Experts are viewing the new trade agreement with China as a positive development that helps ease uncertainty but also say it doesn’t solve the deeper issue of high input costs that continue to strain farmers. Noting that the effects of inflation over the past several years are still being felt across the agricultural economy. It’s predicted the Trump administration and Congress will keep addressing economic and trade assistance separately, and that future trade aid will depend largely on how markets respond and if prices improve.
Experts also expressed concern about the ongoing government shutdown, saying it has created challenges for producers who rely on USDA data to make marketing decisions. Without regular updates from key reports, it’s difficult for farmers to gauge price trends and plan accordingly. Despite the farm program improvements outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the farm economy remains one of the toughest in more than four decades, with meaningful relief not expected until fall 2026.
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