While there is still a chance, the lights are beginning to dim on the Kansas City Chiefs making an 11th consecutive trip to the playoffs after a series of miscues led to a 20-10 loss the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football.

&nbsp;Some odds have the Chiefs chances as low as 12% to make the playoffs, others are around 16%, but most are below the 20% chance mark.&nbsp; Despite the low odds, defensive tackle Chris Jones says they still have an opportunity, even if it is a slim opportunity

"Still got an opportunity, and we've got to finish strong, no matter what we've got to finish strong to put ourself in a position to be able to get in the playoffs if that opportunity presents itself," Jones says during his postgame press conference.&nbsp; "So, for us the door is still open, it might be a 10% chance, it might be a 5% chance, but as long as we've got an opportunity and a chance, then we still can control that and finish strong and let the cards fall where they fall."

Head Coach Andy Reid says the message to the team after the loss is that it's never over

"You keep battling, I've been doing this a long time, seen some things, so you keep going," Reid says.

The loss did end Kansas City's streak of nine consecutive AFC West titles, the second longest streak in NFL history.&nbsp; &nbsp;With a run of success close to ending, linebacker Nick Bolton says the team needs to respond to this loss by controlling the controllable.&nbsp;

"We've got four weeks left, one week at a time, we need some help from other people but my mindset is put our best foot forward and take care of what we can control," Bolton says in the locker room.

Leo Chenal echoes that sentiment, saying now it's all up to them.

"Message is go out and play top level football as best you can, with the best effort you can, at the highest level you can regardless," Chenal explains.&nbsp; "Whatever happens, we better be out there playing our hardest, especially now, it's not in our hands but we better be playing our hardest."

The Chiefs fell behind 10-0 at the halftime break thanks to a 35 yard field goal by Ka'imi Fairbairn and a nine yard touchdown pass from CJ Stroud to Woody Marks.&nbsp; On the first play of the game, an already thin offensive line for Kansas City got thinner, as Wanya Morris exited the game with a knee injury.&nbsp; Also in the first quarter, cornerback Trent McDuffie suffered a knee injury that put him out of the game.&nbsp;

Despite the injuries, and some miscues in the first half including an interception and a missed field goal, the Chiefs came back to tie the game in the third quarter.&nbsp; Kareem Hunt rushed in from two yards out on a 4th and 1 play to cut the lead to three early in the quarter, and then near the end of the frame Harrison Butker hit a 36 yard field goal to tie the game heading into the final quarter.&nbsp;

But after a quarter of execution to tie the game, things fell apart in the fourth for Kansas City.&nbsp; Patrick Mahomes threw his second interception of the game early in the quarter, which did turn into a punt from Houston, but then a turnover on downs from the Chiefs gave the Texans the chance to score the go ahead touchdown on a five yard run by Dare Ogunbowale.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trailing by a touchdown, Kansas City turned the ball over on downs again, and Houston would end up punting the ball back, but again Mahomes threw an interception, the ball bouncing off the hands of Travis Kelce and into linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.&nbsp; Fairbairn knocked through a 28 yard field goal to put the Texans up by two scores with 30 seconds remaining, and after three plays with no timeouts from the Chiefs, the game came to an end.&nbsp;

Mahomes was 14-of-33 through the air for 160 yards with three interceptions, adding seven rushes for 59 yards.&nbsp; Hunt rushed 12 times for 30 yards and the score.&nbsp; Xavier Worthy had three catches for 59 yards, while Rashee Rice was the leading receiver with four catches for 34 yards.&nbsp;

The Chiefs will host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday in an AFC West battle with a lot on the line.  A loss in that matchup, and their run to the AFC playoffs could come to an end.&nbsp; Kickoff will be at noon with an 11am pregame on Q Country (92.7FM).

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

Chiefs fail to execute and fall to Texans 20-10 making playoff hopes dwindle more

The decision came just a few hours after a state trial over which signatures should be counted if petitions are delivered this week

BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

A federal judge Monday refused to back Missouri’s Republican leaders efforts to block a statewide vote on a gerrymandered&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/12/gerrymandered-congressional-map-initiative-petitions-limits-sent-to-missouri-governor/">congressional district map</a>, dismissing a case filed by Attorney General Catherine Hanaway.

