White House Celebrates Farmers and Ranchers
Hundreds of farmers and ranchers representing various regions and commodities joined President Donald Trump on the south lawn of the White House Friday to hear him make several announcements related to agriculture, including addressing Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system complaints, and finalizing historically high Renewable Fuel Standard volume obligations.
With a gold tractor on one side and a red, white and blue tractor on the other, Trump announced EPA was removing the DEF sensor requirement for all diesel equipment. “We had a ridiculous Washington restriction called the diesel exhaust fluid requirement… It was a basic disaster,” said Trump. “Today, we’re announcing new guidelines drastically limiting these ridiculous DEF rules, saving farmers and consumers billions and billions of dollars.”
EPA’s new guidance, which removes DEF sensors, will provide immediate relief and save billions of dollars in repairs and lost productivity. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), this guidance will save farmers $4.4 billion a year and this action will provide $13.79 billion a year of savings to Americans.
“I’m also announcing a dramatic update to the Renewable fuel standards for 2026 and 2027,” said President Trump. “We will now be requiring the highest volumes of renewable fuels in history. These new standards will generate over $10 billion of rural economic benefit, create an estimated 100,000 new jobs, and massively increase our nation’s energy supply. It’ll come right out of the farms.”
EPA is also finalizing a 70 percent partial reallocation of the 2023–2025 exempted Renewable Volume Obligations for the 2026 and 2027 compliance years. This approach will balance a number of factors that come into play when considering volume requirements and the impacts of SREs, including protecting biofuel demand while maintaining a stable and functioning credit market.
EPA is announcing that starting in 2028, foreign fuels and feedstocks will receive half the RFS compliance value compared to American-made products, providing American biofuel producers with time to prepare for the change while ensuring that American farmers benefit from the RFS program and American energy independence.
Listen to all of Trump’s comments to farmers and ranchers here:
President Trump speaks to farmers at White House 35:47
Student Panel at National Ag Day 2026
A diverse group of students participated in a panel at the National Ag Day Activities. Here’s who participated:
Moderated by Dr. Jaye Hamby, NIFA
Students:
- AFA
Chloe Ecord - FFA
Chloe Zittergruen - 4-H
Karli Abbott - MANRRS
Ruth Fennell - Tribal Agriculture Fellowship
Sydney Ivey
Listen in to the discussion here:
Student Panel Discussion (32:14)
Trump Promises Farmer Announcements Today
During a cabinet meeting Thursday, President Donald Trump talked about the White House gathering later today of farmers and ranchers from across the country.
“So tomorrow we will be announcing a variety of actions that we’re taking to support American farmers, who we never forget,” Trump said.
“We love the farmers. We gave them $12 billion out of tariff money. We had a tremendous amount of tariff money come in and we continue to have… because the tariff money has been so substantial, we gave our farmers who have been mistreated by some countries, we gave them $12 billion and they’re extremely happy. And they deserve it. They’ve been great. They never complain. They just go out and they farm and they wouldn’t do anything different…I like their job better, actually. I love the farmers.”
Very few details have been revealed about the gathering today. The White House schedule has President Trump delivering remarks to farmers at 12:30 pm and departing from the White House at 12:45 to fly to Miami.
The event is billed as a “celebration of agriculture” on the White House South Lawn, with hundreds of invited farmers and ranchers representing various regions and commodities. South Dakota rancher and ag advocate Amanda Radke is one who posted about attending the event, describing it as an honor to join President Trump and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins while bringing “a little bit of cowboy culture” and messages from farm and ranch country. She plans to report from the event.
President Trump on farmers 2:31Survey Reveals Cotton Farmer Concerns
U.S. farmer competitiveness in the global marketplace, the cost-price squeeze of inputs and commodity prices, and market consolidation and corporate power, are top concerns of farmers responding to a survey conducted by the Southern Cotton Ginners Association at the recent Mid-South Farm & Gin Show.
The Mid-South Farm & Gin Show created a forum for producers and industry representatives to come together around the concerns identified in the survey. A panel of ag lenders, seed, crop protection, and marketing specialists outlined ways they are working with producers and ginner. Featured speakers also highlighted efforts that can help address some of the issues facing farmers.
