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Soybean Exports, Saving the Bees & Protecting the Beef Industry
57 Plays11 days ago
We've got the buzz on bees' news protection and flies set to eradicate NWSW. And, Braeden and Savannah deep dive into proposed relief packages, MOU's and soybean tariffs.
This week on the pod:
- Radioactive-free, sterile flies are the newest plan to stop New World Screw Worm from hitting the U.S. beef industry. Learn more here: https://www.drovers.com/news/industry/new-technology-combat-new-world-screwworm
- Argentina suspended soybean export taxes at the same time the U.S. Treasury considered buying their sovereign debt, reeking havoc on U.S. soybean exports. Learn more here: https://www.morningagclips.com/asa-responds-to-argentina-soybean-actions/
- Two major announcements came from D.C. this week that plan to provide immediate aid to farmers and stop antitrust agribusinesses. Learn more here: https://www.agdaily.com/news/feds-crack-down-on-rising-input-costs-promise-relief/ and https://www.agriculture.com/partners-agriculture-secretary-announces-major-crops-purchase-antitrust-efforts-at-kansas-city-conference-11819207
- The EPA just approved a treatment that could protect honey bees from varroa mites, which have collapsed colonies by 62% this year. Learn more here: https://www.agdaily.com/news/epa-registers-norroa-tool-against-growing-varroa-mite-threat/
- Mountain Dew is the first to step into the bottle dirty soda space with the new release of Dirty Mountain Dew Cream Soda. Learn more here: https://www.fooddive.com/news/pepsico-launches-mountain-dew-dirty-soda/761451/
Harvest Updated: pulled September 29 from https://www.nass.usda.gov/
Market Pulse: pulled September 29 from https://www.agweb.com/markets/futures
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Transcript
Introduction to Food and Agriculture Buzz
00:00:01
Speaker
DC is buzzing right now between new relief packages, antitrust MOUs, and tariff defeats. And bees are singing as a new technology might just protect them against mites, and flies are gearing up to take the new world screwworm storm.
00:00:16
Speaker
And we can't forget about the latest release and the dirty soda fad. We're covering all of this right now on Magnetic Ag Ears Edition. I'm Brayden. And I'm Savannah. Welcome to Magnetic Ag Ears Edition.
00:00:29
Speaker
Every week we break down the top headlines and trends facing food and agriculture. Fast, fun, and actually useful. Let's get it.
00:00:39
Speaker
Imagine
Innovative Pest Control: Stopping the Screwworm
00:00:40
Speaker
you're trying to wipe out one of Ag's nastiest pests without radiation. Sounds like sci-fi, right? But it's real. The U.S. Department of Energy and Texas A&M are teaming up to stop the New World screw worm, a parasite so gnarly it literally eats living flesh.
00:00:59
Speaker
And they're doing it with a techie twist. Electronic beam sterilization. So here's the story. Screwworms were recently spotted just 70 miles from the U.S. border, and USDA isn't playing around.
00:01:14
Speaker
Their plan is to release swarms of sterile male flies into the wild to block reproduction. It's called the sterile insect technique, or SIT for short, and it's been used before, but usually with cobalt-60 radiation.
00:01:29
Speaker
The problem is Qobot 60 comes with a major security risk. So the National Nuclear Security Administration said, quote, let's go radioactive free.
00:01:40
Speaker
And then they hit up Texas A&M's National Center for Electronic Beam Research to make it happen. E-beam technology skips the radioactive source entirely, meaning fewer security headaches and faster fly production, like 100 million sterile flies in 24 hours kind of fast.
00:02:00
Speaker
And this is a big deal when we're racing against an outbreak that could threaten livestock, food security, and trade. Plus, it's another example of how national security and ag innovation go handin hand in hand.
00:02:13
Speaker
So Savannah, we need to look at what's next. The USDA is setting up a fly dispersal facility in Texas and backing this five-prong plan to shut screw worms down. If this works, it could redefine pest control in the U.S. and give Cobalt-60 the boot.
00:02:30
Speaker
Argentina's
Argentina's Soybean Strategy and Global Trade Dynamics
00:02:31
Speaker
soybean strategy is putting U.S. farmers in the squeeze, and the American Soybean Association is sounding the alarms, literally. Savannah earlier this week, Argentina temporarily suspended its export taxes on soybeans, taxes that are normally quite steep.
00:02:47
Speaker
That gave Argentinian soybeans an instant price advantage in the global marketplace. Almost simultaneously, U.S. Treasury announced that the U.S. might extend a $20 billion dollars swap line to Argentina and even consider buying its sovereign debt.
