Bridge Payments Help, But Pain Persists
The frustration levels are high as farmers are moving into their fourth year of a continued cycle of low commodity prices and stubbornly high input costs. Ag leaders note there are no silver bullets for managing through the downturn. A USDA official noted the Farmer Bridge Assistance program has already received 35,000 applications for aid this week.
Tariffs Affect Fertilizer Imports
While fertilizer imports into the U.S. were exempt from the various tariffs instituted in 2025, the tariffs appear to have influenced nutrient imports negatively in the second half of the year. In a webinar presented by The Fertilizer Institute, TFI staff discussed the tariffs, what happened in the fertilizer industry in 2025, and what the industry could see in 2026.
View From the Range
Founded in 1884 when veterinarian A.E. Cross traveled from Montreal to Alberta, Cross Cattle Company boasts more than a century of ranching heritage, including co-founding the Calgary Stampede. Today, Bill Cross and his sons Malcolm and Austin operate the Claresholm ranch, running Angus cattle year-round using rotational grazing.