Agriculture Today: April 10, 2026

·25 min·2 clips

Minnesota's Ag Commissioner says some farmers are parking equipment and sitting out the 2026 crop year due to negative margins.

The episode opens with Brent Barnett reporting that Minnesota's Ag Commissioner, Tom Peterson, says some farmers are sitting out the 2026 crop year due to negative margins, with one farmer parking equipment. Megan Grebner then reports on USDA officials assessing when to resume live cattle imports from Mexico, as Undersecretary Dudley Hoskins cites ongoing New World Screwworm risks and no specific trigger for reopening ports. Erin Anderson interviews ag economist Carl Zulauf from Ohio State University, who explains President Trump's 2027 budget proposal would cut USDA discretionary funding by $4.9 billion, focusing cuts on public goods programs like small conservation and food nutrition, while sparing private market-oriented services. Zulauf details that discretionary programs make up only 13-15% of USDA's budget, with mandatory programs like crop insurance unaffected. He notes significant proposed cuts to agricultural research grants for land grant universities, contrasting with preserved USDA internal research, and emphasizes research impacts have long lag times of 5 to 50 years. Zulauf outlines the budget process, noting Congress will likely modify the proposal, and highlights Farm Bill reauthorization issues. John Perkins provides a market recap, with soybeans and cattle higher, corn and hogs lower, and specific price movements for May and July contracts. Megan Grebner follows with cash livestock market details, reporting light direct cattle business at prices below asks and mixed hog markets. Brent Barnett returns with news on fertilizer, where Josh Linville of Stone X Group says the U.S.-Iran ceasefire won't quickly normalize trade through the Strait of Hormuz due to slow supply chain restarts. Other segments include U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer discussing stable trade with China, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson supporting Luke Lindbergh's nomination to lead the UN World Food Program, and Dirac Tidwell of University of Nebraska-Lincoln advising flexible grazing plans after wildfires. Senator Chuck Grassley proposes revoking tariffs on Moroccan phosphate fertilizer to address input prices, and Travis Mateer of University of Illinois Extension warns about grass tetany risks in early season pastures. The episode concludes with promotional content for Brownfield Ag News and its NextGen Podcast.

As heard by us

A grounded look at farm margins, cattle imports, program funding, and the markets moving around them.

Profit pressure drives this episode, led by Minnesota Ag Commissioner Tom Peterson on growers weighing whether renting out land may beat taking projected losses, alongside a farm advocate who says equipment is being parked.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You can hear Minnesota's ag commissioner explain why some grain farmers may park equipment for 2026 instead of penciling in a loss.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Brownfield Ag News