U.S. District Judge Zachary Bluestone ruled he had no jurisdiction over the lawsuit brought on behalf of Secretary of State Denny Hoskins and the General Assembly claiming the U.S. Constitution&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/26/federal-ruling-on-missouri-gerrymandered-redistricting-plan-to-come-in-early-december/">bars state referendums</a>&nbsp;on Congressional district plans.

The decision came just a few hours after Cole County Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh conducted a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=25AC-CC07128&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT19" target="_blank">three-hour trial</a>&nbsp;over when a referendum petition drive can begin and which signatures should be counted when petitions are submitted.

Limbaugh did not issue a ruling Monday and gave attorneys until Wednesday afternoon to file proposed judgments.

The redistricting bill forced through in September by Republicans at the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/10/after-hearing-from-trump-missouri-gop-muscle-gerrymandered-map-forward-in-state-senate/">insistence of President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is scheduled to take effect Thursday for use in the 2026 elections.

Republicans hope to win seven of the state’s eight congressional seats by adding enough GOP votes to flip the 5th District, currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City.&nbsp;

If referendum petitions with sufficient signatures are submitted, the map will take effect only if it is upheld in a statewide vote in November.

The issues in the now-dismissed federal case can all be decided in state court, wrote Bluestone, a recent Trump appointee. All Hoskins has to do, he said, is reject the petitions gathered by People Not Politicians, the campaign committee seeking the referendum.

The deadline for submitting signatures is Thursday.

“Fortunately for the state, Secretary Hoskins has a tool at his disposal that almost no other litigant could boast — the power to declare the petition unconstitutional himself,” Bluestone wrote.

That would trigger litigation over the main question, he wrote.

“A decision that the Missouri Constitution does not permit a redistricting referendum would moot the state’s federal constitutional claims, while a decision that it does clearly permit them would significantly narrow the issues,” Bluestone wrote. “Further, abstaining here would avoid federal interference in a referendum process created entirely by the Missouri Constitution and state law.”

The main question in the lawsuit heard Monday afternoon by Limbaugh is when a referendum petition drive can begin.

Attorney Chuck Hatfield, representing People Not Politicians, said the&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++49&amp;bid=31807&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">Missouri Constitution’s clause</a>&nbsp;giving the people the “power to approve or reject by referendum any act of the general assembly” means signature gathering can begin as soon as lawmakers hold the final vote on a bill.&nbsp;

“We don’t need the governor’s signature on something to seek a referendum on it,” Hatfield said. “Nor do we need the secretary of state’s approval to gather signatures.”

Deputy Solicitor General William Seidleck, arguing for the state, said a referendum can only be held on a law. No bill, he said, even if passed by lawmakers, is a law until it is signed by the governor. And a law giving the secretary of state authority to approve or reject the form of a referendum petition, he said, means no signatures can be gathered until the approval is received.

“You can only have a referendum on an enacted law,” Seidleck said. “We submit that there’s no law without the governor’s signature.”

Marc Ellinger, who represents a campaign committee set up to defend the map, Put Missouri First, asked Limbaugh to throw the whole case out as premature. No signatures have been submitted, he said, so there’s no true controversy over which are being counted.

“They’re trying to get an answer on the validity of signatures before the statutory process is completed,” Ellinger said.

To force a referendum on a new law, petitioners must get signatures from 5% of voters in six of the state’s eight congressional districts. That is about 110,000 signatures.

People Not Politicians has enlisted more than 2,000 volunteers and gathered more than 300,000 signatures, including 12,000 last week, campaign Director Richard von Glahn said during a Monday morning conference call with the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition.

“We are going to continue to fight to make sure every Missourian’s voice is heard,” von Glahn said to coalition members.

In the afternoon, von Glahn was in a Cole County courtroom while Chrissy Peters, state elections director since 2017, testified that unless a court order says otherwise, no signatures collected before Oct. 14 will be checked against voter registration rolls.

That is a key date because it’s the day Hoskins approved the form of the petition. In the lawsuit, People Not Politicians is arguing that signatures gathered after Sept. 15, when the petition form was submitted, should be checked.

Of the 300,000 signatures the campaign says it has collected, the outcome of Monday’s hearing would only impact an estimated 92,000 that were pre-emptively rejected by Hoskins.&nbsp;

Limbaugh has another decision pending that will impact whether or not the referendum occurs. He&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/12/judge-hears-arguments-over-legality-of-gerrymandered-missouri-congressional-map/">heard arguments Nov. 12</a>&nbsp;in a lawsuit brought by opponents of redistricting over the state Constitution’s directive on when and how to draw congressional district maps.&nbsp;

If Limbaugh rules lawmakers did not have power to redraw the districts between census reports, the law would not take effect.&nbsp;

The Missouri redistricting fight is part of a national debate over when states can redraw congressional district boundaries for partisan advantage.

