AG COUNCIL NEWS & INFORMATION BRIEF
April 18, 2025
WASHINGTON AG UPDATE
Budget Reconciliation Plans Continue to Advance: By a vote of 216 to 214, the U.S. House recently approved a final budget resolution that concurs with the Senate and sets the stage for authorizing committees to begin work in achieving spending reductions, extensions to tax cuts under the Jobs and Tax Cuts Act of 2017, and other policy priorities of the Republican majority. The next step in the reconciliation process is expected to take several weeks to shape the reconciliation legislation and move the legislation through the House and Senate. Any differences would need to be negotiated between the House and Senate before final approval and enactment. More...Agri-Pulse | WashingtonPost | Politico | WSJ | Overview of Reconciliation Process
Trump Tariff Plans Progress Towards New Negotiations: On April 2nd, which was referred to as "Liberation Day" by President Trump, was the day which new tariffs were implemented with trading partners across the globe. The tariffs were placed on imports with an apparent attempt to rebalance the trade markets between the U.S. and other nations around. The "reciprocal" tariffs were based on tariff values from other nations as well as trade deficits with those countries. Soon after the announcement, various financial markets fell, leading many nations to reach out to the White House in an effort to pursue new trade negotiations. Rather than pursue negotiations, China retaliated, and the U.S. countered those retaliations. President Trump announced a 90 day suspension of the proposed tariffs on those nations seeking negotiations, while tariff values between the U.S. and China increased. More...ProFarmer | RFD-TV Interview with Brooke Rollins
USDA Delivering ECAP Economic Assistance: The USDA is currently in the process of delivering the economic aid provided by Congress in December. The $10 billion program, known as the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), provides revenue assistance for farmers based on a formula established by Congress. Farmers can apply for the program assistance at their USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. Arkansas farmers are expected to receive $300 million under the program. More...USDA ECAP Homepage | SuccessfulFarming | Fryar Center Podcast
Secretary Rollins Hints at Potential Trade Aid & Economic Assistance: In recent days, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has acknowledged that ongoing challenges facing farmers might require government intervention to mitigate impacts of poor commodity markets and disruptions to trade due to tariffs. Secretary Rollins outlined potential methods for delivering such aid, which would likely require supplemental funding from congress to the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). More...AgDay Interview | FoxNews Interview with Secretary Rollins | Bloomberg
MAHA Commission to Release Assessment & Report on American Health Crisis: Since Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was confirmed and sworn in as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), the administration has quickly launched into its Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda with policy discussions and actions. Multiple government agencies are involved in the discussions through the MAHA Commission established by Executive Order. The commission includes the USDA, FDA, and EPA, and they're expected to consider actions addressing everything from food ingredients, nutrition guidelines and standards, to pesticide and medical regulatory policy and use guidelines. The commission is expected to release an initial assessment on human health concerns in the United States in May. More...MAHA EO | USDA HHS Hold First MAHA Event | Reuters
Other Ag Related News & Info from Washington:
USDA Announces Cancellation of Climate Smart Commodities Program | Agri-Pulse
4.11.25 EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on EPA Mission
EPA Looks to Change Definition in ESA Regulations
Federal Court Orders USDA to Release IRA Funds
ARKANSAS AG UPDATE
Arkansas General Assembly Continues Legislative Session: The 95th General Assembly adjourned the legislative session on Wednesday, April 16. The House and Senate concluded their work with the approval of the Revenue Stabilization Act (RSA), which allocates spending levels for the state in the coming fiscal year that begins July 1. More...Legislative Update | Governor's Press Conference on Session
USDA Secretary Rollins Visits Arkansas to Discuss SNAP Reform: On Tuesday, April 15, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins joined Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders in Little Rock to discuss plans for Arkansas to seek a waiver to prohibit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Plan (SNAP) benefits from being utilized to purchase candy and soft drinks while also allowing for the purchase of rotisserie chickens. Ag Council of Arkansas president Joe Mencer was able to attend the press conference and visit with Governor Sanders and Secretary Rollins. More...APNews | Governor Press Release | ArkansasOnline | AgCouncilPost
