By DTN Staff

OMAHA (DTN) -- Here are the Top 5 things the DTN Newsroom is tracking for the week of Oct. 26. Watch for coverage of these and other topics throughout the week on our subscription platforms as well as on www.DTNPF.com.

Note that all report release and webinar times are Central Daylight Savings Time unless otherwise noted. Also, all reports noted are subject to delays because of the government shutdown.

1. Will China and U.S. strike a deal?: After weekend media reports quoted U.S. and China government officials of saying the two countries reached a "preliminary consensus" and "very successful framework" on an agreement on trade issues, markets will watch if President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping actually finalize a trade deal when they meet Thursday in South Korea. America's soybean producers will be especially interested on the details of any deal, as well as other trade deals signed on the weekend with Southeast Asia.

2. Ag Backlash on Argentina; Will Mexican beef move north again?: Can President Trump calm the outrage over his support for Argentina? Announcements that the Administration was giving Argentina upwards of $40 billion in aid, which enabled it to underbid U.S. soybean sales to China, then vowing to buy Argentine beef to lower retail prices for consumers, has created the highest amount of angry comments from agriculture since the creation of the phrase "Waters of These United States." The backlash has come hot and heavy, which the administration has tried to calm by announcing $3 billion in farm aid. It was quickly noted that those dollars, a pittance according to most farm groups pushing for up to 10 times that amount, was not coming from tariff taxes as the administration had promised, but were dollars already accounted for in the current Farm Bill. A bill eight years out of date, farmers have also noted.

Also on the beef side, Mexican Agriculture Minister Julio Bergdeque is expected to visit Washington this week to meet with U.S. Secretary Brook Rollins. The hope is to restart live-cattle exports to the U.S., which were shut down over New World Screwworm outbreaks south of the border.

3. Fed rate decision Wednesday: Once again markets will be watching for signs the Fed's recent shift to lowering the federal funds rate to help meet its mandate to encourage high employment. It would be a welcomed sign for farmers who are negotiating with lenders for 2026 funds amidst higher input costs and lower crop values due in part to the tariff taxes and associated trade wars. They hope to see interest rates drop.

4. Harvest weather update: In the north, a system will move back in with more showers on Sunday and Monday. Systems moving through the Canadian Prairies could bring some showers to the Northern Plains region next week as well. For the Delta and Midwest, showers have helped the drought, but provided very little benefit to the water levels on the Mississippi River. Another system will move through this weekend, with heavy rains in some areas possible. But low water levels continue to plague shipping up. Harvest weather update: In the north, a system will move back in with more showers on Sunday and Monday. Systems moving through the Canadian Prairies could bring some showers to the Northern Plains region next week as well. For the Delta and Midwest, showers have helped the drought but provided very little benefit to the water levels on the Mississippi River. Another system will move through this weekend, with heavy rains in some areas possible. But low water levels continue to plague shipping up and down the Mississippi. It's expected that maximum draft on barges will be cut again from 9 feet 6 inches to 9 feet as river stages continue to fall. Normal draft -- the distance between the waterline and the deepest point of the boat -- for a barge is 12 feet at approximately 2,100 tons.

5. Reports due this week: Here are the reports scheduled, though if the government shutdown continues some may not be released as planned. Monday at 7:30 a.m., Durable Good Orders data for September is scheduled. At 10 a.m., Grain Inspections. USDA NASS Weekly Crop Progress report is usually at 3 p.m., but with the government shutdown, will likely not happen. Tuesday at 8 a.m. is the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index for August release. At 9 a.m. Consumer Confidence numbers are due. Wednesday, at 7:30 a.m. the Advanced U.S. Trade Balance in goods data for September and also Advanced Retail and Wholesale Inventories for September are planned. At 9 a.m. is Pending Home Sales. At 9:30 a.m. EIA's weekly petroleum status report including ethanol is due. At 1 p.m., the Fed interest rate decision, followed by 1:30 p.m. press conference with Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. Thursday at 7:30 a.m. Initial Jobless Claims and 3rd quarter GDP are planned. The 7:30 a.m. Grain Export Sales will not likely happen with the shutdown. Friday at 7:30 a.m., the Employment Cost Index for Q3, Personal Income and Spending for September, the PCE Index and the Core PCE Index for September are scheduled. The CFTC Commitment of Traders will not likely be released at 2:30 p.m. if the shutdown continues.

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Bonus content: Check out DTN Field Posts Podcast Episode 265 where Podcast Host Sarah Mock interviews DTN/Progressive Farmer's Associate Content Manager Elaine Shein about the special Progressive Farmer issue and DTN series on Finding Financing for Farming. Also, Episode 266 has Mock discuss with DTN Senior Livestock Editor Jennifer Carrico the latest on what people need to know about the New World screwworm and efforts to monitor its progress, prevent it from spreading to the U.S., and how this might affect U.S. cattle producers' business decisions for 2026.

You can find DTN Field Posts podcasts at https://dtn.link/…, or https://www.dtnpf.com/… and they're also available on podcast hosting sites such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Watch for the latest news at www.dtnpf.com, and follow and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dtnprogressivefarmer. You can find our news on Instagram as well. Give us a follow @dtn.agnews

Be sure and watch for the latest news at www.dtnpf.com, and follow and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dtnprogressivefarmer

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