The National Milk Producers Federation today announced the creation of the Dr. Peter Vitaliano Legacy Scholarship as part of the National Dairy Leadership Scholarship Program. The award will be used to help support a student who demonstrates attributes exemplified by Vitaliano to honor his longtime commitment to the success of U.S. dairy producers and cooperatives.

“NMPF and the NMPF Board of Directors are honored to establish the Dr. Peter Vitaliano Legacy Scholarship,” said NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud. “This commitment embodies his passion for education and commitment to making a difference in the dairy industry. We are recognizing Peter’s legacy and investing in the pipeline of future leaders.”

The program also hopes to raise $500,000 this year for an endowment to support the longevity of the program, including this new legacy scholarship.

Vitaliano served as the Vice President of Economic Policy and Market Research for NMPF through 2024, leading efforts in implementing, conducting and communicating all economic analysis supporting the Federation’s programs relating to domestic and international dairy policy. He has extensive experience with, and knowledge of, U.S. dairy markets and domestic and international agricultural and trade policy.

Since 1992, he served as project director for numerous contracts between NMPF and the various national dairy promotion organizations, including the National Dairy Research and Promotion Board, Dairy Management, Inc., and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, conducting market information and economic research relating to domestic and international dairy markets.

“This scholarship is more than just financial support; it is a commitment to nurturing the dreams and aspirations of future generations of dairy leaders,” said Chris Kraft, NMPF scholarship committee chairman and a member of NMPF’s Board of Directors, representing Dairy Farmers of America. “By investing in the future of dairy, we are not only honoring the achievements of those who came before but also paving the way for those who will come next.”

The scholarship is designed to support individuals who demonstrate a passion for the industry through community engagement, academic interests and advocacy. Individuals selected for the Vitaliano Legacy Scholarship will also demonstrate experience with mentoring, coaching, or teaching.

The Vitaliano Legacy Scholarship will be available to applicants in the 2025-26 application cycle. To find out more information, or to donate, please visit the scholarship webpage.

U.S. farmer sentiment continued its upward trend in February, as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose 11 points from the previous month to a reading of 152. The boost was primarily driven by the stronger sentiment among producers, with the Current Conditions Index climbing 28 points to 137 — marking a rebound from its low of 76 in late summer and early fall 2024.

In contrast, the Future Expectations Index saw only a modest increase, rising 3 points to 159. The recent upswing in sentiment reflects a combination of factors, including a sharp recovery in crop prices, expectations for disaster payments authorized by Congress, and continued strength in the U.S. livestock sector. Despite the notable improvement in current conditions, farmers remain more optimistic about the future, as the Future Expectations Index continues to outpace the Current Conditions Index by 22 points. This month’s survey was conducted between Feb. 10-14.

Farm capital investment index reaches highest level since 2021

The Farm Capital Investment Index jumped 11 points in February to a reading of 59, reaching its most positive level since May 2021. This month’s increase also placed the index 4 points above its November post-election reading. Compared to previous months, where future expectations primarily led investment sentiment, February’s increase was driven by farmers’ improved assessment of current conditions. Meanwhile, the Farm Financial Performance Index held steady at 110, nearly unchanged from January’s reading of 111. Although the index saw little movement this month, it remains well above last fall’s low of 68.

The Short-Term Farmland Value Expectations Index modestly increased in February to 118, a 3-point increase from January and 8 points higher than December. This month’s reading was also 3 points above its level from a year ago and nearly the same as two years ago. While producers remain less optimistic about farmland values than they were during the winters of 2021 and 2022, sentiment has improved compared to the more cautious outlook seen in late summer and early fall 2024.

“While sentiment about the future remains strong, as reflected in the Future Expectations Index, there’s growing interest in making larger investments in farm operations, suggesting that farmers are feeling more confident about their ability to grow despite the challenges ahead,” said Michael Langemeier, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture.

Each February, the barometer survey asks producers about their five-year growth expectations for their farm operations. In the 2025 survey, 50 percent of respondents indicated they either have “no plans to grow” (37 percent) or “plan to exit or retire” (13 percent), nearly unchanged from 52 percent in 2024. Since 2016, the share of producers in these two categories has ranged from a low of 43 percent  in 2016 to a high of 61 percent in 2022.