00:03:04
Speaker
But the timing is painful. Within hours, China reportedly booked about 20 shiploads of soybeans from Argentina. The American Soybean Association, or the ASA, didn't sit quietly.
00:03:17
Speaker
ASA President Caleb Raglin issued a statement saying U.S. soybean farmers have been very clear. The administration needs to secure a trade deal with China. With China still imposing 20% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. soy, the doors slam shut on U.S. exports, and now Argentina is slipping right in.
00:03:37
Speaker
ASA is sounding the alarms because u farmers can't wait. They want the U.S. government to make soybeans a top priority in negotiations with China because China is the world's largest soybean buyer.
00:03:49
Speaker
U.S. soybean buyers are already being sidelined this marketing year by tariffs, with zero new U.S. soy sales going to China. And on top of all of that, additional soybeans are flooding the international market, global prices could soften, which ripples back to U.S. farmers already trying to manage these tight margins.
00:04:09
Speaker
If U.S. soy can't reach China, we could become vulnerable, not only in agricultural terms, but geopolitically, especially as trade diplomacy intensifies. In the chess match of global soy, Argentina just played a bold pawn move, waiving its export taxes and selling cargos to China just as the U.S. extends economic lifelines, whether the U.S. responds with stronger trade diplomacy or political realignment, and how fast.
00:04:39
Speaker
We'll tell whether the end is as a check on U.S. ag interest or a checkmate for American soy.
00:04:48
Speaker
Savannah,
Harvest Challenges and Government Relief Measures
00:04:49
Speaker
as you know, harvest is well underway in many states. We have the inside scoop on which three states are leading the way this year, according to the September 29th update from the National Ag Statistics Service.
00:05:00
Speaker
Corn harvest sees the same top three states as last week, with North Carolina being bumped up to first with 82% harvested, Texas second with staying steady in third as sixty nine percent harvested And the south is still in the heat of soybean harvest. Soybean harvest in Louisiana is at 78%, with Mississippi right there in second at 66%.
00:05:26
Speaker
And Arkansas was really busy, jumping nearly 20% from our last update, all the way up to 44%.
00:05:34
Speaker
Cotton harvest finally got rolling this week, seeing 13 of the top 15 states on the board. Cotton harvest in Arizona is at 32% harvested. Louisiana is 31% and Texas falling in third at 26% harvested.
00:05:51
Speaker
Savannah, we're still not seeing a whole lot of sorghum harvest action yet, but sorghum harvest in Texas is already at 80% and in a not so close second place, Oklahoma mentioned again 25%.
00:06:01
Speaker
at twenty five percent Farmers are squeezed between rising costs and falling prices. Two major moves were announced this week. One puts cash on the table and another puts regulators in the driver's seat.
00:06:15
Speaker
At the Ag
Antitrust Measures and USDA Commodity Support
00:06:16
Speaker
Outlook Forum in Kansas City, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled what her team is calling an immediate relief package. The USDA will purchase 417,000 metric tons of commodities, mostly corn and sorghum, as part of U.S. s Food Aid and Export Expansion Programs.
00:06:33
Speaker
Now, that's more than just generosity overseas. It's a twofer. First, it injects demands into the domestic market at a time when many farmers are staring at a surplus and slumping commodity prices.
00:06:46
Speaker
Secondly, it helps the U.S. s bolster its standing as an exporter and soften trade relations in part of the world that relies on U.S. agriculture. The second, perhaps less flashy, the USDA and the Department of Justice have signed a morandum of understanding to cooperate on antitrust enforcement and agricultural markets.
00:07:06
Speaker
The idea is that rising input costs, think fertilizer, seed, machinery, may not just be market forces at work. Some of it might be market power, monopolistic practices, oblique supply chains, and anti-competitive conduct by big agribusinesses.
00:07:23
Speaker
Under the MOU, the Antitrust Division of the DOJ will more closely coordinate with USDA to quote, scrutinize competitive conditions in supply chains, share information, and enforce more rigorously in the input space.
00:07:36
Speaker
So let's connect the dots. The commodity purchases give farmers more of a buyer in a down market. It provides liquidity and cushion, especially for those who might otherwise be forced to sell at rock bottom prices.
00:07:49
Speaker
The antitrust move is a preventative measure. If successful, it could help rein in abusive practices that distort input pricing over time that reduces input costs, improving margins.
00:08:01
Speaker
But there are some caveats, Savannah. The purchase helps some crops, but not all of them. Livestock, specialty crops, dairy sectors may all feel left out.
