Tariffs, Exploiting Labor, and Beekeeping

Whats Up Today

Tariffs have to be the top news item - Most recent new is Mexico buckling to the pressure of Trump’s tariffs -

Mexico has agreed to deploy 10,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in exchange for a one-month delay on President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday. FoxNews

• The Mexican President agreed to actually do something significant about the border disaster. Or at least sufficient to get Trump to delay the tariffs for one month. Negotiations will continue for further action during that next month. It’s tiresome that clearly the Mexican government could have taken these actions of their own volition, but would never have done them without serious threats from the United States. The wins continue to stack up for Trump.

• Of course there are a slew of negative perspectives on the tariff actions across the media. Most of them obvious gaslighting and fear mongering, or just shockingly short term in their perspective-

Trump’s Tariffs Would Reverse Decades of Integration Between U.S. and Mexico

NYTimes

• This headline from the New York Times assumes this change is a bad thing, which I think many would find debatable.

Risks for the Ag sector are real. - New US tariffs on Chinese and Mexican imports could lead to disruptions in US corn and soybean sales to those countries, creating substantial risks for US agriculture markets.

China and Mexico are the two largest purchasers of US produced corn and soybeans, collectively accounting for 48pc of US corn exports and 61pc of US soybean exports since 2019, according to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data. Argusmedia

• I would say that this isn’t anything new. With cotton at .65 cents I don’t really see how it could get much worse for us in West Texas. Exports of corn and soybeans could definitely be effected in the short term, as China and Mexico are somewhat major purchasers.

• The tariffs on Canada and China are still going into effect as of Monday afternoon, so we will see what trading looks like in the morning.

Ag labor, immigration, and prices- Texas agriculture risks labor shortages as 42% of crop workers lack authorization The U.S. agriculture sector, particularly in Texas, faces uncertainty due to immigration policy changes under President Trump. Texas, a leader in farms and ranches, heavily relies on migrant labor, with agriculture contributing over $30 billion annually. Concerns are rising about the potential effects of mass deportations on the workforce and food prices.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 42% of hired crop farm workers lack work authorization. Laramie Adams from the Texas Farm Bureau stated, "It's definitely going to have an impact on our ability to provide an abundant source of food, and if we aren't able to do that, then we're going to have to rely on other countries for that product. Therefore, the prices at the grocery store will go up." FreshPlaza

• This may be a simple case of having to endure the pains of correcting something that has gone severely wrong over the years. Prices might have to rise. I think it is a cost most are willing to pay in the long run. This article is a good example of what could be short sighted thinking -

Farm leaders warn mass deportations could disrupt agricultural workforce and drive up food prices As immigration policy remains a major focus of the second Trump administration, farm leaders across the U.S. are urging policymakers to recognize the vital role of guest workers in agriculture. Industry leaders warn that mass deportations and workforce instability could threaten food production, rural economies, and the livelihoods of both farmers and farmworkers.

Shawn Harding, a supporter of the H-2A guest worker program, emphasized the labor-intensive nature of key crops such as sweet potatoes, blueberries, and Christmas trees. He stressed that without a reliable labor force, food supply chains would suffer. Harding noted that while the H-2A program has its shortcomings, it remains critical for meeting labor demands. He also called for reforms that protect workers while ensuring that farmers have the labor needed to sustain production. Hortidaily

• It seems like many farm leaders like the idea of exploiting cheap migrant (undocumented) labor.

Another Bird Flu Situation - The Maryland Department of Agriculture has announced the first presumptive positive case of H5 avian influenza in a commercial broiler farm in Worcester County. This is the fifth case of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza (HPAI) on a commercial poultry farm on Maryland's Eastern Shore and sixth in the state following the announcement of a confirmed case in a backyard flock in Montgomery County. Delmarvanow

• Cleary the bird flu is not just going to disappear any time soon. It’s important to take precautions to avoid backyard chickens from getting sick as well, if you have any.

Beekeeping News - I’m not sure how many people tune in for Beekeeping news, but I came across a court case in West Virginia on the topic - The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) says it has secured a legal victory that affirms the rights of farmers and beekeepers to continue agricultural practices across the state. WVnews

• I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of keeping bees. Glad to see this guy was able to go ahead with is beekeeping dreams.

I know this edition was a bit overcome by the issues in politics. They just can’t be ignored right now because there are so many moves being made that could actually have an impact on your life. In the agriculture production world, many of these trade and labor issues are important to be aware of and could dictate decisions you make for the upcoming year. I have a few intriguing topics for Wednesday so stay tuned