The Farm Advisory Service’s April 2025 report highlights significant volatility in global grain markets, driven by unpredictable weather patterns and shifting trade policies. While initial forecasts for the 2025/26 season anticipate a rise in global grain production—led by increases in maize, wheat, and barley—spring weather risks remain a significant influence. In Brazil, April rainfall will be a decisive factor in determining the yield potential of the second corn crop. Elsewhere, the threat of drought or late frost in key producing areas including Europe, Russia, the US, and Brazil could disrupt production estimates and trigger price volatility.

China has announced plans to intensify its rural reforms to revive the agricultural sector and ensure food security amidst U.S. tariffs, economic challenges, and climate change. The yearly rural policy framework, the “No.1 document” from the State Council, includes enhancing rewards and subsidies for crucial grain-producing areas and pushing for biotech cultivation industrialization. In 2024, China recorded a grain production peak of 706.5 million tons, a 1.6% increase from the prior year.

The Trump administration has scrapped a $3 billion program designed to help U.S. farmers adopt climate-smart practices, citing concerns over administrative costs and strategic misalignment. Originally launched under President Biden, the initiative had backed over 100 projects across all 50 states to support carbon-cutting and soil-health improvements in agriculture. The USDA now plans to redirect the funding under stricter conditions to ensure more direct support reaches farmers.

Facing increasing climate-related challenges, McDonald’s is steering its agricultural practices towards regenerative agriculture to enhance supply chain resilience and meet climate goals. Led by Chief Sustainability Officer Beth Hart, the fast-food giant is investing in sustainable farming techniques, including cover cropping and reduced tillage, to cut agriculture-linked emissions by 16% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. Through collaborations with partners like Syngenta and FAI Farms, McDonald’s is piloting innovative practices across the U.S., Canada, and the UK, while fostering farmer-to-farmer networks to promote the adoption of regenerative methods. ​

A powerful hailstorm has struck Russia’s Stavropol region, the country’s third-largest wheat producer, damaging crops and raising concerns over the 2025 harvest. With extreme weather already affecting much of European Russia, officials and analysts are warning of potential export restrictions if yields fall significantly.

The African Development Bank is spearheading a $2.2 billion initiative to establish agro-processing zones across 28 Nigerian states, aiming to boost food security, cut post-harvest losses, and reduce the country’s heavy reliance on food imports.

China has launched a 10-year plan to boost food security and become an agricultural leader by 2035. The strategy targets stable grain output, crop self-sufficiency, and major advances in biotechnology and farming innovation to reduce reliance on imports and adapt to climate and geopolitical challenges.

The UN warns that accelerating glacier melt due to climate change is endangering the food and water supply of nearly 2 billion people worldwide. As vital mountain ice disappears, regions dependent on seasonal meltwater face growing risks of drought, food insecurity, and extreme weather events.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a $10 billion emergency aid program to support farmers struggling with low commodity prices and rising input costs. The payments, part of the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), aim to stabilize farm incomes and prevent further economic strain across rural America.