Canadians are supportive of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s handling of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Canada is expected to rejoin the talks this week, as the U.S. and Mexico are working to reach an agreement. Meanwhile, a Canadian public opinion research firm, says 56 percent of Canadians approve of Trudeau’s handling of the ongoing NAFTA talks, representing an 11-point increase since December of last year. Just 24 percent disapprove, and 20 percent are unsure. The poll shows a majority of Canadians, 55 percent, want a new NAFTA deal only if there are moderate or minor concessions to the U.S., as few are supportive of a deal that makes major concessions. Public expectations in Canada are largely unchanged since December. Four-in-ten expect the negotiations to produce a revised NAFTA that is either a fair deal or overly favorable to the United States.

Another poll shows support of President Donald Trump by farmers is declining. A new Farm Journal poll shows that while almost 70 percent of America’s farmers and ranchers voted for Donald Trump in 2016, only 54 percent would vote for him again. Nearly 2,500 farmers participated in the online poll. 51 percent of those participating view the president as favorable, while 43 percent view him unfavorably and five percent view him neither favorable nor unfavorable. When asked if their opinion of President Trump had changed since the start of trade wars, 38 percent of respondents indicated they had no change in their opinion, while 36 percent said their opinion was less favorable and 26 percent said their opinion was more favorable. Even as the 2018 drought in the Midwest continues to cast a shadow over this year’s harvest amidst the tariff battles, some respondent’s comments were positive declaring President Trump the “best president America has ever had” while others are proclaiming him “the worst.”

Canada could rejoin the North American Free Trade Agreement talks by the end of this week, according to Politico. The move is a positive sign that the U.S. and Mexico could begin wrapping up their end of the deal quickly, paving the way for the U.S. to pivot towards negotiating with Canada. For weeks, Canada has been on the sidelines of the talks as the U.S. and Mexico engage in negotiations. However, Canada has remained out largely since many issues being discussed are simply topics, such as labor, that Canada does not need to be included in. The U.S. and Mexico are eager to wrap up their sides of the negotiations, with both nations seeing a quick agreement as a political win, before the U.S. midterm elections and before a new President takes office in Mexico.

The two biggest independent seed sellers in the United States are seeking a ban of dicamba beyond pre-plant applications. Beck’s Hybrids and Stine Seed told Reuters most complaints about dicamba drifting would stop if the Environmental Protection Agency restricted its use to killing weeds in fields before crops are planted. Last year, drift issues from dicamba herbicides sprayed on resistant fields damaged an estimated 3.6 million acres, or four percent of all U.S. plantings. Last month, the University of Missouri estimated one million acres had been damaged this year. The move would be a competitive blow to Monsanto, which is being absorbed by Bayer, as Monsanto sells a popular dicamba system for growers. Monsanto counters that complaints have dropped this year and that most damage now stems from improper applications. Registration for dicamba on resistant crops with the Environmental Protection Agency expires this fall and the EPA is expected to issue a decision on renewing the registration within weeks. Monsanto expects the EPA will extend the approval.

The Rural Mainstreet Index climbed above growth neutral this month. The monthly survey of bank CEO’s in ten Midwestern states climbed to 54.8 from 53.8 in July. The index ranges between 0 and 100 with 50.0 representing growth neutral. Organizer Ernie Goss of Creighton University says the survey shows expansion of the economy outside of agriculture, but adds “the negative impacts of recent trade skirmishes have begun to surface, weakening already anemic grain prices.” In reaction to weak farm commodity prices and income, almost one-third, or 31.0 percent, of bank CEOs reported rejecting a higher percentage of farm loans. More than half, or 54.8 percent, indicated raising collateral requirements, while 4.8 percent reported reducing the size of farm loans. Meanwhile, the August farm equipment sales sub-index fell to 37.8 from July’s 38.8. This marks the 60th consecutive month the reading has moved below growth neutral 50.0. In terms of the sale of farm equipment over the next 12 months, bankers expect sales to decline by 7.8 percent.

President Trump spoke recently during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, saying farmers are starting to prosper. However, a Bloomberg article says the numbers tell a different story. “I hear they’re starting to do well in spite of everything,” the President said during comments from the meeting. “They’re selling corn, they’re selling soybeans, they’re selling everything, at levels that are soon going to be pretty good levels.” Benchmark soybean futures are down 14 percent since China first proposed putting tariffs on American imports back in April. China followed through on that threat in July. The Bloomberg Agricultural Sub-Index, which is made up of corn, soybeans, and other major farm products, hasn’t recovered from the record-low it set in July. The Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer sank last month. The USDA is projecting net farm income to total $59.5 billion, the lowest number since 2006. The administration says it will offer $12 billion in aid to farmers who’ve been hurt by the trade conflict. “They attacked our farmers by not buying from our farmers,” Trump says. “They know the farmers like Trump and I like them. I love them.”