All Ag, All Day is the nation's only full-time farm radio station with studios in Floydada and Nashville, TN (www.AllAgNews.com)
India Waives Cotton Import Duty To Aid Garment Exports
NASHVILLE, TN – India has suspended its 11 percent import duty on raw cotton from August 19 through September 30 in response to industry calls for relief. The waiver comes as U.S. tariffs on Indian apparel exports climbed to a combined 50 percent—25 percent base plus an additional 25 percent tied to India’s Russian oil purchases. The move aims to lower input costs for textile producers and help them remain competitive in export markets.
Although India is the world’s third-largest exporter of raw cotton, valued at $6.78 billion in fiscal 2024, local garment makers often rely on imports of specific varieties. Industry officials noted the suspension may be extended if market pressures persist. Reports from Reuters indicate some apparel exporters are weighing production shifts offshore to cushion against U.S. tariff impacts.
The duty-free window arrives as Indian spinners and textile mills prepare for festival orders and the upcoming Rabi season. Market watchers caution that while manufacturers gain temporary relief, cotton growers—especially in Maharashtra and Vidarbha—could face weaker farmgate prices if demand shifts toward imports. The short-term measure underscores the broader pressure India’s textile industry faces in balancing competitiveness with farmer incomes.
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China Restores Fertilizer Shipments To India Amid Tensions
LUBBOCK, TX – China has lifted export restrictions on fertilizers, rare earth minerals, and tunnel-boring machines to India following high-level talks between foreign ministers. The move ends months of strain that left India scrambling to secure alternative fertilizer supplies during the Rabi planting season. Farmers had been particularly hard-hit by shortages of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), which is a key nutrient for wheat, rice, and pulses.
India is among the world’s largest fertilizer importers, with China a dominant supplier. The curbs earlier this year forced New Delhi to diversify imports, increase domestic inventories, and offer additional support for producers. The resumption of Chinese shipments will help stabilize markets and reduce costs for Indian agriculture, where fertilizer affordability had become a growing concern.
Beyond farming, rare earths are vital to modern technology and advanced farm machinery, while tunnel-boring machines support irrigation and infrastructure expansion. With curbs lifted, both agriculture and industry may see supply pressures ease. Analysts note that continued cooperation between China and India will be essential for planting stability and for maintaining steady food production across the region.
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Growth Energy Urges Action Against Brazil’s Ethanol Barriers
WASHINGTON, DC -Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, is pressing U.S. officials to confront Brazil over what it calls unfair and discriminatory ethanol trade practices. In comments submitted to the U.S. Trade Representative, the group applauded the Section 301 investigation now underway and urged bold action to protect American ethanol producers.
At issue are Brazil’s tariffs and restrictive policies that block U.S. corn ethanol from participating in the country’s low carbon fuel program, RenovaBio. These barriers have deepened a bilateral trade imbalance—U.S. ethanol exports to Brazil dropped to just $53 million in 2024, a sharp decline from a $1.1 billion peak in 2011. Growth Energy noted that while Brazil once removed its ethanol tariff in 2010 and encouraged free trade, it later reinstated those duties, limiting U.S. market access while seeking favorable treatment in the American market.
The association also raised concerns about Brazil’s efforts to promote its sustainability practices internationally while overlooking the lower emissions profile of U.S. corn ethanol. Industry leaders say addressing these issues is critical to keeping U.S. biofuels competitive globally and ensuring fair trade standards.
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Dairy Industry Shifts Create New Opportunities Nationwide
NASHVILLE, TN – The U.S. dairy industry is undergoing major shifts as farmers, processors, and markets adapt to new realities. According to Nationwide Agribusiness, many dairy farms are relocating from California and the western states to the Midwest and Northeast, where land and feed costs are lower and water is more available. These moves are reshaping regional clusters of production and processing, supported by investments in new plants in states such as New York, Kansas, South Dakota, and Michigan.
The development of large-scale, modern processing facilities is central to this trend. Clusters provide economies of scale, better infrastructure, and stronger access to major population centers. These plants are also diversifying into high-value products such as extended shelf-life milk, milk powders for export, and dairy proteins for the health and wellness sector. Extended shelf-life technologies allow longer distribution windows and less spoilage, while milk powders and dairy ingredients expand both domestic and export opportunities.
Together, these changes signal a more regionally aligned dairy industry with greater efficiency and flexibility. For U.S. farmers, shifting production eastward and embracing new technologies could mean steadier markets and expanded access to both domestic and international consumers.
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Global Trade Headwinds Threaten U.S. Agricultural Exports
NASHVILLE, TN – The World Bank reports that global trade growth is slowing sharply in 2025, largely due to rising tariffs, retaliatory measures, and policy uncertainty. After averaging nearly 5 percent annually in the two decades before the pandemic, trade growth is projected to slip to just 1.8 percent this year—less than half the pace of 2024. Advanced economies are seeing the steepest declines, but emerging markets tied to U.S. and European demand are also affected.
For U.S. agriculture, these headwinds matter. Mexico, China, and other major buyers of U.S. grain, meat, and oilseeds face increased uncertainty over tariffs and supply chains. The slowdown in U.S. goods imports and weaker manufacturing demand abroad could weigh on farm exports, especially for crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat. At the same time, elevated shipping costs and policy-driven trade frictions make it harder for U.S. commodities to stay competitive in world markets.
Still, some bright spots exist. The report notes that new and expanding regional trade agreements—such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the African Continental Free Trade Area—could open fresh opportunities. For U.S. farmers, however, the outlook remains challenging. Unless trade barriers ease and supply chains stabilize, weaker export demand could translate into softer prices and slower growth across the ag sector in 2025 and 2026.