Republicans hold a 220-213 edge in the U.S. House, with two vacant seats previously held by Democrats. Six states, including Missouri, have enacted new congressional maps this year in response to the push initiated when Texas redrew its district lines to flip five Democratic seats. The U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/04/texas-redistricting-map-us-supreme-court-2026-midterms/" target="_blank">upheld the new Texas map</a>&nbsp;last week.

California countered and revised its maps to move five seats to the Democratic Party,

<a href="https://ncnewsline.com/2025/11/26/federal-court-allows-republican-led-north-carolina-redistricting-plan-to-proceed/" target="_blank">North Carolina’s new map</a>&nbsp;is intended to net one seat for Republicans, Ohio has passed a new map to&nbsp;<a href="https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/10/31/ohio-redistricting-commission-unanimously-passes-congressional-map-further-gop-advantage/" target="_blank">add two GOP seats</a>&nbsp;and a nonpartisan redistricting commission in Utah revised that state’s four districts in a way&nbsp;<a href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/11/25/utah-redistricting-republican-lawmakers-appeal-to-utah-supreme-court/" target="_blank">likely to favor a Democratic candidate</a>&nbsp;in one.

Other redistricting efforts are underway. In Indiana, the legislature is&nbsp;<a href="https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/12/08/as-indiana-senate-begins-redistricting-turn-republicans-keep-mum/" target="_blank">meeting in special session</a>&nbsp;to help the GOP gain two seats. Democrats who took supermajorities in the Virginia legislature this year are considering whether to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vpm.org/generalassembly/2025-12-03/vadems-redistricting-gerrymandering-surovell-locke-spanberger-mcdougle" target="_blank">revise lines in that state</a>, where Democrats currently hold a 6-5 edge in the delegation.

As the date for delivering signatures in Missouri approaches, attacks on the petitioners and von Glahn have intensified. Hanaway is demanding personnel records from Advanced Micro Targeting of Dallas, Texas, which is being paid to help with the signature campaign. And Advanced Micro Targeting is suing other political consulting firms, accusing them of paying large sums to sabotage the petition drive.

Donald Trump Jr. led the attacks on von Glahn on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1996275378969559140" target="_blank">social media</a>, calling him a “leftist nut job” who is “trying to STEAL a GOP house seat in Missouri through an unlawful referendum.”

Trump Jr. included a link to a website that called von Glahn a communist.

Denise Lieberman, executive director of the Missouri Voter Protection coalition, called the attacks “absolutely disgusting and inexcusable” during the conference call.

Von Glahn said the insults are generating a counter-reaction.

“These are meant to be sort of psychological warfare, to make me and my family feel isolated and feel threatened,” he said. “It has been a complete backfire. I have gotten more messages of love and support across this state and across the country this week that I could have possibly imagined.”

Federal judge rejects Missouri AG’s push to block referendum on gerrymandered map

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 1a.m.&nbsp;Monday, an officer on patrol conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block South 6th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. The driver 34-year-old Megan McClain, was taken into custody on traffic charges and found to be in possession of controlled substances.

McClain was later booking into the county jail on requested charges of driving while suspended, no vehicle insurance, expired tag, possession of marijuana, and unlawful possession of a prescription drugs, according to Wilson.

Police: Kansas driver with an expired tag was transporting drugs

Two candidates from Odebolt are running in Tuesday's special election for an open seat in the Iowa House.

The vacancy was created in September when Republican Rep. Mike Sexton of Rockwell City resigned after President Trump appointed him state director for the USDA Rural Development.

The district covers Calhoun, Pocahontas and Sac counties and part of Webster County, west of Fort Dodge.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The candidates are Republican Wendy Larson and Democrat Rachel Burns.

Odebolt Candidates Compete in Iowa House Special Election

ATCHISON COUNTY Two people were injured in an accident just before noon Sunday in Atchison.

At 11:45AM on Sunday officers responded to a one vehicle injury accident in the 1700 block South 6th Street.&nbsp; A 2014 Ford Escape driven by Malori Hall, 17, Atchison, was northbound in the 1700 Block of South 6th Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; The SUV left the roadway and struck a tree on the east side of the road.

