AgShared, Bakersfield, CA (2026)

05/13/2025

Farmers could soon get a stronger safety net under a new set of proposals unveiled by the House Agriculture Committee on Monday. The committee will begin discussing the bill Tuesday evening, which aims to boost support for farmers through improved crop insurance, trade programs, and higher payment limits for farm programs.

The plan would provide better reference prices and a wider range of protection levels for commodity and insurance programs, giving farmers more financial security. However, it also tightens eligibility for nutrition programs and shifts some costs to states.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., crafted the package as part of a broader budget reconciliation plan. The proposal focuses mainly on commodities, nutrition, crop insurance, trade, and research, leaving out areas like conservation, forestry, and rural development for now.

Thompson’s plan would reduce spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $290 billion over the next decade while increasing funding for the farmer safety net, crop insurance, and trade programs by about $60 billion. This package will be part of the larger “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” which Republicans are working on to extend and expand the 2017 tax cuts while cutting spending by scaling back programs like SNAP and Medicaid.

04/17/2025

Check out this Deere 7230R, available for rent on AgShared.com for $8000/month or best offer. Located in Shafter, California, but we have regional transportation available.

This is the time of year to rent out high horsepower tractors!

04/14/2025

Need to rent a Case IH Puma 185 for $4600/month, 160 hours?
DM us or go to AgShared.com for more details.

Standard Comfort Pack Standard Roof and Glass Bluetooth Radio Mec Tel Shatterproof RR FUEL TANK 758001 -Main and Aux with Guards BATTERY ISOLATOR SW 390798 -Less Electr Battery Isolator TRANSMISSION 391137 -18 X 6 40KPH FULL-PO NO RADAR 393090 TRLR BRK VLV 391155 -Less Trailer Brakes_ HITCH 758083 -2X110mm Cyl-Cat 2/3Tele Links 2,867.00 2,207.59 REAR HITCHES/DRAWBAR 758100 -Independent Swinging Drawbar HYD PUMP 391161 -Standard Flow Pump JOYSTICK 391169 -No Joystick REAR REMOTES 758060 -Four Electronic Rear Remotes MID-MOUNT VALVES 391168 -Less Mid-Mount EHR Valves_ PTO 758031 -540/1000 Interchanging Shafts FRONT AXLE/DRIVE ENGAGE 392745 -CLASS 4R STANDARD AX FRONT WHEELS AND TIRES 8295404 -320/85R38 R1W MI REAR AXLE 758054 -Bar Axle 119 in. REAR WHEELS AND TIRES 8344404 -320/90R54 R1W - MI FRONT FENDERS 393004 -L/FRONT FENDERS

03/28/2025

U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer has filed a lawsuit against a Selma, California based farming company following a crash in February 2024 that claimed the lives of seven farmworkers.

The lawsuit, filed last week in federal court, alleges that Lion Farms violated the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act by failing to provide safe transportation for its workers, not paying wages on time, and neglecting to give workers the required employment information.

According to the lawsuit, a supervisor at Lion Farms arranged transportation for eight workers traveling from their homes in Kerman to a farm in Madera County on the morning of February 23, 2024. The workers reportedly paid about $13 per day for transportation. The lawsuit claims the supervisor assigned the driving to another field worker, despite knowing the worker did not have a valid driver’s license.

The California Highway Patrol reported that the van—a 2001 GMC Safari—was struck head-on by a truck. The crash resulted in the deaths of seven passengers, the van’s driver, and the truck driver. Authorities also noted that six of the eight people in the van were not wearing seatbelts, and the vehicle lacked the required minimum liability insurance coverage.

Following the accident, an investigation was launched, and community volunteers helped raise funds to return the victims’ bodies to Mexico for burial.

In addition to the transportation violations, the government claims that Lion Farms failed to properly compensate its migrant workers, did not provide required wage information—including employee addresses and the company’s identification number—and continues to employ workers without meeting legal wage requirements.

Don’t do this, folks.