“Farmers are usually optimistic in the spring with planting, but we’re seeing cautious pessimism about the future,” said Tim Price, Southern Cotton Ginners Association Executive Vice President and Mid-South Farm & Gin Show manager. “In the survey, expert presentations and in conversations throughout the event, people pointed to the need for improved competitiveness in a dynamic global market.”
Among key findings in the survey:
– More than half of respondents (52.1%) expect to be worse or much worse off over the next two years and only 9.0% expect improvement.
– More than 75 percent responded that U.S. agriculture has declined in competitiveness over the past 5 years. Multiple respondents cited – More than 80 percent of respondents identified commodity prices as a top concern, and 60.1% flagged input costs creating an unprecedented margin squeeze.
– A major recurring theme was the concentration of market power among agricultural input suppliers.
– A quarter of respondents identified land going out of production as a top concern.
Other concerns: global trade challenges – 39%; legislation/regulatory policy – 29%; farm labor shortages – 29%; stress and mental health – 20%, which is especially notable given the farming culture; and succession planning – 19%. An executive summary is posted on the Southern Cotton Ginners Association website.
Outstanding Young Farmer During National Ag Day
During the 2026 National Ag Day activities we got to listen to the Outstanding Young Farmer, Brody Stapel, Stapel Farm. This program is managed by the Outstanding Farmers of America. Brody did a speech about his farm and what it means to him and his family. You can listen to the full speech below.
I’m honored to be here representing the outstanding Farmers of America, as well as the dairymen of Wisconsin and my family, who is also here at home in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, I have the privilege of working side by side with my dad and my brother every day, as well as my my children.
I’m optimistic about agriculture’s future, especially after connecting with fellow young farmers through Future Farmers of America. This next generation is thoughtful, innovative, and committed to soil health, efficiency, and direct-to-consumer models. As we celebrate 250 years of agricultural progress, we honor past generations while carrying forward our shared responsibility. Agriculture is about all of us—farmers, partners, researchers, educators, and families—working together to feed people, build trust, and leave something better behind.
Brody Stapel Speech (5:27)2026 National Ag Day
The National Ag Day activities took place in Washington, D.C. today with an impressive slate of speakers, starting with USDA Secretary Agriculture Brooke Rollins announcing a new “Product of USA” consumer campaign.
Today, on National Agriculture Day, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the launch of a national public awareness campaign to inform meat, poultry, and egg producers of the “Product of USA” voluntary labeling standard which went into effect on January 1, 2026, and increases consumer understanding of what the label means.
“Our great patriot ranchers and producers grow, raise, and harvest the world’s safest, most affordable, and abundant food supply. American consumers want to support America by buying American and this label will strengthen our food supply chain through transparency, fairness, and trust,” said USDA Secretary Rollins. “This new standard policy ensures producers who invest in a fully American supply chain can compete fairly, and it gives consumers the confidence they deserve about the food they bring home.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. spoke next, stressing the importance of American agriculture to a healthy diet.
“Our farmers and ranchers are essential to putting real food back at the center of the American plate and delivering on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” said HHS Secretary Kennedy.
“‘Product of the USA’ labeling puts American producers first, gives families clear, honest information, and empowers them to choose food raised right here at home.”
Robert F. Kennedy, JR Ag Day Remarks (5:40)
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin spoke about some of the issues important to agriculture that his agency is working on right now, including one he hopes to put to rest forever.
“We are in the process of finalizing right now a new definition of Waters of the United States. It’s important for our farmers, our ranchers, our landowners to have a definition that is simple,that no longer requires you to hire an attorney or a consultant to tell you whether or not water on your property is a water of the United States. It is important to appropriately limit the power of the federal government so that there is no longer over-regulation, understanding that our state and local leaders know their land, air, and water better than federal bureaucrats. We want to get it right.”
Lee Zeldin Ag Day Remarks (7:05)
U.S. Small Business Agency Administrator Kelly Loeffler also joined in on the Ag Day festivities
“When we choose to purchase from American producers, we get a superior product while supporting the hardworking family farms who put it all on the line every day to feed, clothe, and fuel our nation,” said SBA Administrator Loeffler. “Amid President Trump’s work to end years of unfair competition and eliminate the massive red tape that has crushed domestic agriculture, Made in America is finally making a comeback.”
Kelly Loeffler Ag Day Remarks (6:15)
Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) thanked Secretary Rollins and the Trump administration for their efforts to support farmers, ranchers and rural communities.
