Uncertainty has loomed over Canada’s economy for the better part of the year. Graeme Crosbie, a senior economist at Farm Credit Canada (FCC), discussed the dairy industry’s trade environment and provide an update on the current economy.

What started as a niche market opportunity, beef-on-dairy, is now a mainstream practice, not only in the U.S. but across the world. A RaboResearch report analyzed how beef-on-dairy is a strategic opportunity to enhance value, reduce waste and reshape global beef supply chains.

In the news affecting dairy producers' bottom lines the first full week of October 2025: U.S. government shutdown hits day nine, NEXT assists with nearly 80 million pounds of dairy product export sales, and the USDEC advances trade between Taiwan and Indonesia.

The September Feed Outlook report shows corn area harvested is raised 1.356 million acres and area harvested for sorghum is raised 40,000 acres. Associated yields are lowered 2.1 bushels per acre for corn and raised 1.4 bushels for sorghum. Taken together, these changes result in production gains of 72.7 million bushels for corn and 10.7 million bushels for sorghum.

The September World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report (WASDE) showed this month’s 2025-26 U.S. corn outlook is for greater supplies, larger exports and a slight reduction in ending stocks. Projected beginning stocks for 2025-26 are 20 million bushels higher based on a lower use forecast for 2024-25, with reductions in imports and corn used for ethanol partially offset by an increase in exports. 

The second half of 2025 is off to a strong start with July’s U.S. dairy product exports soaring 7% (14,144 metric tons) year over year in milk solid equivalents, which was the second-largest volume moved in any month aside from August 2022.

U.S. beef exports have faced considerable headwinds in 2025, largely in the form of high tariff rates and the ensuing trade policy fallout in key markets for U.S. beef, especially in China.

In the news affecting a dairy producer's bottom line this first week of September 2025: The USDA outlines a plan to strengthen the rural veterinary workforce, farmer sentiment weakens, the GDT index tumbles 4.3%, and Westby Cooperative Creamery announces a $14 million expansion.

The July Feed Outlook report shows record-high U.S. corn production is projected for the 2025-26 marketing year, based on the season’s first survey-based corn-yield forecast of the year and updated area estimates from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.