From the latest on the Farm Bill progress in Washington to trade talks with Canada, China and India, here’s a look at the ag news impacting farmers and ranchers this week.

Senate Farm Bill Floor Vote Unlikely Until After the Midterms

While the Senate Agriculture Committee passed its version of the farm bill on Sept. 16, a full Senate vote isn’t expected before the November midterm elections. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) said House and Senate members will meet informally to work through the differences between the two versions, so final action will likely come during the lame-duck session. Some issues were left for the Senate floor, including a proposed amendment tied to California’s Proposition 12.

Read more from Successful Farming.

New Farm Aid Payments Unlikely Before Spring 2027

Republican ag lawmakers want to attach about $11 billion in direct farm aid to an upcoming defense spending package. That package isn’t expected to move until the lame-duck session, so payments likely won’t reach farmers until around spring 2027. Sen. Boozman said farmers “needed it yesterday.” Kevin Studer of the Iowa Corn Growers Association said even delayed aid could make ag lenders more willing to work with producers for another year. Separately, U.S. and Mexican negotiators are working toward an early trade deal, but they still disagree over seasonal fruit and vegetable imports.

See more insights from POLITICO.

Farm Diesel Prices Stay High as Harvest Ramps Up

Crude oil prices have shown signs of easing, but diesel prices haven’t followed suit. Economist Faith Parum pointed to a global shortage of refined fuel. Causes include limited Russian refining capacity, refinery shutdowns in the Middle East tied to the war in Iran, and ongoing disruptions in the Red Sea. With high fuel costs piling on top of fertilizer and other input costs at harvest, farm margins are getting tighter.

Hear more from American Farm Bureau Newsline.

Farm Bureau Renews Call to End Increased Beef Imports

AFBF President Zippy Duvall made a public statement to President Trump to reverse the administration’s plan to import an additional 300,000 metric tons of beef. Since Labor Day, Farm Bureau economists have tracked ground beef prices at 41 grocery store locations. They found prices fell only 16 cents per pound on average, and most stores showed no change at all. Over the same period, cattle prices weakened, and some cattle ranchers are seeing losses of $300 to $400 per head. Producers watching the swings in the cattle market can read ProAg’s overview of Livestock Risk Protection to learn more about managing price risk.

Read the full AFBF news release.

U.S. Trade Talks Update: Canada Standoff, China Farm Deal and India Negotiations

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the administration is “comfortable” with its trade standoff with Canada. New U.S. import bans on Canadian goods, including dairy products, are set to take effect this week, but potash and farm products are still moving across the border. With China, Greer said the two countries have agreed to give certain goods, including U.S. agricultural products, better trade terms that would hold even if new tariffs are added. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said China may also announce commitments to buy more U.S. farm goods. Meanwhile, Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal visits the U.S. Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 to push for an interim trade deal after months of talks without an agreement.

Read more from The Detroit News, Quartz and Reuters.