This year’s biggest shift came from a decline in the percentage of producers expecting slow growth (less than 5 percent) and a corresponding increase in those anticipating higher growth rates. Nineteen percent of respondents noted expectations for their farm to grow by 10 percent to 15 percent or more annually — more than double the 9 percent who projected similar growth last year.

Policies impacting agriculture are top of mind for U.S. farmers. Sixty-two percent of survey respondents in February indicated that passing a new farm bill in 2025 is either “important” (25 percent) or “very important” (47 percent). When asked about the most crucial policies for their farm over the next five years, 44 percent cited “trade policy” as their top concern, followed by “crop insurance program” at 18 percent. Concerns about trade policy were also evident when producers were asked about the likelihood of a “trade war” that results in a significant drop in U.S. agricultural exports. Forty-eight percent of farmers in this month’s survey believe a trade war is either “likely” (29 percent) or “very likely” (19 percent).

“While the current outlook for U.S. agriculture has improved, farmers are closely watching trade policy and the potential for a new farm bill, both of which are key factors shaping their long-term expectations,” said Langemeier. “These ongoing policy concerns will likely play a critical role in shaping producer sentiment in the months ahead.”

BEIJING — China on Tuesday suspended the soybean import licenses of three U.S. firms and halted imports of U.S. lumber, stepping up retaliatory action after the United States imposed additional tariffs on Chinese goods.

Earlier in the day, China also imposed import levies covering $21 billion worth of U.S. agricultural and food products including soybeans, wheat, meat, and cotton.

The three U.S companies affected by the license suspensions are farmer-owned cooperative CHS Inc, global grains exporter Louis Dreyfus Company Grains Merchandising LLC, and export grain terminal operator EGT, China’s customs department said in a statement.

Customs said it detected ergot and seed coating agent in imported U.S. soybeans while the suspension of U.S. lumber imports was due to the detection of small worms, aspergillus and other pests.

Beijing’s retaliatory measures were in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose an extra 10 percent duty on China, effective Tuesday, resulting in a cumulative 20 percent tariff in response to what the White House considers Chinese inaction over drug flows.

About half of U.S. soybean exports are shipped to China, totaling nearly $12.8 billion in trade in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The suspension of U.S. lumber was a direct response to Trump’s move on March 1 to order a trade investigation on imported lumber. Trump had earlier told reporters that he was thinking about imposing a 25 percent tariff rate on lumber and forest products.

“The announcement of import restrictions on U.S lumber and soybeans linked with phytosanitary issues follows a long history of similar measures by Beijing,” said Even Pay, agriculture analyst at Trivium China.

The bulk import volumes and natural origin of soybeans and lumber make them susceptible to issues with plant health and pests, creating a convenient target for trade retaliation, Pay said.

China is one of the world’s largest importers of wood products and the third largest destination for U.S. lumber. It imported around $850 million worth of lumber products from the U.S. in 2024, according to Chinese customs data.

Media representatives for Louis Dreyfus, CHS and Bunge Global, which partially owns EGT, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Additional levies imposed by China earlier on Tuesday comprised a 15 percent tariff on U.S. chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton and an extra levy of 10 percent on U.S. soybeans, sorghum, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits and vegetables, and dairy imports, effective from March 10.

With Canada also feeling the weight of newly imposed tariffs, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Ottawa would respond with immediate 25 percent tariffs on $20.7 billion worth of U.S. imports and on an additional $86.2 billion if Trump’s tariffs were still in place in 21 days. He said previously that Canada would target American beer, wine, bourbon, home appliances, and Florida orange juice.

“Tariffs will disrupt an incredibly successful trading relationship,” Trudeau said, adding that they would violate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement signed by Trump during his first term.

China’s suspension on the three soybean exporters on top of higher import tariffs will further restrict imports of the oilseed into China.

Beijing’s concerted efforts in recent years to greatly reduce its dependence on U.S supplies has put it in a stronger position to target U.S farm goods with less impact to its food security and greater harm to U.S farmers compared to a 2018 trade war during Trump’s first administration.

China has turned to South American producers, boosted agriculture cooperation with allies and raised domestic production through expanded planting and the use of technology.

Reporting by Mei Mei Chu and Ella Cao in Beijing, Gus Trompiz in Paris, Editing by Louise Heavens, David Evans and Susan Fenton