The T-word has almost become a swear word recently. That’s right: tariffs.
Tariff tsunami: On day one of re-entering the Oval Office, President-elect Donald Trump says he plans to sign an executive order to impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from Canada and Mexico, plus an additional 10% levy on Chinese imports. Trump says he would keep the tariffs in place to pressure the two neighboring countries to curb the flow of fentanyl and migrants into the U.S.
Now, many are wondering what this means—just take a look at the spike in Google searches the past month.
What are the impacts? Mexico and Canada are the U.S.’s top trading partners. The two countries export significant amounts of agricultural goods to the U.S., including fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy. And don’t forget the avocados, where nearly 90% are sourced from Mexico.
If these tariffs are enacted, consumers would likely feel the effect at the grocery store through higher prices and possible shortages.
Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum suggested her country should introduce its own levies if Trump follows through with tariffs. It wouldn’t be the first time: Canada and Mexico imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products in 2018.
Soundbite: "To one tariff will follow another in response and so on, until we put our common businesses at risk." — Sheinbaum
Mexico is currently the top importer of U.S. corn and pork, which could also be impacted if Mexico retaliates.
Just blowing smoke? Trump plans to use tariffs as a bargaining chip, and many hope that won’t come at the expense of Americans. As Trump’s inauguration approaches, it may become more apparent if countries believe the president means what he says—or calls his bluff.
🚨BREAKING NEWS 🚨: Plants and fungi are LOWKEY chatting, and scientists are like, “Wait, WHAT?!” 🧑🔬🍄
Turns out plants aren’t just standing there like “I’m thirsty” — they’re sending secret messages to fungi using a plant hormone called strigolactone. 💌 This little messenger gets fungi all riled up, activating genes and proteins that help plants gobble up phosphate, which is basically the plant version of "fuel" 💥🌱 (hello, fertilizer!). 🌿
Get this: 80% of plants are basically in a lifelong BFF relationship with fungi. 🤝 They’re basically swapping notes on how to grow better and how to avoid fertilizer overdose. But wait — it’s not all sunshine and rainbows 🌈: sometimes the fungi start doing the most and infect plants, causing crops to literally ghost their harvest. 😱🍂
But don’t freak out — scientists are ON IT, learning how to block the bad fungi from sliding into the DMs with their nasty chemicals. 🍄🛑
Oh, and guess what? They found that even yeast (yes, that stuff you put in bread) can understand this plant/fungi convo. 🙌 They’re literally “listening” to the strigolactone signal and adjusting how they take up phosphate like little bio-geniuses.
So, yeah. This plant/fungi drama? It's BIG. If we can crack the code, we might get healthier crops with less fertilizer (AKA saving the planet 🌍). 🔑💪 As Shelley Lumba from the University of Toronto says: "Healthy soil = healthy planet." 🌱🌍👩🔬
#PlantScience #FungiFam #BioVibes #SoilGoals #Sustainability #UnhingedScience
🚨 Litigation Layer Cake Alert 🚨
More groups are piling on lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Labor’s new & improved (read: controversial) H-2A program rule. 🍰
ICYMI: The final rule says, “Hey, workers, you can totally stand up for yourselves and your coworkers now.” It’s all about self-advocacy, clarity in termination for "cause," wage transparency, and ensuring employers can’t squash those brave voices. Sounds fair, right? 🤔
Hold up—not so fast. A judge in Georgia hit the brakes in 17 states, saying the DOL went too far. BUT... instead of backing off, the DOL basically said, “We hear you, but we’re doing it anyway” and rolled out a new application process without proper notice or feedback.
Cue the lawsuit parade 🎉: The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) is leading the charge, filing another lawsuit, this time in Kentucky. They’re hoping the court will swat down the rule for good. 🧑⚖️
Soundbite of the century: “The DOL decided to add even MORE layers to this mess—because, why not?—without following the rules. We’re not having it." — NCAE’s Michael Marsh
Will the rule survive, or will the courts say, “Nice try, but no?” Stay tuned for the next episode of "As the H-2A Program Turns." 👀
Today's Quick Hits are ready for you! Sign up for #Magnetic today for more!
➡️ #Pigging out. Yet another price-fixing case has been settled, with Seaboard Foods agreeing to pay $15M in settlement money for two lawsuits related to pork price-fixing.
➡️ No kidding. In #Greece, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR—aka "goat plague") has been detected for the first time; the disease can kill 70% of #goats infected.
➡️ The #pests come marching in. The #EPA granted an exemption to use a certain insecticide in #Arkansas, as #farmers there try to fight back against an invasion of armyworms.
➡️ Down in the deficit. According to new cost estimates, the House farm #bill would increase the federal budget deficit by $33B over the next decade.
➡️ #Burgers on the #grill. During lean economic times, more #consumers choose ground #beef at the grocery store; the cattle industry is now watching to see how an ongoing economic slowdown impacts beef demand.
➡️ 1M strong. For the first time in organization history, the National #FFA has surpassed 1M members across 9,235 chapters.
🚀 Stay up on all the important things to know in #ag with Today’s Quick Hits!
➡️ Risk ready? Agricultural banks are potentially less able to withstand losses than other commercial banks, according to #economists.
➡️ Squealing over Trichinella? New #research suggests that U.S. biosecurity measures for pork are working, as there were zero positives for Trichinella out of 3.2M samples taken.
➡️ Show some receipts. The Federal Trade Commission is launching an investigation into #grocery prices, which have stayed high despite slower inflation.
➡️ Death, taxes, and … congressional hold-ups? Farmers’ ability to write off certain amounts of #equipment on their taxes could be up in the air, after Senate Republicans blocked a new tax bill that the House already passed.
➡️ Carbon cash. After a Series A round of #fundraising, startup Applied #Carbon brought in $21.5M to scale its carbon sequestration efforts, which use machines to convert ag waste into biochar.
➡️ In the red. If current forecasts hold true, 2023 and 2024 will be the years of the two biggest decreases in net farm #income in history.
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Don’t miss Today’s Quick Hit from Magnetic Ag!
➡️ Power to the (rural) people. The USDA is giving $163M in #grants, loans, and technical assistance to spur 338 energy-related projects in rural areas.
➡️ ‘Til the #cows come home. In Texas, a man has been arrested after Special Rangers uncovered a widespread #livestock theft scheme that led to $375K worth of cows being stolen.
➡️ Dicamba denial? It seems unlikely that over-the-top #dicamba will be available for the 2025 season, experts say, with a long EPA re-registration process on the horizon.
➡️ One man’s trash waste is another’s fertilizer. Research out of Illinois is looking at how organic waste can be transformed into #fertilizer using a process called hydrothermal liquefaction.
➡️ Fire season heating up. In California, a massive #wildfire has burned more than 360K acres and is putting many farms and ranches at risk.
➡️ Good insurance news. More #crops will be eligible for enhanced crop insurance, and more subsidies for crop insurance premiums will be available, thanks to boosts from the USDA.
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We've been quiet for too long ... but not for much longer 👀 BIG NEWS is coming August 2. Be there or be 🟩
