AGP Executive Report

USMCA Uncertainty: Trump says the USMCA with Canada and Mexico could expire in 2036 unless renewed, injecting fresh risk into North American trade that matters for farm inputs and exports. Cattle Biosecurity: Texas rolled out free New World screwworm training and certification, but the US’s main sterile-fly facility won’t be fully operational until Nov 2027—raising stakes for producers as cases spread. Energy & Fertilizer Costs: Oil prices slid after a US-Iran peace deal, easing some pressure on energy and fertilizer costs, though markets may stay volatile. Farm Income Mix (UK): UK farm finances were mixed in 2025: livestock income rose while crop revenues fell, with barley and sugar beet hit by lower prices and weaker conditions. Food Supply Strategy (Canada): Prime Minister Carney unveiled a national food strategy with $3B over 10 years aimed at more competition, more local processing, and lower fresh-food prices. Cocoa Cooperation (West Africa): Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana cocoa leaders met in Abidjan to boost collaboration and protect farmer incomes. Aquaculture & Processing Support (Wisconsin/Scotland): Wisconsin announced 2026 grants for meat processors to modernize capacity, while Scotland’s Aquaculture UK opens with a focus on innovation and sea-lice regulation. Market Signals: Rabobank says global dairy supply is moving back toward balance as milk production growth slows.

US Trade Shock for Farms: Trump says USMCA with Mexico and Canada could expire, threatening export demand that Iowa farmers rely on. USDA Support for Specialty Crops: USDA set enrollment and payment rates for the $1.625B Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program, with tiered per-acre payments and an Aug. 7 deadline. Biosecurity Threat to Cattle: A screwworm outbreak is spreading in the US, with USDA gearing up for a major sterile-fly campaign that could hit beef supply and prices. Food Safety Alert: Avian flu (H5N1) was confirmed at a Providence live bird market; ~445 birds were euthanized and the business faces a short closure. Farm Policy Pressure: Pakistan farmers say the FY27 budget largely ignored agriculture, while critics warn weak crop growth could worsen food inflation. Water Efficiency Push: Kazakhstan is seeking US Bureau of Reclamation help to cut irrigation water losses using digital metering and telemetry. Market Access via GI: Assam flagged off GI-tagged litchis to Singapore, building on recent exports to Dubai. Small Processors Funding: USDA launched a Small Processors Action Plan and opened another round of meat processing expansion funding. Conservation & Public Lands: US lawmakers introduced a bill to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund, supporting deferred maintenance on federal lands. Agribusiness Grants: South Carolina’s ACRE awarded $215,000 to 12 agribusinesses through an entrepreneurship program. Cross-border Ag Cooperation: EU support for Armenia includes €50M+ aid and easier trade procedures for agri-food after Russia tightened export restrictions.

USMCA Uncertainty: Trump says the USMCA with Mexico and Canada could expire in 2036 unless renewed, throwing a fresh wrench into North American farm and food trade planning. Input & Farm Labor Pressure: Albania’s agriculture jobs keep shrinking as services pull workers, a trend likely to hit rural communities hardest. Food Prices & Consumer Shifts: USDA data shows US food prices up 3.2% year-on-year, with shoppers cutting back on pricier staples like beef. Cattle Biosecurity Alert: New World screwworm cases spread beyond Texas, prompting tighter livestock protocols and market jitters even as cattle prices rebound. Farmer Support in India: Assam pushes a drive to register millions more farmers for schemes like PM-KISAN and speed up IDs and input delivery. Regional Agri-Trade Moves: Malaysia and Uzbekistan agree to deepen agri-food cooperation, including aquaculture, irrigation tech, and R&D. Weather Risk & Resilience: North Al Batinah reports success growing fruit trees on 175 acres, while Nepal’s monsoon threatens infrastructure disconnections that can disrupt farming and irrigation. Dairy Finance Gap: Kenya’s women in dairy face major credit barriers due to lack of collateral, despite their role in milk production. Energy-Ag Link: India clears the E100 ethanol vehicle framework, signaling a new demand channel for ethanol and farm-linked feedstocks.

