Day 14 of Iran War: US Temporarily Eases Russian Oil Sanctions; Shipping Risks Mount 

Israeli airstrikes have hit Tehran on the 14^th day of the Iran war as Iran and its allies launch retaliatory attacks across Gulf states, sharply escalating tensions across the region and disrupting global energy markets.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route linking the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, remains severely disrupted.

On Friday, the US issued a 30-day license for countries to buy Russian oil and petroleum products currently stranded at sea. Oil prices eased following the announcement, though prices are...

Day 13 of Iran War: Strait of Hormuz Tensions Continue, Brent Crude Tops $100 Again

US and Israeli strikes on Iran continued Thursday as the war entered its 13th day, while Tehran intensified retaliatory attacks that have unsettled global energy markets.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran could consider ending the war if its “legitimate rights” are acknowledged, reparations are paid, and binding international guarantees are put in place to prevent future attacks.

Maritime tensions are increasing around the Strait of Hormuz, with reports of tanker attacks off Iraq and drone strikes targeting energy infrastructure throughout the Gulf...

Farm Bureau President Offers Solutions to Increase Demand of Homegrown Food, Fiber & Renewable Fuel

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall yesterday offered a variety of solutions for increasing demand of U.S.-grown agricultural goods during testimony before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry. He joined several other agriculture leaders to share priorities to address a structural imbalance that threatens both farmers’ livelihoods and food security in the U.S.

“We must strengthen domestic demand for American agricultural products. We must reinforce our production capacity of critical ag supplies and restore domestic processing capacity. We must ensure our safety nets are strong and expand fair and enforceable market access abroad,” Duvall noted in his opening comments...

Day 11: Trump Says Iran War Could End “Very Soon,” But Not This Week

On the 11th day of the US–Israel war on Iran, Tehran endured what officials described as some of the heaviest overnight bombardments so far.

Speaking on Monday, US President Donald Trump commented that the war could end “very soon,” but noted that it would not be over this week. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded that Iran would continue fighting for as long as necessary, casting doubt on Trump’s claim that the war may cease in the near future.

Crude oil prices fell more than 10% Tuesday...

US-Israel War on Iran Enters Seventh Day Amid Ongoing Strikes and Regional Fallout

The US-Israel war on Iran has entered its seventh day, with strikes continuing across the Middle East. 

Regional impacts are mounting. In Kuwait and Bahrain, missile attacks from Iran were intercepted, with a fire contained at a Bahraini oil refinery. The UAE and Qatar faced multiple missile and drone strikes, while Tel Aviv was targeted in Iran’s attacks.

Israel intensified its bombardment in Lebanon, and Azerbaijan suspended cross-border traffic following drone attacks...

US–Israel War on Iran Escalates With New Strikes, Senate Backs Trump’s War Powers

On the sixth day of the US-Israeli war on Iran, new strikes hit Iran and the wider region, with explosions reported again in Tehran. Israel has launched attacks on the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and multiple waves of Iranian missiles were fired toward Israel overnight.

The US Senate rejected a measure to limit US President Donald Trump’s war powers as Washington signaled deeper strikes in Iran, following a US torpedo attack that sank an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka. The war appears likely to persist, with US officials signaling operations could last weeks...

Farmers Impacted by Fuel and Fertilizer Volatility

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on potential fuel and fertilizer supply issues following military action in Iran.

"We are hearing a groundswell of concern from farmers facing increased volatility in fertilizer and fuel prices, as well as some reports of companies freezing fertilizer sales, at a critical time with planting season coming into full swing. History teaches us that energy market shocks quickly reach the farm gate and countries in and around the Persian Gulf account for a large share of fertilizer supplies our farmers rely on, so it’s a serious issue. We’ve alert...

Iran War Enters Fourth Day, Driving Higher Crude Prices and Broad Commodity Swings

The US-Israeli war on Iran intensified into its fourth day, with Tehran reporting a death toll of 787 as strikes continue to target leadership and infrastructure. Israel’s campaign, initially described as a two-week operation, is reportedly advancing faster than expected, with no firm end date signaled. US President Donald Trump said the war could last four to five weeks.

Global markets remain on edge. Crude oil surged nearly 4% in overnight trade, while European equities fell sharply. US stock futures also pointed lower, with the three major indices last shedding about 2%...

Expana's Weekly Top 10: Markets Rally After SCOTUS Tariff Ruling, Section 122 Takes Center Stage

Welcome to Expana's Weekly Top 10 Stories, where we highlight the week's most significant events and trends across various sectors.

This edition features a crucial Supreme Court tariff ruling that leads to strategic pivots by the administration, a major sustainability-focused investment in China's industrial sector, and pivotal European Commission proposals affecting the fertilizer market.

We also cover notable shifts in the foodservice industry, dramatic agricultural incidents, and key economic indicators suggesting potential inflationary pressures. Explore these stories for a concise overview of impactful...

Trump Admin Roundtable Discussion: Bridge Payments to Farmers, Soybean Purchases, Fair Trade, EUDR

On December 8, US President Trump held a roundtable meeting with members of the US farming community, Agriculture Secretary Rollins, Treasury Secretary Bessent, and others at the White House to announce monetary support to farmers impacted by the US trade policy. 

The administration announced plans to provide $12 billion in tariff income-fueled support for farmers, to address the high costs of farm equipment, and to examine anti-competitive behavior in the food supply chain...

Secretary Rollins Speaks on State of Farm Economy; Announces Suite of Actions to Support Farmers

Today, in Kansas City at the Agriculture Outlook Forum, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins spoke on the current state of the farm economy in the United States and addressed the ways President Trump is supporting American agriculture. U.S. farm production inputs are significantly more costly than four years ago, putting pressure on farmers’ bottom line. Between 2020 and now, seed expenses have increased 18%, fuel and oil expenses increased 32%, fertilizer expenses increased 37%, and interest expenses increased by a whopping...

US Implements Japanese Trade Deal; 15% Tariffs, Billions in Investments, Ag Purchases

Later on September 4, the US implemented a previously announced trade deal with Japan–setting a 15% baseline tariff on almost all Japanese goods imported to the US, according to a White House statement about a presidential order. This comes almost a week after tariffs were again disputed in the US judicial system.

The now-implemented deal also created sector-specific carve-outs and outlined commitments on both sides that will affect demand for US agricultural commodities and beyond (namely, for US rice).

Plus, the order carves...