AG COUNCIL NEWS & INFORMATION BRIEF
December 2, 2025
WASHINGTON AG UPDATE
USDA Expected to Announce New Aid Package: Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins is expected to soon announce plans to deliver immediate financial assistance to farmers struggling under the weight of high input prices, low commodity prices, and an ongoing effort to rebalance trade around the world with widespread tariffs, which has impacted input costs, commodity prices, and global export markets. The package is expected to be structured in a manner to quickly deliver the funds quickly in early 2026. Additional efforts are reportedly underway in Congress to deliver additional economic aid through the leadership of Senator Boozman and others. More...Reuters | Brownfield Ag News Interview with Bart Fischer
USDA Rolls Out SDRP II: On November 17, USDA announced that it has opened applications for the second round (stage II) of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) for farmers. The SDRP was part of the supplemental aid provided by Congress in December 2026 under the American Relief Act. It aims to provide support for qualifying disaster events in calendar years 2023 and 2024. More...USDA Announcement | SDRP Homepage
Congress Returns to Washington with Full Slate: On Monday, December 1st, members of the U.S. House and Senate returned to Washington with a long list of legislative tasks for the coming weeks. Included in the list of items to address are the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), solutions to expiring health care tax provisions, additional assistance for farmers, and appropriation measures to fund the government beyond January 30th. It's expected to be a very busy December and January as Washington continues to reboot following a 43-day shutdown. More...Punchbowl News | The Hill | Politico I | Politico II
Trump & Xi Reaffirm Commitments and Plan State Visits: Over the Thanksgiving holiday, President Trump and Chinese President Xi held a phone conversation in which they discussed continued efforts to meet the terms of their previous agreement reached in late October. Additionally, the two discussed plans for state visits to each other's countries in 2026. The agreement between the two nations has yet to be officially be signed by the two leaders. More...Trump on X | Reuters | Politico
EPA & Corps Unveil New Proposed WOTUS Rule: The Trump Administration recently announced a proposed rule for Waters of the United States (WOTUS), which would provide a new definition for waterways that should be regulated by the federal government under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The action by the Trump administration was taken in an effort to comply with the Supreme Court's recent ruling in the Sackett v. EPA case. The proposed rule, which was crafted by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is open for public comment until January 5th. More...EPA Announcement | Federal Register | ArkansasOnline
Economy Awaits Tariff Ruling from SCOTUS: Many countries, industries, and businesses are eagerly awaiting a ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States on tariffs implemented by President Donald Trump without the explicit approval of Congress. President Trump has argued that Congress provided broad powers, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). In early November, the court heard oral arguments in a case challenging these tariffs. More...Politico | BusinessInsider
Peace Talks Accelerate Between Russia & Ukraine: Significant progress appears to be underway towards reaching a peace settlement in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine as the United States attempts to broker a peace deal. Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, and the war continues today. The conflict carried with it commodity market impacts in agriculture related to fertilizer and commodities grown in Ukraine. A peace settlement, if reached, is expected to provide stability in these areas. More...WSJ | NBCNews | CNN
Trump Administration Begins Actions on Antitrust Reviews: In November, President Trump announced plans to direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to gear up its antitrust divisions to focus on the agriculture sector where concentration and consolidation of market power is strong. Primary among his initial targets is the animal protein sector, with a particular focus on foreign-owned enterprises. These actions stem from an MOU between USDA and DOJ to conduct effective antitrust enforcement that promotes free market competition, lowering inputs costs and benefiting farmers, ranchers, and consumers. Further examinations are expected relative to key agricultural markets such as feed, fertilizer, fuel, seed, equipment, and other essential goods. More...WhiteHouse | Recent Remarks of Asst. Attorney General Gail Slator | USDA-DOJ MOU
USDA Chief Economist Meyers Announces Plans to Depart for FAPRI: USDA's Chief Economist, Seth Meyer, recently announced that he Is departing the agency to return to Missouri to lead the University of Missouri's Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the beginning of 2026. Meyer, who is responsible to monthly WASDE reports and other important economic data and policy development efforts of the USDA, leaves an agency that continues to face reduced budgets and other administrative challenges. More...DTNPF | FAPRI Announcement
Department of Interior Makes ESA Changes: On November 21, the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) announced plans to restore Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations through four proposed rules to their previous 2019 and 2020 framework. According to DOI, the actions will help advance President Trump’s directives to strengthen American energy independence, improve regulatory predictability and ensure federal actions align with the best reading of the law. More...DOI Announcement