Avian Health Alert: Rhode Island’s Providence market shut down after H5N1 avian flu was found in 445 asymptomatic birds, with staff monitored and the site closed for cleaning and disposal. Livestock & Disease Control: Texas launched a free online course to train New World screwworm inspectors, aiming to keep cattle movement and commerce running safely. Trade Policy Shock: Trump signaled USMCA with Mexico and Canada could expire in 2036 unless renewed, raising uncertainty for North American farm supply chains. BRICS Food Security Push: BRICS agriculture ministers adopted the Indore Declaration, backing farmer-centric initiatives like seed-rights forums, digital agriculture, and agroecology/regenerative farming networks. Regional Ag Finance: Africa’s $100B+ agriculture funding gap is set for spotlight at the FINAS 2026 summit in Nairobi, targeting new capital for food systems. Input & Budget Tensions (Pakistan): Pakistan’s farming groups and business forums criticized the 2026-27 budget for sidelining agriculture, with complaints about rising costs and weak export/energy relief. Biofuels & Energy-Agriculture Link: Zimbabwe’s ethanol push is expanding year-round cane-to-ethanol supply, reshaping rural incomes and land-use decisions. Water for Farms (US): Imperial Irrigation District opened a $7.5M matching grant program to fund local water and agriculture-related projects.

Trade & Markets: Trump says the USMCA with Mexico and Canada could expire in 2036, throwing uncertainty into North American ag supply chains and cross-border food trade. Cross-Strait Ag Exports: Mainland China and Taiwan firms signed deals in Xiamen to expand purchases of Taiwan specialty farm and fishery products, including atemoya, pomelos and tea. Water Risk: A central Ohio study warns drought-prone conditions plus rising industrial and agricultural demand could tighten water availability, pushing farmers toward storage and conservation. Farm Inputs & Soil: Irish advisers urge farmers to keep up lime applications despite summer distractions, citing recent wet weather delays and falling lime volumes. EU/Global Policy: Sri Lanka’s PM backs using locally produced organic ingredients in bakery goods to support farmers and tourism. Value Addition & Jobs: Ghana’s cashew processors group calls for stronger support for local processing to capture more value and create jobs. Livestock Breeding: Kyrgyzstan begins delivering first pedigree calves under a state artificial insemination program, using semen sourced from Switzerland and Russia. Food Safety: China rejects Indian dried red chillies over methamidophos pesticide residues, raising export inspection concerns. Agri-Tech & Finance: India launches an AI-enabled regenerative agriculture pilot with partners including Carnot Technologies and RBL Bank. Local Support Programs: Hawai‘i County opens applications for a $450,000 Impact Grant Program spanning agriculture, food security and regenerative tourism.

Trade Policy Shock: Trump says the USMCA with Canada and Mexico could expire, throwing uncertainty into North American ag supply chains and fresh-produce trade just as talks ramp up. Biosecurity Threat: New World screwworm has moved from a Texas detection into a wider containment fight, with senators urging USDA to expand countermeasures as cattle and rural economies brace for higher costs and movement restrictions. Dairy Support & Industry Momentum: Iowa distributed $614,000 via Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation grants to 11 farms and businesses, while Northwest Iowa producers used June Dairy Month to spotlight modern tech and animal care. Farm Resilience Funding: Guam released an initial $239K for Super Typhoon Sinlaku crop losses, and Vermont unlocked $31.7M in USDA disaster assistance for agriculture and timber. Local Market & Community Ag: Bread Riot’s Next Step grants backed new orchards and chicken production plans, and upstate SNAP shoppers can use benefits at farmers markets with Double Up Food Bucks discounts. Regenerative Ag Guidance: A new roadmap targets trusted farmer advisors to help scale regenerative practices. Weather & Inputs: Minnesota expanded its Ag Weather Network with new stations to improve on-farm decisions as producers face variable conditions.