Heavy Rainfall Leads to Flooding in Much of East Arkansas: Heavy rainfall totals across much of Arkansas in recent days have lead to widespread flooding in many areas, especially across East Arkansas. While waters are receding in some areas, they are rising in others. Many acres of row crops have been affected, which has caused crop losses and damage to property. The impact is expected to be substantial and carry economic consequences for many crop farmers. More...UADA | Corps of Engineers Inundation Map | 4.13.25 Stakeholder Update | ARDOT Road Closures | UADA Flood Damage Estimate | UADA News Release on Data
Former Ag Council President John King, Jr. Passed Away at 92: Former Ag Council of Arkansas president, John King, Jr., of Helena, AR, passed away at age 92. He was a wonderful person committed to his family, his farm, his community, and the advancement of the agriculture industry. We are grateful for his life and gifts to others. Memorial services for Mr. King were held on Saturday, April 12, in Helena. More...Obituary
Ag Council In The News:
Interview with KATV - President Joe Mencer & Executive Vice President Talk About Delivery of Economic Aid
Interview with Roby Brock at TalkBusiness - Ag Council Executive Officers Discuss Farm Economy & More
ArkansasMoney&Politics April 2025 (Digital Issue)
Other Arkansas News & Info Links:
4.11.2025 Arkansas Rice Update from Jarrod Hardke
Projected PLC Payments for 2024
Upcoming Meetings and Events:
Ag Council of Arkansas Board of Directors Meeting May 8, 2025 in Pickens, AR
MidSouth Ag Law Conference June 5-6, 2025 in Memphis, TN
Arkansas Department of Agriculture Calendar
Cotton's Calendar
Arkansas Department of Agriculture Accepting Century Farm Applications
Additional Arkansas Ag Resources:
USDA Daily Arkansas Grain Bids
NALC Newsletter "The Feed"
Arkansas Vegetative Drought Geospatial Maps
DeltaPlastics Push4Pickup App
Crop Residue Field Burning Smoke Management FIRESMART App
Arkansas Farm Bureau AgCast Podcast
USDA AMS Service Rates
Ag Council Leadership Opportunities
Apply for Service on State Boards & Commissions
Arkansas Rice Research & Promotion Board
Arkansas Soybean Research & Promotion Board
Arkansas Corn & Grain Sorghum Research & Promotion Board
Arkansas Wheat Research & Promotion Board
USDA NRCS Arkansas Offices
Arkansas Crops Update
UADA Crop Budgets (2025) | UADA Crop Profit/Loss Calculator App
UADA Fryar Center Podcast
AcreHedge Crop Budget App
UADA Verification Information
Arkansas Rice Research Studies Report for 2023
Arkansas Row Crop Risk Management
Pine Tree Discoloration & Mortality Reporting
Feral Hog Task Force
Arkansas Voluntary Smoke Management Guidelines
Digital Edition of Delta Farm Press
H-2A Guidebook by Congressman Crawford
Enrollment Link: U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
Climate Smart Grant Opportunities Dashboard
ECONOMIC & INDUSTRY NEWS
April USDA WASDE Report: On April 10, USDA issued a World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) Report and Crop Production Report. The reports showcase supply and demand estimates for major crops and include anticipated production. The data produced in the August report furthered the expectation of a large yield across the United States for most commodities. More...WASDE Report | Secretary Briefing (Slides | Video) | Visual Summary | U.S. Crop Production Report
StoneX WASDE Overview: https://stonex.wistia.com/medias/1zyy3xwnc4 Password: uam837aq
USDA Issues Projected Plantings Report: On March 31, USDA issued its 2025 Prospective Plantings report. For Arkansas, the report estimated a 42 percent increase in corn acres and an 11 percent reduction in cotton acres. Rice was projected to be up 1 percent and soybeans down 2 percent. Nationally, corn acres are expected to exceed soybean acres with 95.3 million acres of corn to 83.5 acres of soybeans. More...Arkansas Report | U.S. Report | UADA Analysis
USDA Issues Crop Progress Report: On Monday, April 14, USDA issued a Crop Progress Report. The report provided the latest estimate for crop planting progress in Arkansas. According to the report, corn plantings were estimated to be at 42 percent planted, rice plantings were at 24 percent, and soybean plantings were at 14 percent. Arkansas winter wheat was reported to be 24 percent headed. More...Arkansas Report | U.S. Report
Other Market News & Info:
Other USDA Reports:
- Cotton System
- Fats & Oils
- Grain Crushings
- Peanut Prices
- Grain Stocks
- Prospective Plantings
- Rice Stocks
- Agricultural Prices
- Crop Production
Other links of Interest:
USDA Daily Arkansas Grain Bids
Morning Coffee & Ag Markets Podcast from UADA Economists
DTN Commodity Market Insights
Nutrien Ag Solutions Weather Reports
UADA Fundamentals of Federal Crop Insurance
FarmJournal ProFarmer Newsletter
USA Rice Daily
RiceStuff Podcast Homepage
Entergy Agri Desk
Jarrod Hardke's Arkansas Rice Report
Arkansas-Crops Blog
UADA Ag News Blog
USDA County Cash Rent Estimates
Arkansas Economic Profile: 2024 Pocket Facts - News | USDA Arkansas Ag Economic Overview | Arkansas Ag Census Data | Arkansas Historical Data | Arkansas Farms & Land Report | Arkansas Land Values & Cash Rent Report | Arkansas Farm Labor Report
Contribute to our PAC! (Donor Form)
Contribute to our Presidents' Scholarship! (Donor Form)
Newsletter Sign-up Link: https://agcouncil.net/newsletter/