“U.S. producers are the best in the world, and produce the highest-quality products,” said Hoeven. “And this product of USA is going to be helpful to our ranchers. And you know, right now our ranchers are doing better, but they’ve come out of a long, long cycle where they were really suffering. And they’re out there and they’re working dawn to dark and raising the absolute best beef anywhere in the world, …And this labeling is so important because people want to know.”
John Hoeven Ag Day Remarks (5:38)
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall has been leader of the nation’s largest general farm organization for 11 years, and has been part of National Ag Day activities for 10 of those.
He started his remarks by saying, “You know, being on the stage with these cabinet members and a President that talks about farmers being his friend and he mentions agriculture almost daily. It’s historical.”
Zippy Duvall Ag Day Remarks (10:11)
The final speaker was Mehmet Oz, Administrator, CMS.
He talk about the value of good quality food being produced by farmers. He says, “In rural America where our food is grown where our health can culminate and originate can also be a place where we also have a crisis.”
Mehmet Oz Ag Day Remarks (4:05)Senate Ag Committee Leaders Pledge Farm Bill Action This Year
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) say they are working toward swift passage of a “Farm Bill Part 2” that ties up loose ends from last summer’s budget package.
Speaking at the Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit in Washington D.C., Boozman said he is coordinating with House Agriculture Chairman G.T. Thompson and aims to move a bill in “weeks, not months.”
“We want to get it done as soon as possible,” he said, noting the bill must clear 60 votes in the Senate. “We can’t be in a position that we hold up the farm bill because we simply cannot get the votes to get that done. So we’re going to work hard to try and accomplish it, but we’re going to get a farm bill passed.”
Klobuchar stressed urgency amid tight margins, low commodity prices, high input costs and trade uncertainty. “This is a perfect storm of ugly,” she said, quoting a Minnesota soybean farmer who saw the market for his crop in China disappear.
She called for year-round E15 sales, expanded conservation, disaster assistance for specialty crops and a delay in new SNAP cost-sharing penalties that hit Midwest states hardest. Both senators highlighted market-expansion priorities. Boozman said boosting domestic demand is “the number one issue,” pointing to E15, the Buying American Cotton Act and other value-added measures. Klobuchar echoed support for E15 and Renewable Fuel Standard improvements, adding she and Boozman recently held a hearing on local market opportunities.
On fertilizer costs, Klobuchar touted new bipartisan bills with Sens. John Thune and Roger Marshall for price transparency and domestic production grants. Boozman said additional bridge assistance—potentially $15 billion—is needed immediately and should ride in the Iran supplemental or another vehicle.
“Congress really works quickly,” Boozman said. “Please don’t mistake this delay as inaction. I’m committed to delivering the certainty and support producers need.” Klobuchar agreed: “The only way we’re going to get through it is together.”
Agri-Pulse Summit Sens. Klobuchar and Boozman 43:06Syngenta Spotlights Biologicals at Classic
Syngenta Biologicals featured two products at the Commodity Classic in San Antonio last month – Boosten, which supports crop resilience under stress, and YieldON, which helps plants push more sugar and starch into seed to increase yield. YieldOn has been available for several years now but this is the first year of sales for Boosten, according to Joe Ben Bogle, product marketing lead for Syngenta Seedcare and Biologicals.
“Boosten, being an earlier stage application, will typically go in with your post-herbicide pass to be able to get it on. And then with YieldOn, it would go in with your fungicide pass,” said Bogle. “I should also mention that they’re both based on plant extracts, so they’re non-living products. So when people hear about biologicals, a lot of the time they think about that these are living products that have to be treated and handled a certain way. With these being plant extract-based products, they’re really easy to handle and you don’t have to worry about some of the shelf life or tank mix limitations that you might run into otherwise.”
Bogle says there is a lot of biological companies out there and farmers have questions. “I think you’ve seen that it’s a very fragmented space with lots and lots of biological companies,” he said. “And I think when we talk to customers, they’re asking questions about how do we evaluate biological products, how do we evaluate the company that’s bringing us the product. And I think that as Syngenta, we bring a lot of experience and validation and scientific proof behind our products that helps to cut through some of that noise and be able to bring a more consistent approach to biologicals.”
Learn more about Syngenta Biologicals in this interview:
Classic26 - Joe Ben Bogle, Syngenta (5:39)
Industry Ag News 3/23
