EVENTS
- National Soybean Month
- Earth Month
- National Poetry Month
- National Financial Literacy Month
- National Autism Acceptance Month
TODAY’S RURAL RUNDOWN FROM RFD-TV NEWS:
MIXED RESPONSES TO TRUMP’S TARIFF ROLLOUT
President Donald Trump remains confident that his aggressive trade strategy and tariff plan will help America prosper despite concerns from farming groups. The American Farm Bureau, the nation’s largest farm organization, warned that President Trump’s new tariff strategy will hurt American farmers. The president’s 10% baseline tariff on all imports and additional tariffs on the U.S.'s Asian and European trade partners are expected to create seismic market instability.
Republicans, including key figures on the agriculture committees, are backing President Trump’s tariffs. Senator Chuck Grassley emphasizes that Congress should be more decisive in trade matters. Senator Roger Marshall acknowledges the short-term pain farmers might face but believes the president’s plan will ultimately help. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins also highlighted the plan’s potential to level the playing field for American farmers, particularly when competing globally.
However, it was hard not to notice that some of America’s key international trade partners, Mexico and Canada, were notably left off the President’s list of retaliatory tariffs presented in the Rose Garden on Wednesday afternoon. This exclusion only prompted more questions over the plan’s specifics by American businesses in every sector.
HISTORIC FLOOD CONCERNS GROW AS DANGEROUS STORMS TEAR ACROSS MIDDLE AMERICA
Lingering drought may ease in some parts of the country, where heavy rain this week is prompting historic flooding concerns. Two systems looming over the Central U.S. are expected to produce 4 to 10 inches of rain over the next few days in areas from Arkansas to Ohio. The two systems are also expected to bring snow across the north, winds of the Plains, and severe weather in the Rockies.
On Wednesday night and into the early hours of Thursday morning, the first of those two storm systems spawned tornadoes that spanned several states, prompting nearly 300 tornado warnings to be issued in the last 24 hours. Devastating damage has been reported in states like Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Indiana. Additional rounds of severe weather are still expected for these areas through Friday.
HOW TRADE FEES ON CHINESE-BUILT SHIPS COULD IMPACT AG
The U.S. Trade Representative is considering additional fees on Chinese-built ships, which has raised concerns from the soybean industry. The goal is to incentivize domestic shipbuilding, but the meat and soybean industries tell the U.S. Trade Representative it’s not feasible and will hurt farmers.
Ag groups have also weighed in on President Trump’s plan to impose port call fees on Chinese-built ships. Mike Steenhoek from the Soy Transportation Coalition warns that such payments could increase shipping costs for U.S. farmers by $12 to $30 per bushel, leading to higher prices for consumers and encouraging buyers to seek alternative sources, such as Brazil or Argentina.
OIL + BIOFUEL GROUPS PUSH FOR HIGHER VOLUMES
An unexpected alliance between oil, biofuel, and farm groups has formed as they ask the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase advanced biofuel volumes for 2026. A panel has recommended 5.25 billion gallons for biodiesel and 15 billion gallons for ethanol. While the EPA has not yet confirmed when the renewable volume obligations will be finalized, stakeholders are hopeful that their requests will be heard, especially with the growing importance of biofuels in the U.S. energy mix.
#PLANT25 UPDATE: HOW AI COULD HELP THE LABOR SHORTAGE IN AG
Planting season has arrived. Each day in April, we will spotlight the most crucial information for farmers and ranchers as they plant crops to feed the world.
Finding affordable and reliable labor for agriculture continues to be a significant challenge. The Idaho Farm Bureau president highlighted the ongoing failures in Washington that leave farmers and ranchers struggling to fill positions. Labor reform discussions have intensified, with Washington Congressman Dan Newhouse noting that policies from the current administration are helping reduce illegal encounters at the southern border, offering hope for a resolution.
Technology and artificial intelligence have been like a helping hand for farmers looking to fill gaps of labor loss. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists tout allowing farmers and ranchers to be in multiple places simultaneously.