EMS transported Hall and a 46 year old passenger to Amberwell Hospital for treatment of injuries.

Teen, passenger hospitalized after SUV crash into a tree

ATCHISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 6:30p.m. Saturday in Atchison.

A 2004 Chrysler van driven by Jeanie McHaley, 53, Atchison, was westbound in the 800 Block of U.S. 59, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. A 2011 Chevy Traverse driven by Lawrence Miller, Jr. 54, Huron rear-ended the van as McHaley was turning left turn into a parking lot.&nbsp;

After impact the van struck a tree on the south side of the highway. EMS treated McHaley at the scene and she was subsequently transported by private vehicle to Amberwell Hospital for treatment of injuries. Miller was not injured.

Kansas woman injured after rear-end crash pushed van into a tree

HOLT COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 9a.m. Sunday in Holt County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Pontiac G6 driven by a 16-year-old Tarkio girl was northbound on U.S. 59 one half mile north of Craig. The car traveled off the east side of the road. The driver overcorrected and the car skidded down an embankment and rolled into a field.

Atchison Holt ambulance transported the driver and a 16-year-old female. passenger to Fairfax Community Hospital. The passenger was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

2 Missouri 16-year-olds injured after car rolls into a field

Law enforcement are asking for help to locate a suspect charged with sexual crimes against minors in four counties in Missouri, according to a statement from the U.S. Marshals Service.

Steven Andrew Bowman, Clinton, is wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service on multiple felony charges in Missouri, including sexual assault — sodomy, seven counts of possession of child pornography and three counts of statutory rape.

Bowman is described as 5-foot- 10 with black hair, brown eyes and weighs 250 pounds. Bowman has likely attempted to change his appearance, and may have gained or lost weight, changed his hair style or length and may have grown or shaved his facial hair.&nbsp;

There is a cash award for information leading to Bowman's arrest. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the U.S. Marshal's or local law enforcement.

Reward for information leading to arrest of Mo. child sex  crime suspect

KANSAS CITY – A Hammond, Indiana., man has been charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana in Daviess County, Missouri.

Nickolas J Burch, 36, was charged and had his initial appearance this week in a two-count criminal complaint, according to the United State's Attorney. Burch was charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

According to court documents, on Nov. 15, 2025, a Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper was conducting routine patrol on I-35 northbound in Daviess County. He observed a black sport utility vehicle (SUV) overtaking his vehicle from the rear at 103 miles per hour. After the MSHP Trooper attempted to stop the SUV, it attempted to flee at a high rate of speed, ultimately reaching 128 miles per hour before crashing into a field.

Immediately after the crash the driver, later identified as Burch, exited the vehicle and fled on foot, carrying a red duffle bag over his shoulder.&nbsp; After a foot pursuit and resistance by Burch, law enforcement was ultimately able to take Burch into custody.

A red duffle bag was recovered from the field, which was dropped by Burch during the pursuit. and searched. Law enforcement located $205,950 in United States Currency.

A second duffel bag was in the second row of the SUV which contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine and 18 pounds of marijuana.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

128 mph chase: Alleged drug dealer caught with cocaine and $200k in cash

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/kevinhardy/">Kevin Hard</a>y

The minimum wage for workers will increase in 19 states and 49 cities and counties next month, with the wage floor reaching $15 per hour in dozens of localities, a new report found.

Though the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour has not increased since 2009, many state and local governments continue to increase minimums through legislation or scheduled increases tied to inflation.&nbsp;

An&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nelp.org/insights-research/raises-from-coast-to-coast-in-2026/" target="_blank">annual report&nbsp;</a>from the National Employment Law Project, a nonprofit advocating for workers’ rights, found that 88 jurisdictions will raise their minimum wages by the end of 2026.

In January, Nebraska’s minimum wage will increase from $13.50 to $15 per hour, while Rhode Island will see an increase from $15 to $16 per hour.

All workers in Denver will see the minimum wage increase from $18.81 to $19.29 in January and the minimum in Flagstaff, Arizona, will increase from $17.85 to $18.35 per hour.&nbsp;

The increases come as rising costs of housing, food and utilities are pinching more workers across the country, said Yannet Lathrop, senior researcher and policy analyst at the National Employment Law Project who authored the report. Those costs are particularly challenging for lower-income workers, who are most likely to be affected by minimum wage changes.

