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Agroconsult cuts Brazil soybean production after crop tour... Brazil will produce 171.3 MMT of soybeans in the 2024/25 season, less than the 172.4 million tons forecast in January, agribusiness consultancy Agroconsult said on Wednesday after inspecting about half of the fields in a nationwide crop tour. Problems in Rio Grande do Sul and Mato Grosso do Sul, where farmers “abandoned” some areas and losses are “irreversible” in some places, have been mostly offset by good yields in other states, the consultancy said.
In Mato Grosso, Agroconsult expected an average yield of 63 bags per hectare before the crop tour. The yield forecast has now been increased to a record 66.5 bags per hectare. For the first time, Mato Grosso’s soybean production may surpass 50 MMT, Agroconsult said.
Brazil soil moisture may become low over the next month... A recent drying pattern in central Brazil has allowed for rapid advancement of soybean harvest and safrinha corn planting, both of which have been running behind normal. World Weather Inc. says rainfall across center-west and center-south Brazil will be “a little lighter than usual” over the next 30 days, which would leave soil moisture below average as the traditional rainy season ends in April.
The forecaster notes, “Completely dry conditions are not likely [over the next month], but there will be need for more abundant rain through April to provide the best environment for safrinha crops to reproduce and fill normally.”
If soil moisture is lacking as the rainy season ends, timely rainfall will be needed from April forward to avoid potential production losses for safrinha corn.
Brazil to keep biodiesel blend at 14%... Brazil’s mandatory biodiesel blend rate will remain at 14% from March forward, Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira said, with the national energy council opting not to boost it to 15% as had been expected. Silveira said the biodiesel blend would remain at 14% “until further deliberation, which can be taken at anytime.” Concerns over food prices was a factor in the situation, Silveira said.
Brazilian oilseed lobby group Abiove said the decision was based on the domestic price of soybean oil to consumers, but noted prices are already falling for soybeans and soybean oil and they indicated a government review of the biodiesel decision would come “as quickly as possible.”
Turkey to help ease U.S. egg shortage... Turkey has launched a large-scale egg export operation to the U.S. to help alleviate a severe egg shortage caused by an ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak. The Egg Producers Central Union (YUM-BIR) is coordinating the shipment of 15,000 MT of eggs — equivalent to 700 containers — between February and July.
Turkey is among the world’s top 10 egg exporters, with 15% to 25% export capacity beyond its domestic needs. However, Shipping eggs across long distances requires careful handling and temperature control to maintain quality. The U.S. has specific packaging and food safety requirements that Turkish producers must meet. Coordinating the shipment of 700 containers of eggs by July 2025 may strain existing export infrastructure.
These challenges will require careful planning and coordination between Turkish egg producers, exporters, and U.S. importers to ensure the successful fulfillment of this significant export agreement.
U.S. firms have been seeking alternative import markets due to supply constraints, suggesting that other countries besides Turkey may have increased their egg sales to the United States. Other significant egg exporters include Malaysia, Belgium, Spain, India, Ukraine and Thailand.
Potential impact of Trump policies stoked Fed caution on inflation... President Donald Trump’s initial policy proposals raised concern at the Federal Reserve about higher inflation, minutes from the Jan. 28-29 monetary policy meeting revealed. Policymakers are watching the rollout of Trump’s economic-policy plans and how they might shape the economy. While characterizing risks in the economy as roughly balanced, policymakers “generally pointed to upside risks to the inflation outlook,” the minutes said. “Participants cited the possible effects of potential changes in trade and immigration policy, the potential for geopolitical developments to disrupt supply chains, or stronger-than-expected household spending.”
The minutes said “many participants noted that the committee could hold the policy rate at a restrictive level if the economy remained strong and inflation remained elevated.”
RFK Jr. unveils bold health policy agenda at HHS... Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. outlined an ambitious vision for the department, emphasizing “unbiased science” and a sweeping review of health policies. In his inaugural 22-minute address to employees on Feb. 18, Kennedy signaled a shift in focus, pledging that “nothing is going to be off limits.”
Of note: He promised to keep an open mind, continue asking “difficult questions” and listen to “all the stakeholders” — especially those with whom he has disagreed. “Let’s all depoliticize these issues and reestablish a common ground for action and renew the search for existential truth with no political impediments and no preconceptions,” he said, adding, “I promise to be willing to be wrong.”
Key initiatives:
- Comprehensive Health Policy Review: Kennedy will scrutinize topics like the childhood vaccine schedule, pesticides, ultra-processed foods, artificial additives and electromagnetic radiation.
- “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) Commission: Created by an executive order from President Trump, this body will investigate the causes of chronic diseases, focusing on pediatric health and corporate influence on public health policies.
- Addressing Chronic Diseases: The commission will assess links between lifestyle factors, food production, and diseases like diabetes and obesity, issuing its first report within 100 days.
- Food Policy Reforms: Kennedy seeks greater transparency in federally subsidized nutrition programs, advocating for healthier alternatives.
- Vaccine Policy: While upholding the current childhood vaccine schedule, he calls for deeper investigations into vaccine safety and efficacy.
- Subject pesticides to more rigorous examination, including glyphosate. He plans to more strictly enforce residue limits on produce and impose more stringent testing requirements. Kennedy aims to pressure the EPA to deny new pesticide registrations or revoke existing approvals for products like glyphosate.
Kennedy’s agenda has drawn both praise for its transparency and skepticism over potential impacts on public health trust. His leadership at HHS signals a major policy shift, but political and institutional hurdles remain.
FDA deputy commissioner resigns over Trump’s overhaul... Jim Jones, former deputy commissioner for human foods, resigned due to concerns over the Trump administration’s federal restructuring. He praised Kennedy’s nutrition and food safety policies but criticized Trump’s handling of FDA staff cuts and funding crises. Jones, known for banning Red Dye No. 3, brought expertise in toxic chemicals and public health. Sarah Vogel of the Environmental Defense Fund warned that FDA layoffs could hinder food safety efforts.