00:08:12
Speaker
Antitrust is slow. For farmers in crisis right now, waiting for the investigation's conclusion may just feel like being handed a band-aid. And the cost to taxpayers is pretty real.
00:08:23
Speaker
These purchases and enforcement efforts aren't free. Moving forward, be on the lookout for more economic aid this fall, increase pressure from farm groups, and check out who is eligible for these payouts.
Breakthrough in Honeybee Protection
00:08:38
Speaker
Big news in the bee world, the EPA just approved Noroa, the first ever RNA-based treatment for varroa nights. These mites are the number one threat to honeybee colonies and this tech could be game changer.
00:08:50
Speaker
Savannah, varroa mites can double their population every 30 days, spreading viruses and wrecking hives. Chemical treatments like amitraz have been to the go-to for decades, but mites are building resistance fast.
00:09:04
Speaker
That's where Noroia comes in. Developed by Greenlight Bioscientists, it uses RNA inference to precisely stop varroa reproduction and then safely break down in the hive.
00:09:16
Speaker
Field trials showed over 90% success, all while leaving bees, humans, and other insects unharmed. And the timing couldn't be more critical. Between June 2024 and March 2025, U.S. beekeepers lost 1.7 million colonies, with some operations seeing 62% losses.
00:09:36
Speaker
Without new solutions, experts warn losses could hit 70% in 2025. Norowa's active ingredient, Vodiscanda, offers a brand new mode of action for beekeepers.
00:09:48
Speaker
It's safe, effective, and could help protect pollinators for more than 100 crops. The product will be available exclusively through Man Lake dealers. For beekeepers, this isn't just another tool. This could be the lifeline their hive has been waiting for.
00:10:03
Speaker
Bees are vital for our U.S. food system. With NAROA, they might finally get the backup they need.
00:10:11
Speaker
Let's tune
Market Trends and the Rise of Dirty Soda
00:10:12
Speaker
in for a weekly market pulse. We've got the highs and lows impacting your bottom line. Pulled from the September 29th AgWeb report. Live cattle October are up 0.125 to Feeder cattle in October are up to soybeans, November down 6 to $10.04.
00:10:32
Speaker
octoberle hogs are down point eight to one hundred thirty five december corn is down five to four dollars and sixteen cents for soybeans november down six to ten ah four
00:10:46
Speaker
If you spent more than three minutes on TikTok lately, you've probably seen it. Soda plus creamer plus flavored syrup equals a dirty soda. It's a Gen Z fueled, swig inspired and Utah born craze.
00:10:59
Speaker
And now PepsiCo is even in on the action. Dirty Mountain Dew Cream Soda has officially entered the chat. Yes, it's real and hitting shelves nationwide in 2026.
00:11:11
Speaker
Pepsi's mashing that signature citrusy dew flavor with a classic cream soda to ride the viral wave, and they're the first in the Bottle Dirty Soda retail area.
00:11:23
Speaker
Now, why would PepsiCo do this? Simply put, the dirty soda market is booming, growing at 42%, while traditional soda sales are falling flat. I mean, you can find a swig on almost every street corner now.
00:11:36
Speaker
And that's because market research shows that Gen Z consumers are all about customization, unique flavor boosts, and booze-free premium experiences that also feel like a treat.
00:11:48
Speaker
And while most Dirty Sodas have stayed at soda fountains and swig shops, Mountain Dew is turning this trend mainstream. No syrups, no pumps, no creamer hacking, just grab-and-go indulgence with a neon green twist.
00:12:03
Speaker
PepsiCo is
Personal Takes on Dirty Soda and Community Engagement
00:12:04
Speaker
betting big, and Dirty Dew might just become the next flagship flavor in the soft drink arms race. The real question is, Brayden, will it dethrone Baja Blast?
00:12:14
Speaker
Who knows? But one thing's for sure, Dirty Soda just got a lot more so shelf space. Maybe making it a little dirty will help me like Mountain Dew more. But count me in for a trip to Swig for a Spring Fling.
00:12:27
Speaker
But for me, have not jumped on that Dirty Soda train. Catch me putting all those fun flavors into an iced latte. Savannah, you really are a latte girly. Maybe we can talk about coffee next time on Magnetic Ag Ears Edition.
00:12:42
Speaker
Hungry for more? Subscribe to our twice weekly newsletter for more industry news right in your inbox. Or follow along on socials at magnetic.ag for more trends and headlines.
00:12:53
Speaker
Thanks for listening to Magnetic Ag Ears Edition.