“They are really struggling right now,” she said. “These wages basically mitigate the effects of inflation, the effects of the rising cost of living, and the difficulties so many people are having paying for basics, for food, for housing, for medicine — just the basics of life.”

Lathrop said research increasingly finds that higher wages improve educational outcomes, mental and physical health.

“Things that are going to benefit not just the workers, but also the communities and society as a whole,” she said. “I think that’s an important thing to keep in mind.”

Inflation has significantly eroded the buying power of the federal minimum wage since 2009.&nbsp;

Advocates say raising the wage floor helps low-wage workers cover the rising cost of essentials and boosts the economy by putting more money into the pockets of people who are likely to spend it. But many employers, especially small businesses, argue that raising the minimum wage forces them to cut workers or raise prices.

In Rhode Island, lawmakers this year proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText25/HouseText25/H5029.pdf" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;that would raise the minimum wage $1 per year, culminating with a $20 per hour minimum in 2030. But&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/03/05/minimum-wage-hike-bills-draw-maximum-crowds-to-r-i-state-house/" target="_blank">backlash</a>&nbsp;from business groups and economic uncertainty led the Democratic sponsor to successfully push for a “more measured approach” that includes hikes for the next two years rather than five, reaching a $17 hourly minimum by 2027.

That compromise didn’t persuade Republican opponents, who said even the more modest minimum wage change will force layoffs and consumer price hikes.&nbsp;

“The real minimum wage is $0,” said state House Minority Whip David Place, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/06/13/r-i-general-assembly-backs-hourly-minimum-wage-hike-to-16-in-2026-then-17-in-2027/" target="_blank">Rhode Island Current.</a>&nbsp;“That’s what they make when they get fired because business can’t afford to keep them.”

The minimum wage remains stagnant at $7.25 in 20 states, according to the National Employment Law Project. Those are primarily conservative-led states including Alabama, Iowa, Texas and Wyoming.&nbsp;

Last year, Missouri voters&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/" target="_blank">approved</a>&nbsp;a ballot measure ensuring paid sick leave and boosting the minimum wage to $15 per hour, with future increases tied to inflation.&nbsp;

But Republican lawmakers took aim at the changes in Jefferson City this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In a move Democrats called “absolute disdain” for workers, GOP lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/10/missouri-gov-kehoe-signs-bill-repealing-paid-sick-leave/" target="_blank">passed a bill&nbsp;</a>repealing the paid sick leave provision and nixing the annual minimum wage increases tied to inflation. Missouri’s current $13.75 minimum wage will still rise to $15 next month but is no longer subject to future increases.

“Today, we are protecting the people who make Missouri work—families, job creators, and small business owners—by cutting taxes, rolling back overreach, and eliminating costly mandates,” Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe said in a July statement when he signed the bill into law.&nbsp;

Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:khardy@stateline.org">khardy@stateline.org</a>.

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/12/03/dozens-of-cities-states-hiking-minimum-wages-in-2026-amid-federal-inaction/" target="_blank">Stateline</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Missouri Independent, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Dozens of cities, states hiking minimum wages in 2026 amid federal inaction

CALDWELL COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 6:30a.m. Friday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 2007 Chevy Cobalt driven by a 27-year-old Hamilton man was westbound on U.S. 36 at Route J two miles south of Kidder. The car struck front drivers side of a 2017 Freightliner semi driven by a 53-year-old Shawnee, Kansas man who was stopped in the westbound lane of the highway facing south.

Caldwell County EMS transported both drivers to Liberty Hospital. The Chevy driver was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. he Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

2 hospitalized after car, semi crash

🎥President Trump details the $12B aid package for farmers

March corn closed down 2 1/2 cents and May corn was down 2 1/4 cents. January soybeans closed down 14 1/4 cents and March soybeans were down 12 3/4 cents. March KC wheat closed down 2 3/4 cents, March Chicago wheat was down 4 1/2 cents, March Minneapolis wheat was down 0 cents.

March corn closed down 3 cents and March corn was down 3 1/2 cents. January soybeans closed down 32 1/2 cents and March soybeans were down 30 cents. March KC wheat closed up 3 3/4 cents, March Chicago wheat was down 2 3/4 cents and March Minneapolis wheat was down 5 cents.