Trade Policy Shock: Trump says the USMCA with Canada and Mexico could expire in 2036 unless renewed, throwing fresh uncertainty into talks ahead of June 16–17. Fertiliser Support: Nigeria’s federal government begins free fertiliser distribution—80,640 bags to 20,160 smallholders in the South-West under the Renewed Hope FISP, with bags marked “Not For Sale” and linked to verified farmers. Dairy Investment: Iowa’s Agriculture Secretary announces 11 Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grants, funding on-farm processing and labor-saving tech with matching grants up to $100,000 each. Agri-Tech Growth: New market reports point to rapid expansion in precision irrigation, satellite data for farming, livestock monitoring, farm management software, and agricultural robotics through 2030. Seed Fraud Crackdown: Police in Hyderabad arrest three people for manufacturing and selling spurious cotton seeds using duplicate packaging. Food Security Diplomacy: BRICS agriculture ministers meet in Indore, with India pushing stronger global cooperation for small farmers and climate-resilient farming. Weed Pressure: Northern Ireland grassland contractors warn broadleaf weeds like docks, ragwort and thistles are worsening in 2026. Cotton Outlook: USDA’s WASDE flags a tighter global cotton balance in 2026–27 as stocks fall and demand rises.

Biosecurity & Livestock: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visited Texas after New World screwworm was detected and said USDA is preparing a major response, warning the pest could devastate cattle unless ranchers spot and treat infestations fast. Trade Policy: Trump again raised uncertainty over USMCA renewal with Mexico and Canada, saying the pact could expire rather than be renewed—an issue that has ag groups watching closely. Land & Farming Continuity: Guam’s agriculture department is returning 43 expired agricultural lease lots to the Chamoru Land Trust, including some still occupied, with officials pushing for a clean transfer process so active farmers can keep producing. Poultry Support: Ghana distributed 1.7 million poultry birds under “Nkoko Nkitsinkitsi,” alongside grain-buying plans meant to stabilize farmer incomes amid surpluses. Market Access & Inputs: UN warns a blocked Strait of Hormuz is becoming a food security risk by disrupting fertilizer shipments, with fertilizer prices expected to jump. Automation for Dairy: University of Maine Extension will host free workshops on innovative dairy technologies, including manure and milking robots and wearable monitoring tools. Pest Watch: Georgia urged residents to report early yellow-legged hornet nests to prevent larger infestations that could harm pollinators.

Fertiliser Supply Watch: Malaysia’s NAFAS says fertiliser stock and finished-product availability are sufficient to cover national needs through August 2026, despite volatility in raw material prices, logistics costs and geopolitics. Trade & Investment: Qatar and Ghana are pushing deeper private-sector cooperation, with agriculture and food security flagged as key partnership areas. Bilateral Ag Projects: Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan are exploring new joint ventures in trade, investment and agriculture after reviewing progress on earlier agreements. Agri-Industry Finance: Armenia’s Ardshinbank is again a flagship sponsor of the EBRD annual meeting, spotlighting resilience, digital transformation and private-sector competitiveness. Food Security & Community: Johannesburg’s Carlswald residents got a food-security push via urban agriculture and agro-processing demos, with local agri-business stalls. Livestock & Exports: U.S. pork exports face disruption after PRV detection in the U.S., with Mexico pausing offal and variety meat shipments worth $6M–$7M weekly. Policy & Climate: Wisconsin agriculture is urged to overhaul practices to reach net-zero by 2050, but the report says current constraints make full targets unlikely. EU Carbon Costs: EU lawmakers agreed to strengthen a market stability reserve to cushion households from higher ETS2-related heating and fuel costs starting in 2028. Ag Tech Market Signals: Reports point to rapid growth in LEO satellites and drone inspection/monitoring—both increasingly relevant for farm monitoring and logistics planning. Armenian Export Support: Armenia is drafting compensation rates for exporters of fruit, wine, brandy and mineral water to help diversify supply chains amid import restrictions.

