Trump Visits Iowa, Says He'll Approve Year-Round E15 + Weak Dollar "Policy"

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In today’s update, we cover Trump’s comments on year-round E15, growing weakness in the U.S. dollar, 2026 acreage debates, heat stress in Argentina, fresh USDA flash sales, and China’s latest soybean buying behavior.

⛽🇺🇸 E15, Trump & The Fed

President Trump visited Iowa and said Congress is very close to approving year-round E15 sales

Comments come after the White House failed to include E15 language in the current funding bill

Trump declared the U.S. is entering a “golden age”

He said a new Fed Chair announcement is coming soon and predicted significantly lower interest rates

Click HERE to read Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins’ statement on E15

💵📉 U.S. Dollar Breakdown

The dollar hit its weakest level in nearly four years

Pressure is coming from policy uncertainty, fiscal risks, and political polarization

Euro, yen, and Swiss franc are at multi-year highs

Emerging-market currencies are trading at record levels

Investors are paying record premiums to hedge against further dollar weakness

See USD Index, USD/Brazil Real, BCOM, and Bloomberg Ag Subindex charts below

🌽🌱 2026 Acreage Debate

S&P Global estimates corn acreage at 95 million and soybeans at 84.5 million

Higher corn input costs and crop rotation favor soybeans

China’s renewed soybean purchases add support to bean acres

NCGA projects a $180/acre loss for corn

Pro Farmer notes fertilizer already applied and historical trends could keep corn acres elevated

Crop insurance guarantees in February will be key

See 2026 corn/soybean ratio chart below

🔥🇦🇷 Argentina Weather Stress

Temps nearing 104°F across major growing regions

Limited rain until February raises yield risks

USDA estimates: 53 mmt corn, 48.5 mmt soybeans

Planting nearly complete, but pasture conditions are deteriorating

Meal markets remain quiet; bean oil strong amid biofuel sentiment

See CropProphet map below

🚢📊 USDA Flash Sales

110,000 mt of corn sold to unknown destinations (2025/26)

306,000 mt of sorghum sold to unknown destinations (2025/26)

First U.S. sorghum flash sale since August 2024

🇨🇳🌎 China Soybean Buying

China booked at least 25 cargoes of Brazilian soybeans for Mar–Apr shipment

Brazil holds a strong price advantage over U.S. beans

China has now fulfilled its ~12 mmt U.S. purchase commitment

Recent U.S. buying appears obligation-driven, not structural

With large South American crops expected, China likely avoids U.S. beans until new crop this fall