The soybean market fell by double digits on Friday, and in four of the five sessions this week as traders are expressing growing impatience regarding where cumulative sales stand to China, despite USDA announcing a flash sale Friday morning, the first announcement for soybeans in a week. Corn and wheat futures displayed more resilience on Friday as compared to soybeans but slipped slightly amid spillover weakness as well as uncertainty regarding how USDA will forecast crop demand in next Tuesday's WASDE report, which will leave the supply side of the balance sheet unchanged and among record levels for corn and wheat. In outside markets, a relatively cool inflation reading in the delayed September Personal Consumption Expenditure Index keeps the Federal Reserve on track for a rate cut in their meeting next week. Energy markets were higher to close the week, having gained traction through the second half of the week after the meeting between U.S. and Russian officials in Moscow has featured little follow-through news in regard to advancing peace talks in the Black Sea region.

The live cattle contracts traded higher into Friday's close, as traders remain pleased with the higher uptick thus far in the fed cash cattle market. On Thursday, some Northern dressed cattle traded at $340 to $345, which is $11.00 to $16.00 higher than last week's weighted average. The South remains at an utter standstill, but trade should begin to develop before the day is done. Asking prices for cattle in the South are set at $225 plus and in the North at $346 plus. Boxed beef prices are lower: choice down $0.04 ($362.68) and select down $0.84 ($349.48) with a movement of 100 loads (81.03 loads of choice, 8.93 loads of select, zero loads of trim and 10.25 loads of ground beef).

The feeder cattle complex also traded higher into Friday's closing bell, pushing mostly $1.00 advancements into the late afternoon. Currently, the spot January contract is trading above the market's 40-day moving average, which hasn't been done since Oct. 24, but the market isn't confident enough that there's enough support to conquer the 100-day moving average.

The lean hog contracts managed a fruitful day as the market continues to push onward and higher, currently pressuring the market's resistance at $82.00 in the spot February contract. It is helping that midday pork cutout values were up over $3.00 higher, which is a significant jump and helps traders feel as though demand will remain a key factor moving forward.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/12/05135801/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

USDA plans to roll out a short-term “bridge payment” for farmers next week, officials said Tuesday, in a bid to help growers survive tight margins and trade-related losses. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told White House colleagues a key purpose of the payment is to cushion crop producers after a year of depressed prices and significant drops in U.S. soybean sales to China. 

While the broader 2025 farm support package has received roughly $40 billion in commitments, the second highest since the 1930s, farming groups say some producers need immediate liquidity to cover seed, fertilizer and other input costs ahead of 2026 planting. Details, including how much each farmer may receive and which crops are eligible, remain unclear. Lawmakers expressed optimism that at least partial payments could be distributed before year’s end. 

U.S. officials to announce short-term “Bridge Payment” aid for farmers

Beef production in major exporting and consuming regions is projected to decline in 2025, with global output likely to remain under pressure heading into 2026, analysts at Rabobank reported this week. The report indicates the largest volume reductions are expected in the United States, which has faced shrinking herds and lower slaughter rates. That trend helps explain why other producers — particularly Australia — are expanding feedlot capacity to capitalize on weakened U.S. output. At the same time, production in several other major beef-producing countries — including New Zealand — is forecast to drop the most in percentage terms, driven by tighter margins, disease pressures and shifting global demand. 

Globally, exports of beef and beef products are expected to grow only modestly, as shrinking supplies and rising input costs limit expansion potential, the Rabobank analysis found. This downtrend could have ripple effects on beef prices worldwide — potentially boosting retail costs in importing countries and reshaping consumer supply chains just as demand recovers after pandemic-era disruptions. 

Global Forecast: beef production to fall further in 2025

March corn closed up 3 3/4 cents and May corn was up 3 3/4 cents. January soybeans closed up 3 3/4 cents and March soybeans were up 3 1/4 cents. March KC wheat closed up 4 1/2 cents, March Chicago wheat was up 2 cents, March Minneapolis wheat was down 3 1/4 cents.

U.S. ag futures regained at least part of the midweek losses seen in Wednesday's session. Corn, soybeans, and wheat markets all approached near-term support which encouraged buying as traders are likely satisfied to keep prices within their recent ranges for now, ahead of the USDA update early next week. Outside markets were quiet for Thursday, with mostly higher energy markets, while Treasury yields were mixed to higher which offered support to the U.S. Dollar Index which has fallen in eight of the past ten sessions.

