What we found: In a state that handed Trump three straight wins, where Trump flags flap near food aid flyers pinned on bulletin boards, the cost of his austerity push and its impact on food access is starting to show in Ohio (and beyond).

And they've been a way for young farmers - who don't have a ton of collateral - to make that first farmland purchase or get access to operating cash.

The news and change comes as farmers in the Midwest are planting, the farm economy is struggling and USDA is facing sharp staffing reductions.

The USDA FSA direct and guaranteed loan programs have been politically heralded for being cost-effective and a boon to rural America for years. The guaranteed loan programs have be a lucrative opportunity for commercial banks and Farm Credit lenders (and yes, there have been issues, natch).

"But PJ," you might ask. "What the heck does this have to do with agriculture?"

It matters (imho) because it underscores how volatile things are getting in the shipping sector. And anything impacting shipping could, in theory, ripple out to the movement & production of commodity crops.

Shipping: Operators of hulking car carriers are seeking relief from USTR's surprise plan to levy port fees on all foreign-built ships in that segment, including 20 vessels that guarantee transport for the U.S. military during a war or national emergency.

www.reuters.com/business/aut...

U.S. truckers are moving record volumes of goods after their customers stocked up ahead of President Donald Trump's tariffs, but an industry slowdown looms as those new duties start choking economic activity. What will that mean for truck freight rates for ag inputs later this year?

Next...

As one producer said, "It's not like we are in a great ag economy. We don't have any room to give."

As UC Davis economist Michael Carter told Reuters: "What's at risk of being lost is stuff that can make a difference in the lives of lots and lots of people."

@thekarlplume.bsky.social headed to @ucdavis.bsky.social recently for a deeply reported story he and I did, to try to answer this question. What we found was equal parts fascinating and concerning.

China accounted for nearly 90% of U.S. sorghum exports last year, ramping up purchases of the crop it uses to feed livestock and make fiery baijiu liquor. (Which is tasty - and I will fight anyone who disagrees with me on that....) Now? Those sales have essentially evaporated.

Reporting this story gave me a far better understanding of how pass-through funding evolved, and how and why this mechanism has been used for moving money from the federal govt to the states - fascinating stuff.

Thank you!