Cargill expects international grain markets to remain oversupplied. The company’s CEO told Reuters recently that the oversupply will remain “for a long time” due to bountiful harvests and an increase of crops in storage. Global corn, wheat and soybean inventories have increased over the last four years in the longest stretch of gains since the late 1990s, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Meanwhile, world grain and oilseed stocks are up 48 percent since 2012, compared with production growth of 18 percent and consumption growth of 17 percent over the same period. Cargill CEO David MacLennan added: “I don’t see the clearing of excess supply or much volatility to up commodity and grain prices in the near future.”

With U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer’s swearing-in Monday, a group of trade officials from Mexico plan to travel to the U.S. to begin working on trade issues between the two countries. U.S. News and World Report says Luis Videgaray, Mexico’s Foreign Minister, will travel with other high ranking officials from Mexico to the U.S. as the two countries seek to end a dispute over sugar exports and prepare for talks over renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement. Mexico’s Foreign Minister said last week of the vote to confirm Lighthizer: “For us, it’s good news that the process is closer to starting.” He says Mexico is ready to enter “a serious negotiation” with the United States.

The White House is close to announcing nominees for political appointments within the Department of Agriculture, as reported by Agri-Pulse. Rumored for the number two spot at USDA, Steve Censky, CEO of the American Soybean Association, is expected to be nominated for the USDA deputy secretary position. Current Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey is expected to receive the nominee for a nearly created post as undersecretary for farm production and conservation. Northey said on Facebook: “I love my job as Iowa secretary of agriculture and I am anxious to support the President, Secretary Perdue and USDA’s mission in whatever role I am in — either within USDA or outside.” Indiana Agriculture Department Director Ted McKinney is expected to be nominated as undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs. Finally, Sam Clovis, who has served on the USDA transition team is being considered as the next undersecretary for research, education, and economics.

The Environmental Protection Agency has sent Renewable Fuel Standard volume obligations to the White House Office of Management and Budget. The White House is expected to complete its review of the proposed rule within the next 90 days for the 2018 RVO’s and the Biomass Based Diesel Volume for 2019, according to DTN-Progressive Farmer. The deadline for the final rule is November 30th. Last year, the EPA proposal called for 14.8 billion gallons of corn ethanol, just shy of the 15 billion gallon target set by Congress. The total RVO was finalized at 19.28 billion gallons. That included 4.28 billion gallons of advanced biofuel and 311 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel. That means the implied RVO for conventional biofuels including corn ethanol was set at 15 billion gallons.

Ranking Senate Agriculture Committee Democrat Debbie Stabenow praised the addition of a trade undersecretary at the Department of Agriculture, but is concerned with the proposed rural development changes. The reorganization proposal for USDA would eliminate the undersecretary for rural development. Stabenow says the role is “an important voice for rural America” adding the proposal would bypass Congress’s role to confirm a qualified nominee. USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue says the move would simply have the person in charge of rural development closer to his office. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition says the move is “trading away” rural, domestic priorities in favor of boosting international trade. However, the Coalition notes that all USDA undersecretaries already report directly to the Agriculture Secretary, and say the demotion, taken together with the Administration’s recent attempt to wipe out rural business programs through the appropriations process, “sends a clear signal that the President does not understand the critical nature of rural development to the American economy.” USDA is encouraging the public to provide input on the plan.

The National Chicken Council says the announcement that U.S. beef exports will return to China is a positive step towards resuming chicken exports to China as well. U.S. chicken has been blocked by China since January 2015, when the country issued a blanket ban on all U.S. poultry over issues related to avian influenza. In a news release, NCC President Mike Brown encouraged the administration to “continue their work to remove China’s obstacles preventing U.S. broiler access to their marketplace.” Poultry exports to China peaked in 2008, with an export value of $722 million. The trade deal announced by the White House will also allow Chinese companies to export cooked poultry products to the United States.

The North American Meat Institute says U.S. beef exports to China could be worth an estimated $2.6 billion, once allowed. The White House announced a deal with China to open the market to U.S. beef no later than July 16th. China has been closed to U.S. beef for nearly 14 years after a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy that occurred in Washington state in December 2003. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Craig Uden stated: “It’s impossible to overstate how beneficial this will be for America’s cattle producers.” Meat industry publication Meatingplace points out that China has twice before agreed to grant market access to U.S. beef, but regulatory hurdles have prevented any real trade from materializing, and U.S. beef industry stakeholders applauded a similar announcement last September.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced it would delay implementation of the Pesticide Applicators rule. Missouri Governor Eric Greitens says the action follows his recommendation to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt during a meeting to delay the rule. Greitens says the recommendation was made at the request of Missouri farmers and ranchers. The move, according to the Missouri Governor, proved “the old way of doing business at the EPA is over and done with.” Pruitt said the EPA would delay the rule for 12 months. The Pesticide Applicators Rule would establish a minimum age of 18 and stricter training requirements for people who apply restricted-use pesticides. The extended timeline, according to Pruitt, will give the EPA more time to consult with states and receive feedback from farmers and ranchers about the rule.