The live cattle complex traded higher into Thursday's closing bell, although midday boxed beef prices were lower, traders are hopeful that the fed cash cattle market will trade cattle stronger later this week. A few bids are currently on the table at $218 live in Kansas, and $216 live and $335 to $340 dressed in Nebraska but no cattle have traded yet. Asking prices are firm at $225 in the South and $340 plus in the North. The market still has plenty of room to trade higher before it runs into resistance pressure, which will likely happen around the market's 100-day moving average ($231.33). Boxed beef prices are lower: choice down $0.78 ($363.03) and select down $3.22 ($349.90) with a movement of 86 loads (67.88 loads of choice, 14.18 loads of select, zero loads of trim and 4.39 loads of ground beef).

Upon seeing the live cattle contracts continue to trade higher, the feeder cattle complex pushed a moderate rally into Thursday's close. This week's rally hasn't only developed throughout the futures complex, but its support has also affected feeder cattle prices, which are trading higher in the countryside once again.

The lean hog complex also traded higher as the market continues to see adequate technical support, even though pork cutout values did not trade higher today. At this point, it's likely that the bulk of this week's trade in the cash hog market is essentially done with, although a few more clean-up sales still could develop.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/12/04144253/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Burks Tractor, an Idaho-based dealership, filed a lawsuit against Monarch Tractor of California. The suit accuses the California-based startup of a breach of contract and warranty violations after its tractors failed to operate autonomously. The dealership said the ten tractors it bought via interest-bearing financing for almost $800,000 are defective and didn’t live up to the driver-optional, or autonomous, claims of the company. Burks bought the tractors in early 2024 with the intent of being among the California company’s first retail dealers. 

Burks said Monarch misrepresented the tractors as fully autonomous and not limited by location or time. An article in Farm Equipment Magazine said Monarch attempted to make the units work autonomously but failed, eventually admitting to the limitations but refusing to take back the defective inventory. A November 19 letter from Monarch Tractor’s HR Department to 102 employees warned of pending layoffs while changing the business to software licensing.

Farm equipment dealer sues tractor manufacturer

After a tariff war stalled trade for months, reports showed shipments of U.S. crops headed to China are picking up in number. At least six large cargo vessels are scheduled to fill up with soybeans at Gulf Coast terminals through mid-December. A shipping schedule that was seen by Reuters this week said a seventh U.S. soybean cargo was loaded during the previous weekend and is already headed to China, the first shipment since May. 

While the White House announced that China agreed to buy 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans by the end of this month, Beijing has yet to confirm any details about potential promises to purchase large volumes of U.S. soybeans. USDA data said Chinese importers booked nearly two million metric tons of U.S. soybeans last month for delivery in the 2025-2026 marketing year that ends in August 2026. U.S. sorghum shipments have also restarted to China.

More soybean shipments heading to China

March corn closed down 6 1/2 cents and May corn was down 6 3/4 cents. January soybeans closed down 9 cents and March soybeans were down 9 1/2 cents. March KC wheat closed down 3 1/2 cents, March Chicago wheat was down 2 3/4 cents, March Minneapolis wheat was down 4 1/2 cents.

Corn, soybean, and wheat markets fell under technical pressure as the state of post-harvest rallies has entered a period of limbo with traders likely searching for clarity on lingering fundamental questions such as the supply side of the corn balance sheet, as well as the uncertain nature of the demand for U.S. soybeans in China. Prices may remain rangebound but below immediate resistance ahead of the December USDA update due out early next week which may offer insight into some of these areas of concern. Outside markets for Wednesday saw equities trade higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average higher now in eight of the past ten sessions and once again closing in on record levels. The U.S. Dollar Index was softer for the seventh time in the past eight business days and remains at the bottom of the monthly range for the Index.

The live cattle complex traded modestly higher into Wednesday's close, thankful to again see stronger boxed beef prices. The market initially opened lower at Wednesday's start, but upon seeing improved fundamentals, traders felt as though there was enough support in the market to justify trading the contracts higher. Still no cash cattle trade has developed, but asking prices are noted in the South at $225, and are still not established in the North. It is assumed that cash prices will be higher this week with the uptick in boxed beef prices and with the board's support. The other factor that could be helping drive the cattle contracts higher is the announcement from Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller that another detection of New World screwworm (NWS) was found in Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, which is approximately 120 miles south of the Texas border. This development could mean that the border will stay closed longer than assumed.

With the live cattle market's support, the feeder cattle complex traded over $3.00 higher into Wednesday's noon hour. It was rather impressive to note some of the sales made Tuesday afternoon at sale barns across the country as some were trading $20.00 to $30.00 higher, with instances as much as $50.00 higher than the week before. That obviously showed up in the CME feeder cattle index as well, which jumped $12.66 to $332.36. Today's support of the futures contracts should only encourage more buying in sale barns this afternoon.