USDA Seafood Office: USDA announced a new Office of Seafood to boost support for U.S. fisheries, aiming to cut barriers and help Oregon’s coastal fleets stay competitive against imports. Workforce Pipeline: Australia’s skills push highlights growing demand for health and construction workers, alongside new agriculture training roles where industry experts can teach while earning credentials. Trade Pressure on Farms: EU-US trade volume fell in Q1 amid uncertainty and tariff effects, while other deals (like EU-Indonesia and EU-India growth) offered partial offsets. Screwworm Alarm: Iowa Sen. Grassley warned New World screwworm could disrupt cattle trade; Georgia also tightened animal entry rules after Texas and New Mexico detections. Animal Health Meets Policy: Georgia urged residents to report yellow-legged hornet embryo and nests to protect pollinators tied to agriculture. Retail Food Access: USDA is tightening SNAP retailer requirements, pushing stores to stock more perishable items—raising concerns for rural access. North America Trade Deal Uncertainty: Trump said the U.S. might not renew the Canada-Mexico pact, with agriculture flagged in upcoming talks. Ag Tech on the Ground: A field day in Kansas will focus on weed resistance and practical tools like drones, AI weed recognition, and “see & spray.” Farm Inputs & Markets: North Korean rice and corn prices jumped sharply, signaling worsening food affordability amid supply gaps. Equipment Demand Signals: Ireland tractor registrations fell in May, even as year-to-date totals remain up.

Visa & Labor Policy: Virgin Islands Premier Natalio Wheatley says the territory will remove visa requirements for work permit holders to speed hiring and improve the investment climate, alongside a proposed Investment Act and a one-stop trade and investment agency. Farm Labor Crunch: Berry growers and farmers report worsening labor shortages, with fewer third-country workers arriving than usual and uncertainty around safety and conditions. Grain & Feed Funding: The U.S. House passed the FY2027 agriculture appropriations bill; the National Grain and Feed Association highlights support for grain inspection and weighing continuity plans and faster coordination for export reconditioning approvals. Plant Protection IP: T3Bioscience expands its antimicrobial patent portfolio after Taiwan approval for RejuAgro, aiming to help farmers manage crop pathogens amid rising antimicrobial resistance pressure. AI for Ag Operations: SWARM Engineering raises $10M to scale an AI decision-intelligence platform for agri-food operations, targeting faster, smarter operational choices. New World Screwworm Watch: Texas and New Mexico developments keep cattle producers on alert as officials argue over the outbreak’s source and response. Trade & Markets: NGFA and other industry voices point to shifting trade and market conditions, while Nepal’s mango import ban (over pesticide residues) threatens short-term supply for traders.

Fertilizer Pressure Meets Antitrust: The U.S. FTC has opened a major investigation into fertilizer pricing and market concentration after farmers say input costs have spiked since 2020, raising fears of manipulation and squeezing margins. Biosecurity on Farms: Texas A&M research highlights that how producers schedule cleaning and disinfecting can materially improve poultry biosecurity and cut outbreak risk. New World Screwworm Spreads: New Mexico confirmed its first case, setting up infested and surveillance zones and tightening animal movement rules; livestock groups are watching closely as the pest expands. Land Use Flexibility Push (NZ): New Zealand’s government is funding commercial projects across dairy, sheep and beef, horticulture, forestry, whenua Māori and aquaculture to boost productivity while reducing environmental impact. Methane Tech Funding (NZ): New Zealand earmarked up to $51m to accelerate adoption of methane-busting farming technology via a dollar-matching program. Trade & Inputs: Pakistan’s Kissan Board is calling for earlier crop-price announcements and a clearer policy framework, while Punjab approved wheat purchases from PASSCO to stabilize flour and bread prices. Drones at Fieldays: New Zealand’s Fieldays Drone Zone showcased rapid growth in agricultural drone use for spraying and targeted fertilizing. Global Weather Risk: The UN weather agency warns a moderate-to-strong El Niño could raise heat and extreme weather risks, with knock-on effects for farming regions.

Rabbit biotech push: Zimbabwe sent a high-level team to Rwanda for specialised training in rabbit artificial insemination, aiming to speed genetic improvement and lift productivity as the commercial rabbit sector grows. Dairy market support: Nepal’s Cabinet backed a nationwide promotion push for products from the state-owned Dairy Development Corporation to expand demand, stabilize milk procurement, and strengthen farmers’ incomes. BRICS food-security talks: A five-day BRICS agriculture conference in Indore is focusing on food security, climate-resilient farming, agricultural trade, farmer welfare, and innovation. Livestock biosecurity alarm: The U.S. USDA confirmed additional New World screwworm cases in Texas and New Mexico, underscoring the challenge of stopping a resurgent threat to cattle and livestock supply chains. Crop risk financing: A new report forecasts the global crop insurance market could jump from $55.93B (2025) to $155.18B by 2035, driven by digital underwriting and weather-linked tools. Trade & agriculture: Saudi Arabia and Russia signed 13 agreements worth about $1.28B to expand food security cooperation, including veterinary vaccine manufacturing, broiler breeding, and livestock feed supply chains. Horticulture export win: Assam’s GI-tagged Tezpur litchi shipped its first export consignment to Dubai, opening new market routes for growers. Policy & land-use pressure: Environmentalists warned California’s roadless rule rollback could harm forests, recreation, and habitat across federal lands.

