems to be a more difficult challenger. USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden laid out a blunt assessment of how Brazilian agricultural practices are reshaping global commodity markets and why American farmers are feeling the squeeze. “Brazil is the reason for so many of our commodity crops that they are in the position that they are in with d

Farmers who failed to accurately report their 2025 acreage reporting by 5 p.m. Friday, December 19, could miss out on their share of the $12 billion USDA Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. The program provides emergency help for farmers struggling with repercussions from President Donald Trump’s higher tariffs on imports, low commodity prices, and higher costs. Acreage reporting will help the USDA determine individual assistance for farmers. USDA Farmer Bridge Assistance Prog

A sweeping reorganization that brings a substantial reduction in personnel and shift in geographical footprint is underway at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one that could reshape the direction of the agency.

American farmers don’t yet know how much of the $12 billion aid package – “bridge payments,” the Trump administration calls them – that they will receive. But they may at least get some piece of mind that some assistance could come early next year as they have dealt with a bevy of financial pressures from higher tariffs and inflated borrowing, input, and equipment costs It may or may not cover the losses that they endured for lost or reduced overseas buyers. On Tuesday, the T

Marko Papic was not born in the United States. Papic was born in Serbia. He understands the contributions of immigrants to this country. And he understands the importance of an organized legal immigration process. He does not understand how the current federal immigration enforcement policy will lead to economic success. “On the immigration front, I just don’t really see any solution to the uncertainty,” Papic told American Farmland Owner from his office in Santa Monica, Cali

Farmers who have been waiting for months for federal help as they are overwhelmed with input costs, borrowing rates, tariff fallout, and low commodity prices may learn some news in the coming weeks. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said on Tuesday that a “bridge payment” could arrive next week. Regardless of how it is publicly stated, the commitment would be a tacet acknowledgment that many farmers are not getting immediate benefit from President Donald Trump’s tr

Growers and producers across the country could have reason to pay attention to a landmark lawsuit filed by the City of San Francisco against some of the nation’s largest food manufacturers, accusing them of knowingly producing and marketing ultra-processed foods (UPFs) that contribute to a growing public-health crisis. While the fate of the lawsuit is uncertain and could take years to resolve, it could lead to greater demand for whole foods and minimally processed foods. Perh

Thanksgiving week, for those who can, is often a week of overeating and excess. It is also time for appreciation for America’s producers whose year-round efforts help to feed the traditional family gatherings. The partial shutdown of the federal government might be prolonging the wait to find out how deeply some American farmers are suffering during this holiday week. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court   does not yet show third quarter bankruptcy filings. The third quarter ended on Oc

For some farmers and producers struggling with depressed commodity prices and tariffs that, at least for now, have limited export potential and increased costs, they may find optimism in legislation proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives that targets high fertilizer costs. Although, the legislation does not promise immediate help. High fertilizer prices remain one of the most urgent challenges facing U.S. farmers. House lawmakers have now joined a previous effort in th

“Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) has splashed around in various forms depending on the political party of the current president and court rulings. The administration of President Donald Trump, a Republican, has proposed the latest form of the longstanding guidelines that have previously impacted – and sometimes frustrated – farmers, ranchers, energy producers, and other landowners.   On November 17, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), together with the U.S. Army C

Reducing immigrants in the United States will hurt U.S. agriculture short-term and the country overall longer-term geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan believes.