Farm Groups Push for Relief in Defense Spending Package

DELMARVA — Agricultural groups escalated pressure on Washington this week, asking the Trump administration to include farm relief in a defense spending package for military operations involving Iran. The request comes as producers nationwide face mounting economic pressures, with operating costs continuing to squeeze margins. Meanwhile, USDA officials are reminding farmers to document any weather-related […]

DELMARVA — Agricultural groups escalated pressure on Washington this week, asking the Trump administration to include farm relief in a defense spending package for military operations involving Iran. The request comes as producers nationwide face mounting economic pressures, with operating costs continuing to squeeze margins.

Meanwhile, USDA officials are reminding farmers to document any weather-related damage from recent storms. Sandy Chalmers, Wisconsin’s Farm Service Agency Director, says producer reports are essential for disaster declaration requests, even as farmers focus on immediate recovery work.

Markets

It was a losing week across the board. Soybeans led Friday’s decline on profit-taking and technical selling. May soybeans closed at $11.61.25, down 7.25 cents. May corn settled at $4.65.5, falling 4.25 cents. May Chicago wheat finished at $5.48.75, losing 3.5 cents.

Cattle markets bucked the trend with April live cattle climbing 77 cents to $234.05 per hundredweight.

Forecast

Expect a nice Saturday with sunny skies and highs reaching 61°F. Northwest winds 5-10 mph. Sunday turns partly sunny and warmer with highs near 69°F before showers and thunderstorms become likely Sunday night.

Rain showers likely Monday with highs only reaching 54°F and northeast winds 10-15 mph. Clearing returns Tuesday with sunny skies and highs near 48°F.

This article is based on the Delmarva Farm Report Update Morning Edition, March 21, 2026. Hosted by Tom Bradley.