Invasive Pest Watch: USDA confirmed three more New World screwworm cases, bringing detections to five, including a calf and goat in Texas plus a dog in New Mexico—prompting tighter quarantines and livestock import restrictions. Farm Labor & Training: A Canadian non-profit is matching workers with farms to ease labour gaps, using inbound and outbound placements to support seeding through harvest. Agri-Finance for Farmers: Bank of Ireland and Certified Irish Angus launched sustainability-linked loans for beef producers, offering reduced rates tied to on-farm improvements. Local Food Markets: Minnesota awarded $1.3M to schools and early care providers to buy more Minnesota-grown foods, expanding farm-to-school purchasing. Trade & Market Access: Ghana unveiled its $3.5B AgriConnect Compact aimed at rice investment and 2.6M jobs, while Uzbekistan shipped raisins to Senegal for the first time. Agribusiness Deals: Cibus named Craig Wichner CEO as it pushes commercialization of plant-trait tech.

Biosecurity & Trade Controls: USDA confirmed two more New World screwworm cases in Texas (a calf and a dog in La Salle and Andrews counties), keeping pressure on cattle biosecurity and rapid eradication efforts. Market Access for Fresh Produce: China approved fresh Belgian apples for import after phytosanitary requirements were met, following years of protocol talks—good news for EU growers. Fertilizer & Input Demand Outlook: New forecasts peg the potassium sulphate market at $9.56B by 2030 and humic biostimulants at $1.63B by 2030, reflecting continued push for yield and soil-health solutions. Dairy Processing Investment: Vermont’s Dairy Processor Modernization Grant opens pre-applications June 25, offering $15k–$250k with a 25% match to upgrade equipment and packaging. Agri-Enterprise Growth: Vietnam targets 5,000 new agricultural enterprises by 2031, leaning on cooperatives, processing linkages, markets, and digital agriculture. Global Food Security & Livestock Trends: FAO data shows terrestrial animal-source food production has surged since 1961, but access and consumption still vary widely by region. Regional Agri-Trade Moves: Philippines eyes expanded trade with Egypt (including cotton and possible production ties), while Malaysia awaits Thailand’s shrimp-import questionnaire response before judging biosecurity compliance.

Policy Shock in Nigeria’s Food Sector: The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) is urging Nigeria’s House of Representatives to reject the Senate-passed Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax Bill, warning it could become a tax on production, investment and jobs by raising costs for non-alcoholic beverage manufacturers. Trade & Investment Push: Ahead of the 10th Nigeria–EU Business Forum in Lagos (June 25), EU and Nigerian officials framed the partnership as shifting from development support to deeper investment and competitiveness. Market Balancing in Yemen: Yemen’s agriculture marketing authorities have started exporting surplus local potatoes after seed self-sufficiency boosted output, aiming to stabilize prices and support farmers’ returns. Innovation for Agribusiness in Samoa: EU-funded FAO STODAS-backed Samoa Agri-Innovate Competition crowned new agrifood entrepreneurs, spotlighting MSME innovation and incubation. Food Safety in Ghana: Accra’s World Food Safety Day push highlighted rising global estimates of unsafe food impacts and called for stronger action by vendors and regulators. Farmers’ Bottom Line: Indiana’s Purdue safety and farm-management coverage flags cash-flow stress and the need for contingency planning as input costs and market volatility squeeze margins. Labor Protections in Spain: A Moroccan union is calling for safer conditions for seasonal female farmworkers in Spain’s strawberry fields after a reported heatstroke death. UK Countryside Tourism: Jeremy Clarkson launched “Only Farmers,” a farm-experience booking platform aimed at adding income streams for rural businesses.