Congress, the USDA, and farm organizations kicked off August with several developments that could influence farm policy, livestock health, market outlooks, and producer support programs. From renewed momentum on the Senate farm bill to upcoming USDA deadlines and fresh cattle market data, here are seven stories worth keeping on your radar.

Old-crop corn stocks remain elevated heading into fall 2026, and with permanent grain storage construction slowing, growers and grain handlers are eyeing temporary storage as a short-term fix. The USDA's June 1 Grain Stocks report showed on-farm corn inventories up 16% from a year ago, while soft commodity prices have kept old-crop movement sluggish.

Dangerous heat and humidity are taking a serious toll on cattle across feedlots and pastures, with losses mounting from north to south despite stepped-up efforts to keep cattle cool. Heat index readings have climbed as high as 110 to 130 degrees in parts of Oklahoma and Nebraska this week, as Oklahoma State University livestock marketing specialist Dr. Derrell Peel noted the heat came on suddenly, giving cattle little time to adjust.

The USDA announced this past week that it will reopen ports of entry for Mexican cattle imports starting August 24, ending a yearlong suspension tied to concerns over New World screwworm. Industry groups have been largely supportive of the phased approach, which begins with Douglas, Arizona, followed by potential reopenings in Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico.

The USDA weekly Crop Progress Report, released Monday, showed corn and soybean good-to-excellent ratings both falling from the previous week, though crop development for both remains ahead of last year’s pace. Cooler weather last week is giving way to renewed heat and continued dryness, with only scattered showers expected through early August, per DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.

Released on July 24, the latest USDA Cattle on Feed report showed 11.4 million head on feed as of July 1, up 2% from a year ago. June placements and marketings were both down 3% year-over-year, the lowest June marketings (1.66 million head) since the report series began in 1996.

Total U.S. beef exports fell 17.2% year over year from January through May 2026, according to Oklahoma State University livestock marketing specialist Derrell Peel. This continues a decline of roughly one-third since the record export year of 2022.

Recent data shows that farmers are continuing to pull back on new equipment purchases this year, with tractor sales down 18%, though combine sales ticked up slightly (up 3.9%), according to the Association of Equipment Dealers. Farm income is projected to fall by $1.2 billion this year, according to the USDA Economic Research Service, leaving less room in the budget for big-ticket purchases.

The USDA weekly Crop Progress Report, released Monday, showed soybean condition ratings improving for a second straight week while corn conditions slipped slightly. A cold front is pushing the recent heat wave out, although the relief comes with severe weather in some areas, per DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.

More than 700 veterinarians signed a letter organized by the Humane Veterinary Medical Alliance urging Congress to keep the Save Our Bacon Act, which would roll back California's Proposition 12 animal confinement standards, out of the farm bill and other legislative vehicles. The bill was included in the House-passed farm bill version but left out of the Senate's, and the veterinarians argued it would strip states and localities of their authority to enact animal welfare and public health protections.