USDA’s new regional cash cattle report leads today’s Ag News Update as negotiated trade continues to decline. Other stories include growing biofuel demand for soybean oil, expanded cotton insurance options, stronger Norfolk corn exports, restaurant spending trends and historically low U.S. rice acreage.
Listen to today’s Ag News Update:
Ag News Update – Wednesday 10/21/2026
USDA will add a new regional cash cattle report October 26 using existing data from Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas as negotiated cash trade continues to shrink. Cash purchases accounted for more than 50% of transactions in 2005 but less than 18% in 2025. USDA also projects biofuel demand will consume 53.1% of U.S. soybean oil use in 2026, supporting domestic crush demand. Cotton producers will gain more flexibility to combine crop insurance endorsements for 2027, with final details due by November 30. Corn exports through Norfolk reached about 68.5 million bushels in 2025/26, the highest level in four decades. USDA data also show restaurant spending grew faster than grocery purchases in 2025. And U.S. rice harvested acreage is projected at 2.057 million acres, the lowest since 1972/73, with the season-average farm price raised to $15.20 per hundredweight.
Today’s Ag News Highlights
• USDA will add a regional cash cattle report October 26.
• Biofuel demand is projected to use more than half of U.S. soybean oil.
• Cotton growers will gain more flexibility with 2027 crop insurance endorsements.
• Norfolk corn exports reached their highest level in four decades.
• U.S. rice harvested acreage is projected at a 53-year low.