Will Trump’s farmer bailout be enough to address volatility in 2026?
One-time bridge payments might not be enough for farmers to meaningfully address increasing expenses, low commodity prices, and uncertain market access
Policy & regulation
FCC ban to spark shake-up in US ag spray sector
The Federal Communications Commission has barred new foreign-made drones from operating on US communications infrastructure, citing national security risks – a move set to reshape the agricultural drone landscape
From the Editor's Desk
The new normal of ag volatility: Why 2026 may (or may not) be more of the same
The ag ecosystem was marked by volatility in 2025, amid changing trade relationships, evolving regulations, higher crop input prices, and tense geopolitics
EU pesticide overhaul sparks clash between health advocates and industry
The European Commission’s plan to streamline pesticide approvals promises faster access to innovation – but health groups warn it could weaken safeguards
Agtech promise falls short: UK official report highlights disconnect between innovation and on-farm reality
Influential former NFU president Baroness Batters calls for a “new deal” for British farming, highlighting that despite enthusiasm for technology it too often fails to align to business needs or find practical application on farms
American Autonomy targets US data-security fears as NDAA deadline puts Chinese ag drones on notice
Rebranded from Rantizo, American Autonomy is launching a US-built software platform that promises farmers full control of their drone data – and a practical path off proprietary Chinese ecosystems – just as a new federal audit deadline threatens market...
U.S., Mexico resolve water rights dispute, following Trump’s tariff threat
Trump raised the specter of tariffs on Mexico, if the Latin American country failed to deliver the water guaranteed under a 1944 treaty
MAHA in action: USDA commits $700m to Regenerative Pilot Program
The Trump admin bolsters regenerative agriculture with a pilot programme, as part of the broader Make America Healthy Again initiative
Trump admin bails out farmers to the tune of $12bn, blames Joe Biden for ag volatility
The bailout or bust cycle continues in the U.S., as farmers prepare to receive a one-time bridge payment to manage market volatility, but the Trump administration is not accepting any fault
Spain probes lab link as ASF outbreak rocks Europe’s top pork exporter
Spain controls 26% of EU pork production and supplies roughly 25–30% of China’s pork, reports Kemiex
EU delays deforestation rule, but industry pushes ahead on soy initiatives
AIC sets date for new sustainability scheme, ForFarmers in alliance with Bunge
Rigid loan rules ‘risk killing UK innovation’ warns Wootzano as it fights for survival
Despite growing orders, British agri-robotics firm Wootzano is facing imminent closure after a Scottish court froze its bank accounts following a winding-up petition filed by Innovate UK Loans Limited
Seed secure: China’s home-bred crop varieties reach 95% as livestock seeds exceed 80%
China’s ag ministry touts seed security as home-bred crop varieties reach 95% and domestic livestock and aquaculture brood stock surpass 80%, marking strong gains over its five-year seed revitalisation drive.
US, Mexico open sterile fly facility in Tampico to fight New World Screwworm
The U.S. and Mexico are continuing their fight against the New World Screwworm with sterile fly technology and government collaboration
Breaking the bailout or bust cycle: Why some farmers are cautious about more govt support
Will a bailout for U.S. farmers raise fertiliser prices?
Tesco urges national farm data framework to safeguard UK food security
The UK’s largest supermarket is expanding its environmental baselining programme and calls for consistent standards to help farmers capture soil, water, and nature data at scale – critical for resilience and sustainability
EUDR: Collaboration vital as deadline looms over Indonesia’s smallholders
Indonesia’s palm oil smallholders face mounting pressure to meet the Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) traceability and certification standards, underscoring the need for stronger collaboration across public and private sectors
‘Break the cycle’: Complex political landscape hinders biological adoption in ASEAN
Political influence over fertiliser markets is a major challenge slowing the adoption of biological solutions across the ASEAN region, says experts
McCain’s Farmdex reveals alarming trends among UK farmers
McCain Foods has issued a stark warning to government and industry leaders: farmers must be supported if the agtech sector is to thrive
EPA greenlights Biotalys’ EVOCA – but Europe still lags
As the US moves to approve the world’s first protein-based biofungicide, Biotalys’ flagship product remains in Europe’s regulatory pipeline. Is cautious oversight holding back innovation?
Phil Hogan on agriculture in a Trump-era world: ‘Europe must adapt or lose out’
Only resilience, innovation, and open markets will keep Europe competitive, says the one-time Brussels insider
Unlocking Europe’s livestock potential: Overcoming barriers to innovation
Europe’s livestock sector is ready to transform - but progress is being held back, claim industry players
Changing tides: Japan’s new ag minister hints at rice production review as farmers fear price declines
Japan’s new agriculture minister Norikazu Suzuki has suggested a review of the rice production policy, citing farmers’ worries of rice oversupply next year.
