Agriculture Shorts

The New York Times reported the U.S. Labor Department certified 17% more H-2A temporary agricultural workers in the first half of fiscal year 2026 compared to the prior year. Moreover, American Farm Bureau Federation’s Samantha Ayoub reported 13,358 more H-2A positions were certified in fiscal year 2025 than fiscal year 2024, the first time more than 400,000 workers were requested . . . The USDA lowered its estimate of U.S. beef production this year in its latest World Agricultural Demand and Supply Estimates (WASDE) report released June 11. A slow rate of steer and heifer slaughter and reduced cow slaughter is expected to weigh on production . . . The USDA’s 2027 cost of production forecast shows total farm production costs continuing to rise driven by higher prices for seed, chemicals, repairs, labor, machinery, and cash rents . . . Representatives from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will meet July 1 to begin their review of the U.S., Mexico, Canada (USMCA) trade agreement . . . Columnist Alan Guebert wrote, “estimates show that 36% of Nebraska’s drought-hammered wheat acres will be abandoned while states like Texas could see wheat abandonment top 70%.” . . . Nebraska feedlots with greater than 1,000 head capacity held 2.63 million head of cattle on June 1, 3% more than last year and the same as May. Cattle on feed for the U.S. totaled 11.7 million head, 2% above last year.