03/19/2025

Starting Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin accepting applications for financial assistance from farmers impacted by low commodity prices. This aid, approved by Congress last year, aims to provide much-needed support.

As part of the government funding package passed in December, $10 billion was allocated to supplement existing farm subsidy programs that help sustain U.S. crops. Through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, farmers growing eligible crops like wheat, corn, barley, and oats will receive payments based on acreage.

Farmers interested in applying can reach out to their local FSA office to request an application. The deadline to submit applications is August 15, 2025.

03/11/2025

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is raising concerns about John Deere’s repair policies, saying the company is making it harder for farmers and independent repair providers to fix their equipment.

She argues that by limiting repair options, John Deere is essentially forcing farmers to use its services, even when independent providers might offer quicker or more affordable alternatives. “Requiring farmers to use John Deere for repairs ultimately drives up costs, and that’s just not fair,” said Attorney General Mayes.

However, Arizona Farm Bureau President John Boelts believes the issue has already been addressed through an agreement between the American Farm Bureau Federation and John Deere. “I think some people may not realize what’s already been worked out, so this seems like a waste of taxpayer resources,” Boelts said. “Manufacturers have specific requirements for their equipment, and those have been considered.”

In response, the attorney general’s office emphasized that the Farm Bureau is not involved in the lawsuit and that legal claims against John Deere still need to be addressed in court.

“The Farm Bureau is not a plaintiff in this case. There are still unresolved claims regarding John Deere’s alleged unfair competition and restrictions that need to be heard in court,” they stated.

Attorney General Mayes contends that these restrictions violate the Arizona Uniform State Antitrust Act. Meanwhile, the Arizona Farm Bureau says they are open to discussions with the attorney general on this and other issues.

03/10/2025

Can China survive higher prices on much needed American farm imports?

China has responded to former President Donald Trump’s tariffs by adding a 15% tax on key American farm products like chicken, pork, soybeans, and beef.

The new tariffs, announced last week, came after Trump decided to double the levy on Chinese imports to 20% on March 4. However, China’s Commerce Ministry clarified that goods already in transit would be exempt from these additional tariffs until April 12.

This isn’t the first time American farmers have felt the impact of trade tensions. During Trump’s first term, China also placed tariffs on U.S. farm products, leading to a sharp drop in sales. The situation improved in January 2020 when the two countries reached a trade truce, with China agreeing to increase purchases from U.S. farmers. As a result, American farm exports to China hit a high of $38 billion in 2022. However, that number declined to $29 billion in 2023 and $25 billion last year. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, sales in January were down 56% compared to the previous year.

03/07/2025

The U.S. agricultural trade deficit is expected to grow in 2025, according to the latest USDA Outlook for U.S. Agriculture Trade report. The agency is now projecting that agricultural imports will exceed exports by $49 billion. This shift comes as exports see modest growth, while imports continue to rise at a faster pace.

For fiscal year 2025, U.S. agricultural exports are now forecast at $170.5 billion—up $500 million from November’s estimate. This increase is largely driven by stronger grain and feed exports, particularly corn, which saw a $1.4 billion boost thanks to rising demand and higher prices. However, gains were somewhat offset by a weaker outlook for oilseeds.

Mexico is set to remain the top destination for U.S. agricultural products, with exports expected to hit a record $30.2 billion—$300 million higher than earlier projections.

On the import side, agricultural purchases are forecast to rise to $219.5 billion, an increase of $4 billion from previous estimates. With import demand outpacing export growth, the trade deficit is expected to continue expanding.

03/05/2025

USDA’s latest numbers show that crop cash receipts have dropped over the past two years—marking the largest decline in recorded history. With that in mind, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins brought long-awaited news to farmers.

Speaking to a packed crowd at Commodity Classic on Sunday, Rollins shared details about the $30 billion economic and disaster aid package recently approved by Congress.

“Today, I’m proud to announce that this economic assistance program will be called the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, or ECAP,” Rollins said. “Our goal is simple—we want the process to be easy, transparent, and fast.”

