New federal action targets tick-borne diseases and the biosecurity risk that can affect cattle herds and beef demand. President Trump signed S. 2398, the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act, on Sept. 30, extending funding for vector-borne disease research and regional centers of excellence through 2030.

Corn futures fell sharply in response to the USDA's Sept. 30 Quarterly Grain Stocks report. The report put Sept. 1 corn stocks at 2.095 billion bushels, up 35% from last year and a seven-year high, compared with the 1.918 billion bushels analysts expected. December corn closed down 21.25 cents at $5.0075 per bushel, its lowest settlement since Aug. 19.

The latest USDA Crop Progress Report, issued this week, showed corn and soybean harvests slowing after running ahead of the five-year average pace in recent reports. Winter wheat planting and emergence remain behind the normal pace, while additional rain in the forecast could further slow fall fieldwork.

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.

Following Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the White House last week, the U.S. and China have moved the deadline for their trade truce, the Busan Agreement, back two months to Jan. 10. Under the agreement, the current 10% tariffs will hold steady while talks continue.

The central U.S. is in line for another round of heavy rain this week, this time from the remnants of Hurricane Polo, according to DTN Meteorologist John Baranick. The Category 5 Eastern Pacific hurricane is forecast to cross the Baja California Peninsula and northwestern Mexico, with its remnants reaching the Southern Plains by mid-week.

Industry leaders at the 2026 Women in Agribusiness Summit in New Orleans discussed a topic many operations are facing right now: how to stay steady in a volatile ag economy, according to Successful Farming. The experts broke down where risks are building across the ag value chain, from the farm gate to the agribusinesses that serve farmers and ranchers.

The USDA will announce the final 2025 marketing year average (MYA) prices for corn and soybeans on Sept. 30, which are used to calculate Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC-CO) farm program payments for the 2025 crop year. Based on the September WASDE Report, the current MYA price estimate is $4.15 per bushel for corn, holding steady for several months, and $10.50 per bushel for soybeans, up a dime from the prior estimate.

The latest USDA weekly Crop Progress Report, released Monday, showed corn and soybean harvest continuing ahead of their average paces despite heavy rain across much of the Corn Belt last week. Spring wheat harvest is nearly complete, while winter wheat planting and emergence are running behind the normal schedule as growers work through fall fieldwork.

USDA's Sept. 1 Cattle on Feed report showed feedlots with 1,000-plus head capacity holding 11.2 million cattle and calves, up 1% from a year ago. August placements totaled 1.62 million head, down 9% from last year and the lowest for the month since USDA began tracking the series in 1996, while August marketings came in at 1.52 million head, also a record low for the month and 3% behind 2025.