As 2025 winds down, it is a good time to look back on the ag economy for the year. On the surface the most basic analysis is that it was a tough year for grain producers while livestock producers had a more prosperous year, especially in the cattle sector.
USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer says there were numerous factors that affected the ag sector and ag economy this year.
Meyer says that trade policy was also a central theme for the year and aid payments from the federal government were also front and center in 2025.
Other notable events for the year include a new USDA Secretary, and expectations for record production of U.S. corn and global wheat. At the same time crop growers faced tighter margins while livestock producers benefitted from strong economic factors generally in their favor.