USTR Set to Review USMCA This Week: The United States Trade Representative (USTR) will hold a multi-day hearing to review the status of the United States, Mexico, and Canada (USMCA) free trade agreement. The USMCA was last agreed to in the previous Trump administration, and is up for a scheduled review for renewal consideration. It's not clear what, if any, potential revisions may be proposed as a result of the hearings. More...USTR Information | Hearing Schedule
COP30 Climate Meeting Concludes: Brazil, a place where widespread deforestation and land conversion has led to massive increases in crop production to serve Chinese demand, recently hosted a global summit by the United Nations on climate concerns. The summit began on November 10 and concluded on November 21. Brazil is home to some of the most sensitive and biodiverse environmental areas of the world, and these areas are being depleted at a rapid rate to service the wants and demands of China. More...UNCCC Info | COP30-Brazil Homepage | Draft Text | NYT Tracking | TheFencePost
Other Ag Related News & Info from Washington:
Trump Administration Weighs in With SCOTUS on Glyphosate Review Request
Trump Expected to Pick New Fed Chairman
EU Progresses on Plans to Reduce Tariffs on U.S. Ag Imports
Senate Closer to Confirming Chief Ag Negotiator Callahan for USTR
Chinese Ag Researcher Pleads Guilty and Agrees to Deportation
ARKANSAS AG UPDATE
Governor Declares Income Tax Won't Apply to Recent USDA Relief Payments: Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently announced that legislation approved by the General Assembly would provide important relief for farmers in the Natural State. The legislation, now Act 696, was offered by Senator Blake Johnson and Representative Les Eaves. It allows for certain emergency relief funding provided by Congress under the American Relief Act of 2024 to be excluded from being considered taxable as income. More...Governor Statement | Successful Farming
Ag Council Readies for Annual Meeting: The Ag Council is set to hold its annual board of directors meeting in Little Rock on December 11th and 12th. The meeting will allow for the organization's leaders to update policy and plan for the coming year. Additionally, attendees will hear from a collection of guest speakers who will address important topics facing the crop sector in Arkansas. Sponsorship opportunities remain available. More...Meeting Information
Harvest for Hope Offers Free Concert at Pecan Festival in Keo: On Saturday, December 6th, a free concert event at the Arkansas Pecan Festival in Keo is aimed at raising awareness of the mental health challenges plaguing Arkansas farmers and highlighting the resources that are available to support them. Representative Rick Crawford's band, the Triple Nickel, will take part in the music performance. Other well known Arkansas music artists will also perform. The event is open and free to the public. More...TalkBusiness | Facebook Page | TalkBusiness II
UA Extension Offers Resources for Helping Farmers Facing Financial Stress: Historical economic forces are placing extreme pressure on many crop farmers in Arkansas, which is leading to a concern for mental health risks that often follow such hardship. To assist in the challenge, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service is working with agriculture communities to provide wrap-around support for stress management. More...UADA News | Farm Stress Homepage
Other Arkansas News & Info Links:
Tyson May Sever Contracts with Poultry Growers Due to Lawsuit
UA Economists Report Another Decline in Farm Income
UA Scientists Recognized for Work
UA Rice Researchers Discover Potential Genetic Breakthrough on High Nighttime Temperature
UA Research Highlights Benefits of Rice in Beer Making
Arkansas Waterfowler Hall of Fame Announces New Inductees
Upcoming Meetings and Events:
Harvest for Hope Dec 6 Keo
Arkansas Farm Bureau Annual Convention | Dec 3-5 Hot Springs
Arkansas Legislators to Hold Joint Ag Committee Hearing at Farm Bureau Convention
USA Rice Outlook Conference | Dec 7-9 New Orleans
Cotton Board/Cotton Incorporated Annual Meeting | Dec 9-11 New Orleans
Ag Council of Arkansas Board of Directors Annual Meeting | Dec 11-12 Little Rock
UADA Winter Production Meeting Schedule
Arkansas Soil & Water Conference | Jan 14 Jonesboro
Arkansas Crop Management Conference | Jan. 20-21 Little Rock
National Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference | Feb 20-21 Jonesboro
Cotton Council Annual Meeting | Feb 14-16 San Antonio
Mid-South Farm & Gin Show | Feb 28-March 1 Memphis
Additional Arkansas Ag Resources:
USDA Daily Arkansas Grain Bids
NALC Newsletter "The Feed"
ArkansasInc Newsletter
Arkansas Vegetative Drought Geospatial Maps
DeltaPlastics Push4Pickup 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 (2026) | UADA Crop Profit/Loss Calculator App
UADA Fryar Center Podcast
AcreHedge Crop Budget App
UADA Verification Information
UAEX Research Studies Reports
Arkansas Row Crop Risk Management
Feral Hog Task Force
Digital Edition of Delta Farm Press
H-2A Guidebook by Congressman Crawford
Enrollment Link: U.S. Cotton Trust Protoco
ECONOMIC & INDUSTRY NEWS
Farm Bureau Report Paints Bleak Picture of Farm Economy: On November 24, economists with the American Farm Bureau published a new Market Intel Report highlighting the significant challenges facing the crop sector and the need for immediate economic assistance. The report showed the price-cost squeeze facing crop farmers, with almost every crop showing a negative net income for the 2025 crop year. This marks the third year of deep losses for many farmers across America. More...FB Market Intel Report | RFD-TV
Other Economic & Industry News:
Projected ARC/PLC Payments for 2025 Crop
November 22 ProFarmer Newsletter
December 1 Nutrien Weather Forecast
Economists Project Fewer Corn Acres & More Soybeans in 2026
CNBC Commodity Futures Tracker
USDA Reports:
- Nov WASDE
- Cotton System
- Fats & Oils
- Grain Crushings
- Peanut Prices
- Crop Progress
- Cotton Ginnings
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
USA Rice Daily
RiceStuff Podcast Homepage
Arkansas-Crops Blog
UADA Ag News Blog
USDA County Cash Rent Estimates
Arkansas Economic Profile: 2025 Pocket Facts - News | USDA Arkansas Ag Economic Overview | Arkansas Ag Census Data | Arkansas Historical Data
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