Agriculture Shorts

The New York Times reported that China bought $3.9 billion of U.S. agricultural products in the first seven months of 2026, excluding soybeans. China agreed in May to buy at least $17 billion of U.S. agricultural goods a year through 2028, not including soybeans . . . California Governor Gavin Newsom signed ‌legislation allowing the immediate sale of E15 in the state. California had been the only state where the fuel could not be sold . . . Will Secor of the University of Georgia said the latest Cattle on Feed report set a record for the fewest cattle placed and marketed in August since the data series began in 1996 . . . Abram Babcock, President and CEO of Adams Land & Cattle, said at an agriculture tech forum last week that his company received 400 applications for 10 internships positions . . . The Economist reported that in the past year the volume of plant-based milk alternatives sold in the U.S. fell by 5.4% according to market-research firm Circana. Almond milk, the leading seller, dropped by 7.9%. In turn, sales of dairy milk ticked up after years of decline . . . ICE raids last week on meatpacking plants in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas slowed production at those facilities. As a result, slaughter numbers were off last week contributing to lower beef supplies. Lower beef supplies and high consumer prices have been a concern for the administration.