A Glimmer of Trade Optimism for U.S. Farmers and Ranchers

Nov 06, 2025

Trade is certainly a hot topic among the agricultural community, with farmers and ranchers facing concerns on a number of fronts. However, Faith Parum, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said there has been some important progress with one of our nation’s largest trading partners.

"China has agreed to purchase 12 million metric tons of soybeans before January, and at least 25 million metric tons annually for the next three years, of soybeans," Parum said. "They've also said that they're going to resume purchases of other ag products, but no official announcements have been made. In addition, the United States has removed the Chinese port fees on any Chinese-owned and -operated ships, so that should help tensions be relieved."

The administration also announced several smaller deals, including agreements with Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.