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US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The latest news and top stories on US Department of Agriculture. A prominent Washington, D.C.-based governmental body, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is dedicated to developing and executing federal policy on farming, agriculture, and food. Its main areas of focus include supporting agricultural production, ensuring food safety, promoting rural development, managing natural resources, and providing nutrition assistance. The USDA, established in 1862, is recognised for its crucial role in safeguarding the nation’s food supply, fostering rural communities, and addressing hunger both domestically and internationally.The latest news and top stories on US Department of Agriculture.
A farmer harvests soybeans in Faribault, Minnesota, in May 2025. Photo: TNS
US-China relations

China buys at least 10 more cargoes of US soybeans, traders say

These are the latest in a flurry of purchases ahead of President Xi Jinping’s expected US visit in September.

United States

USDA lowers reported beef export sales by 90% amid growing doubts over data

US-China trade war

Is China’s biggest daily US soybean order confirmation of Xi-Trump summit pact?

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The Philippines

‘Purple gold rush’: Philippine ube farming looks to cash in on craze

Philippine ube exports reached over US$3 million in 2025, more than double the US$1.4 million figure recorded in 2024.

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“Ubi kinampay” is especially prized for its distinctive taste and aroma. Photo: Facebook/National Museum of the Philippines Bohol
US, Israel war on Iran

Could Iran replace China as US soybean market? Farmers aren’t buying Trump pitch

American growers sceptical, dismissing claims of a new Iranian market for their exports as unrealistic and misleading.

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US-China relations

Can China-US breadbasket diplomacy sidestep tension over American’s arrest?

Farm-belt officials from both sides meet as US voters consider issues for midterms and Beijing detains US citizen.

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United States

Quarantine in Texas: US races to contain deadly flesh-eating parasite

Screwworm detected on farm decades after livestock threat was first eradicated in the United States.

The larvae of the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite that feeds on live tissue. The pest poses a devastating threat to livestock. Photo: Reuters
US-China trade war

US farm chief says reliance on China threatens American ‘freedom’

Agriculture secretary’s warning comes as tariffs weigh on China trade and Hormuz disruptions drive up fuel and fertiliser costs.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

‘We want teeth in it’: US farmers wary of Xi-Trump pledge without signed deal

American growers welcome China’s renewed buying commitments, but vague terms and tariff concerns cloud optimism.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

China to purchase at least US$17 billion of US agricultural goods, White House says

The agreement was struck at the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to US fact sheet.

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US President Donald Trump listening to a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, last week. Photo: Reuters
2026 Xi-Trump summits

High fertiliser prices mean more soybeans for farmers – and greater reliance on China

Analysts question the cost of China deploying ‘fertiliser diplomacy’ and boosting soybean purchases ahead of the Trump-Xi summit.

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Fertiliser prices have surged amid global supply disruptions and export curbs, squeezing farmers and reshaping crop decisions. Photo: Shutterstock
The Philippines

How soaring fuel prices are pushing Filipino farmers to the brink

Farmer Elmer Ullani spent seven hours transporting his produce to a trading post, but says he has nothing left after paying for fuel.

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US-China trade war

Trump pitches China trade ‘win’ to US farmers ahead of Xi meeting, midterms

Claims come despite farmers remaining unsure if China will meet its 25 million-tonne commitment for 2026, as planting season approaches.

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Science

Could ultra-precise harvest forecasts give China an advantage in Iran war fallout?

Accurate grain output prediction allows China to mitigate food shortages, react to global price rises or plan storage and export measures.

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China’s ability to predict grain output more than six months in advance with striking accuracy could protect the nation from food shortages as conflict in the Middle East causes global upheaval. Photo: Xinhua
United States

US may have averted major shutdown by splitting bill, but partial closure is on

House approval still needed, with a funding lapse expected before lawmakers move to pass the spending package early next week.

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US President Donald Trump signs the funding bill to end the US government shutdown in November. Photo: Reuters
US-China trade war

Trump sells tariffs as farmers’ win in Iowa, but many aren’t buying it

As US president courts rural voters before midterms, growers fear Beijing may retaliate against Trump policies by curbing purchases again.

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United States

Are Trump loyalists struggling in US rural heartland ready to say ‘enough’?

Hammered by crippling costs and precious revenue lost to China, Midwest farmers’ loyalty to the US president will be tested in 2026 midterms.

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US-China trade war

China reportedly sticking to its soybean deal with US, but worries remain

Beijing secures 7 million tonnes of soybeans, passing halfway mark of its US purchase agreement. However, little has been shipped so far.

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China secures 7 million tonnes of soybeans, passing halfway mark of its US purchase agreement. Photo: The Minnesota Star Tribune/TNS
US-China trade war

‘A slap in the face’: some US farmers unhappy with Trump’s US$12 billion bailout

US soybean growers, who were hit hardest by tariff disputes, have voiced frustration that overdue funding falls well short of what they need.

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China-Latin America relations

Trump seizes on China ‘ban’ in Brazil soy trade, but data shows US gains small

China halted imports of soybeans from five Brazil-based exporters after pesticide-treated wheat was found mixed into cargo bound for Beijing.

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China food security

‘Impossible to achieve’: why China can’t grow enough soybeans to feed itself

The shift from soybean exporter to world’s top buyer has reshaped global markets and forced Beijing to confront new security risks.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
US-China relations

US soybean futures rebound on signs China is ramping up purchases

Prices in Chicago rose as much as 3.2 per cent on Monday, a 17-month high, after Trump said China is in the process of buying soybeans.

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A combine harvests soybeans in Marion, Kentucky Photo: Getty Images / AFP
United States

Trump signs funding bill to end longest US government shutdown

The signing came just hours after the Republican-controlled US House passed a measure to end the record 43-day shutdown.

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United States

US Supreme Court lets Trump continue food aid cuts, even as shutdown nears end

Reopening the government would restart the programme that helps 42 million Americans, but it’s not clear how soon full payments can resume.

Mainland China

China’s importers sign record US$83.5 billion in deals at trade expo

Deal value at the just-ended import fair rises 4.4 per cent from a year earlier, reflecting confidence in Chinese consumer spending.

Visitors attend the 8th China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Friday. Photo: AFP
United States

US court orders Trump to fund food aid amid shutdown chaos

On Saturday, the US Department of Agriculture directed states to ‘undo’ any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits during the shutdown.

People carry bags of groceries during a free food distribution in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Sunday. Photo: AFP
US-China trade war

US government shutdown muddies China trade as agricultural officials miss expo

Federal shutdown prevents officials from opening agriculture pavilion, complicating positive trade momentum after US-China leaders’ summit.

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United States

Trump blames ‘kamikaze’ Democrats for longest ever government shutdown

The Republican president told a breakfast meeting at the White House that the Democrats would ‘take down the country if they have to’.

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