Country Morning Presented by CHS Ag Services

This episode of the Red River Farm Network delivers a comprehensive update on agricultural news, market dynamics, and policy developments across the U.S. The broadcast opens with global market turbulence following the collapse of U.S.-Iran peace talks, triggering a surge in crude oil prices above $100 per barrel and rattling Asian and European markets. Domestic concerns center on rising farm input costs, with President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins criticizing the Biden administration for inflationary pressures and announcing potential policy responses, including the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program and a new beginning farmer tax credit. The episode highlights growing challenges in agriculture, from severe weather threats in the northern plains to declining farm profitability and production risks. It also covers positive trends, such as increased enrollment in agricultural programs at NDSU and expanding export opportunities in Vietnam. The segment concludes with updates on trade missions, CDL licensing approvals in North Dakota, and upcoming industry events. Key takeaways include the urgent need for farm policy to address input cost inflation, the strategic importance of international trade missions in securing export markets, and the critical role of workforce availability—especially truck drivers—during planting season. Farmers are urged to act quickly on the closing enrollment window for the $11 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. The episode underscores the interconnectedness of global geopolitics, energy markets, and agricultural stability, emphasizing that strong farm policy isn't just about farmers—it's about national economic resilience.