Rollins assured farmers that USDA is working quickly, aiming to start distributing the first $10 billion in economic aid within weeks—well ahead of the 90-day deadline.

To receive assistance, farmers will just need to verify their information with the Farm Service Agency (FSA), sign the necessary paperwork, and return it to their local FSA Service Center.

At the same time, USDA is moving forward on rolling out the remaining $20 billion in disaster aid for weather-related losses while ensuring fair and transparent payment calculations.

02/26/2025

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the USDA will release the first portion of funding previously paused for review under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Following White House directives, Rollins confirmed in a Feb. 20 news release that the USDA will honor existing contracts, allocating approximately $20 million through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.

National Farmers Union President Rob Larew welcomed the decision, calling it a “first step” in ensuring USDA follows through on commitments to farmers. He urged the department to complete its review quickly, release remaining funds, and maintain continuity in key programs.

Rollins underscored the challenges facing American farmers and criticized the Biden administration for policies she described as overregulation, extreme environmental measures, and inflation. She also accused the administration of mismanaging IRA funds, stating that some allocations had nothing to do with agriculture.

While reaffirming support for farmers and ranchers, Rollins said the USDA’s review is ongoing, with additional funding announcements expected soon.

02/25/2025

While many news outlets have headlines about farmers being “targeted” and “hurt” by DOGE’s spending cuts at the USDA, here’s the truth: the cuts have been a small fraction of the overall attempts to reduce waste, fraud and abuse, and have targeted a suspiciously rich IT contract, unusually expensive Politico subscriptions, and DEI programs.

As of Monday, DOGE has identified more than 80 cuts at the USDA, totaling over $231 million in savings. This is part of the broader $55 billion reduction in government spending so far. That puts the USDA in fifth place for contract savings and tenth when looking at savings as a percentage of its budget, according to President Donald Trump’s efficiency commission, which has the backing of billionaire Elon Musk.

One of the largest single cuts at the USDA is $35 million for IT consulting. Additionally, at least $100 million in reductions are tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training and related programs. In an executive order issued in January, Trump described these programs as “forced illegal and immoral discrimination.”

Several other targeted USDA programs include gender equity initiatives funded by the Forest Service’s International Programs. “We will end identity politics, identity celebrations, and DEI at USDA—period,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told agency staff shortly after her confirmation.

Among the cuts, DOGE has also flagged $1.2 million in USDA spending on Politico news subscriptions, along with similar reductions for news outlet subscriptions at other agencies.

Across the federal government, DOGE has identified an estimated $55 billion in savings through contract and grant cancellations, staffing reductions, and other efficiency efforts as of Monday.

So when you hear media outlets reporting that farmers are targeted and hurt by these changes, take into consideration if your family farm really is feeling those cuts to an IT contract, DEI program, or someone else’s news subscription.

02/19/2025

According to Barron’s, Deere stock may have hit its lowest point—and from here, the only way is up.

Deere’s fiscal first-quarter earnings and outlook for 2025 weren’t exactly thrilling, but there’s a silver lining: this could be the turning point for the tractor maker. On Thursday, Deere reported earnings of $3.19 per share on $6.8 billion in equipment sales. While that slightly beat Wall Street’s earnings expectations of $3.11 per share, sales fell short of the projected $7.7 billion, according to FactSet.

Not bad, but there’s a catch—a one-time tax benefit helped boost the numbers. Plus, earnings were down compared to last year, when Deere reported $6.23 per share on $10.5 billion in sales.

No surprises here—times have been tough in agriculture. U.S. net farm income was around $163 billion in 2024, down from $165 billion in 2023 and well below the record $228 billion in 2022, according to the USDA. With less income, farmers have had to cut back on big purchases like tractors and combines.

Still, investors are hoping for a turnaround. There’s reason for optimism—the USDA projects farm income will rise to $194 billion in 2025. That doesn’t mean Deere’s sales will instantly bounce back, though. First, the company and its dealers will need to work through higher-than-normal equipment inventories.

For deals on Deere rentals, check out AgShared.com.

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