USDA rolls out strategy for ranchers, amid backlash to Trump’s Argentinian beef import plan
Argentina becomes another flashpoint in U.S. trade policy — this time over a plan to import beef
How a soybean farmer bailout could have larger ag, trade implications
The Trump administration’s ongoing trade negotiations with China is hurting U.S. soybean farmers, as tariff-induced trade volatility enters a new normal
Steel tariffs threaten UK and EU farm machinery exports to the US
Farm machinery manufacturers across the UK and Europe are warning of serious disruption to transatlantic trade following the United States’ expansion of tariffs on steel and aluminium components
Unlocking crop protection access could help revive Europe’s farming workforce
ECCA urges EU to remove barriers to post-patent plant protection products PPPs, arguing it will boost farm profitability, sustainability – and attract younger farmers
Kenya’s coffee farmers go digital to meet EU deforestation rules
Dimitra and coffee union NACCU launch tech-driven compliance platform for over a million smallholders
Grapes of wrath: Japan agri minister pushes for Shine Muscat exports amid overseas licensing backlash
Agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi tells Japan’s Shine Muscat grape producers to gear up for export “as soon as possible” after criticism over licensing agreements to produce the prized fruit overseas.
‘Farmers will suffer most’: Vietnam rice sector slump deepens as Philippines import ban may extend to year-end
Vietnam’s rice sector faces mounting pressure as the Philippines import ban could stay in place until year-end, raising concerns over further price falls for the top exporter.
EU biopesticide reform gains momentum as crop protection groups unite to demand fast-track regulation
Industry leaders express cautious optimism as the European Commission signals intent to overhaul crop protection rules, potentially unlocking faster access to biopesticides and post-patent products
Japan aims to slash rice production costs by over 60% with farmland consolidation, agtech
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) five-year plan aims to slash rice production costs by more than 60% through farmland consolidation and agricultural technology.
‘We had no margin for error’... What went wrong at Guardian Agriculture?
The US drone company’s downfall stemmed from a restrictive policy and regulatory environment coupled with not enough money to take risks, says its former VP of business development and regulatory affairs, Matt Beckwith
Embracing the tech wave: Korea quadruples AI funding for maritime and fisheries
South Korea will prioritise its support of artificial intelligence (AI) developments in the maritime and fisheries sector by increasing its 2026 budget over four times to KRW148.7bn (U$106.67m).
EUDR: Brussels seeks one-year delay to deforestation law
EU Commission cites unready IT system as reason for postponement
Impending crisis: Japan’s farmer exodus laid bare in stark new data
Thirty per cent of Japan’s farmland risks being left without farmers within the next decade, with some regions facing abandonment rates as high as 80%.
Is this the UK’s chance to lead on sustainable aviation fuels?
The UK faces a once-in-a-generation opportunity to spearhead sustainable aviation fuels, create future-proof jobs, and secure over £10 billion investment by 2030, claims a new report. But is feedstock availability adequate to propel the market?
Strengthening seeds: China pushes for stronger crop breeding innovation, stricter variety management
China calls for stricter trials, faster innovation, and tougher crackdowns on copycat breeding to reinforce its burgeoning seed industry.
RFK Jr. pulls back on ag chemical ban in MAHA report, focuses on farmers’ role in health policy
Will the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report usher in a new era of sustainable farming and a healthier U.S. populace, or does the lack of specifics leave meaningful change to the wind?
Suspected feed link under investigation in UK cattle botulism outbreaks
Agencies continue their investigations
Fast-track innovation: China sets 2030 target to accelerate agriculture machinery development and adoption
China has launched a plan to accelerate agricultural machinery development, aiming by 2030 to shorten R&D cycles, expand large-scale field trials, and boost farmer adoption.
Politics & pests: Mexico’s ag sector faces a dual crisis
Mexico’s agriculture industry is meeting the moment when it comes to tariff threats and the re-emergence of the New World screwworm (NWS)
Sweden: ‘Unlock phosphorus recycling for feed industry’
Stockholm wants EU to reduce its reliance on Russian imports and reshape the European phosphorus market
‘The teeth of the tariffs’ take a bite out of ag, as fertiliser & machinery prices rise
U.S. trade policies are raising the costs of agricultural machinery and crop inputs, compressing farmers’ operating margins in the process
Futureproof farming? Japan agriculture ministry seeks millions to tackle rice shortages with tech
Japan’s agriculture ministry will be requesting funds to modernise farming with technology as it aims to avert a prolonged rice shortage crisis.
FEDIOL presses EU for urgent clarity on EUDR rollout
Brussels trade group warns lack of guidance risks derailing compliance efforts
Organic sector questions ‘unclear’ GM food rules but ANZ push ahead
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is moving forward with new GM food definitions that some say weaken the distinction between ‘natural’ and modified foods
Brazil suspends Amazon Soy Moratorium ahead of COP30
Growing concern among international buyers and environmental groups over threat to soy agreement
UK’s largest bioethanol plant to close, hitting CO2 and feed supplies
‘Vivergo would continue to be heavily loss-making without corrective government intervention’
Inclusive compliance: How digital tools empower smallholders at risk of being ‘sidelined’ by EUDR
Dimitra and Surveyor Indonesia are deploying AI, blockchain, and satellite-powered platforms to help millions of coffee and cocoa smallholders safeguard access to one valuable export markets as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) tightens.