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Thursday, Aug 6
Save US Farms
The Daily Dirt · 2026-06-28-morning

The Daily Dirt — Morning Edition

Supreme Court shields Monsanto from liability as courts reshape agricultural law. Corn prices fall, screwworm threat persists, and the farm labor crisis deepens.

The bottom line
  • [Supreme Court hands Monsanto a major victory](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1068_n7ip.pdf), ruling that federal law preempts state liability lawsuits over Roundup warnings. Justice Kavanaugh's 7-2 opinion shields the herbicide maker from future failure-to-warn claims, dealing a blow to farmers and gardeners who claim glyphosate caused their cancers.
  • [H-2A farmworker certifications surged 17% in the first half of 2026](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/agriculture/h2a) as farms accelerate reliance on guest workers. Dairy operations, newly eligible under [June 17 federal guidance](https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/06/17/trump-administration-welcomes-clarification-h2a-eligibility-dairy-operations), are hiring temporary workers even as wage floors collapse—cutting H-2A pay 26–32% compared to 2025.
  • [Corn futures fell below $4.13 per bushel on June 26](https://usda.gov/oce/commodity/wasde/wasde0526v2.pdf) as favorable crop weather and weakening crude oil prices pressured grain markets. USDA projects 2026/27 corn at 16.0 billion bushels, down 6% year-over-year, with prices averaging $4.20 for the marketing year.
  • [New World screwworm cases persist in Texas livestock as USDA holds the line](https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/stop-screwworm). Mexico reported 62 active cases within 100 miles of the border. FDA granted emergency authorization for ivermectin to protect dairy cattle, but the risk to herds—and to ranchers managing outbreaks—remains acute heading into peak heat.
  • [The White House requested $11+ billion in additional farm aid](https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/12/30/usda-advances-farm-security-action-plan-protect-us-farmland-and-federal-programs-foreign-adversaries), including $10 billion for row and specialty crop producers as midwest farms face both drought-driven losses and unseasonal flooding. Florida growers need $1.1 billion in storm recovery assistance.
  • [FTC fertilizer investigation continues to widen](https://www.ftc.gov) as the agency pursues antitrust claims against leading manufacturers. USDA data shows fertilizer was the single largest input cost increase for farmers since 2020, with the highly concentrated market controlled by a handful of companies under federal scrutiny for pricing practices.

The overnight news cycle brought legal, labor, and commodity market shifts that reshape the landscape for farmers heading into harvest season. Here’s what changed.

The Monsanto ruling reshapes liability and environmental risk. The Supreme Court’s 7-2 decision preempting state law on herbicide warnings eliminates a key tool farmers and gardeners had to hold manufacturers accountable for health claims. Justice Kavanaugh’s opinion forecloses failure-to-warn claims under state tort law, the majority of Roundup litigation. The ruling doesn’t affect federal EPA authority, but it shields Monsanto from state-level accountability—a win for the company and a loss for claimants seeking damages.

Guest workers are the new math. The 17% surge in H-2A certifications tells the story: farms can’t find domestic workers at the wages they’re willing to pay, so they’re hiring more foreign workers. Dairy’s entry into the program—newly clarified as legal—opens a floodgate. But the wage cuts DOL imposed this year mean those workers are earning less than ever, and downward pressure on all farmworker wages follows.

Commodity prices are softening. Corn below $4.13 reflects both better crop conditions (the Midwest finally got rain) and crude oil weakness. Soybeans projections show higher supplies and lower ending stocks. The USDA’s outlook for 2026/27 shows a tighter corn market but modestly optimistic conditions—if weather cooperates.

Screwworm remains a live threat. Texas ranchers and dairy farmers are still managing outbreaks. The FDA’s emergency ivermectin authorization helps, but the heat of summer will accelerate the pest cycle. This is the first screwworm U.S. outbreak in 40 years; vigilance isn’t optional.

Farm aid is still in play. Congress hasn’t yet approved the $11 billion package, but the White House push signals the depth of rural financial distress—both from commodity headwinds and weather disasters. Watch for this in the legislative queue.

What to watch: Final fairness hearing for Deere’s $99M right-to-repair settlement (Oct 29), ongoing DOL/FTC antitrust actions, and whether H-2A certifications keep climbing. Commodity markets will track crop progress as summer advances.

— The Save US Farms Desk

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