After enduring a couple days of weaker trade, the lean hog complex was back to trading higher as the market is no longer up against immediate resistance pressure. Helping encourage traders to send the contracts higher is also the fact that pork cutout values are a tick stronger.

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Farmer sentiment strengthened in November as rising crop prices and improved export prospects pushed the Purdue University/CME Group’s Ag Economy Barometer to 139, the highest level since June. Much of the increase was driven by a sharp 15-point jump in future expectations, even as current conditions held steady. The Future Expectations Index rose 15 points to 144. Financial outlooks improved alongside a 10-15 percent rally in fall-delivery corn and soybean bids, helping offset weaker cattle prices in the livestock sector. 

However, producers remain cautious as capital investment slipped further, and fewer farmers say today is a good time to expand. Long-term farmland value expectations reached a record high, while most corn producers anticipate stable cash rental rates heading into 2026. The survey also showed shifting crop production strategies as growers respond to projected tight operating margins, including lower-cost seed traits, reduced phosphorus applications, and adjustments to seeding and nitrogen rates. 

Future outlook drives farmer sentiment higher

The U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council’s 2025-2026 Corn Harvest Quality Report contained some good news about this year’s large corn crop. The 15th annual survey showed that the 2025 U.S. corn crop is projected to be the largest on record at 425.53 million metric tons, or 16,752 bushels. The crop is also highlighted by the lowest rate of broken corn and foreign material (BCFM) in the report’s history, a remarkable accomplishment for the entire corn value chain. 

This year’s crop, on average, is entering the market with characteristics that met or exceeded each grade factor’s numerical requirements for U.S. No. 1 grade corn. The report showed 87 percent of the samples met all grade factor requirements for U.S. No. 1 grade, and 97.8 percent met the grade factor requirements for U.S. No. 2 grade corn. The report is based on 621 yellow corn samples taken from 12 top corn-producing states.  

Large 2025 U.S. corn crop in excellent condition

President Donald J. Trump alongside U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins&nbsp; announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make $12 billion available in one time bridge payments to American farmers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs still impacting farmers, according to a media release from the USDA.

Of the $12 billion provided, up to $11 billion will be used for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, which provides broad relief to United States row crop farmers who produce Barley, Chickpeas, Corn, Cotton, Lentils, Oats, Peanuts, Peas, Rice, Sorghum, Soybeans, Wheat, Canola, Crambe, Flax, Mustard, Rapeseed, Safflower, Sesame, and Sunflower. 

FBA will help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation, and market losses from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impede exports. The FBA Program applies simple, proportional support to producers using a uniform formula to cover a portion of modeled losses during the 2025 crop year. This national loss average is based on FSA reported planted acres, Economic Research Service cost of production estimates, World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates yields and prices and economic modeling.

Farmers who qualify for the FBA Program can expect payments to be released by February 28, 2026. Eligible farmers should ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is factual and accurate by 5pm ET on December 19, 2025. Commodity-specific payment rates will be released by the end of the month. Crop insurance linkage will not be required for the FBA Program; however, USDA strongly urges producers to take advantage of the new OBBBA risk management tools to best protect against price risk and volatility in the future.

The remaining $1 billion of the $12 billion in bridge payments will be reserved for commodities not covered in the FBA Program such as specialty crops and sugar, for example, though details including timelines for those payments are still under development and require additional understanding of market impacts and economic needs.

The $12 billion in farmer bridge payments, including those provided through the FBA Program, are authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act and will be administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

To submit questions, justification for USDA farmer bridge aid, or to request a meeting on farmer bridge aid, producers can reach out to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:farmerbridge@usda.gov">farmerbridge@usda.gov</a>.

“Four years under the failed Biden Administration continues to leave the American farm economy reeling from record inflation, a depleted farm safety net, and delayed disaster assistance. 

The lack of new trade deals under the last Administration turned a trade surplus under Trump into a $50 billion trade deficit, causing our farmers to lose markets and feel acute pain from lower commodity prices. President Trump will not let our farmers be left behind, so he directed our team to build a bridge program to see quick relief while the President’s dozens of new trade deals and new market access take effect,”&nbsp;said Secretary Brooke Rollins. 

“The plan we are announcing today ensures American farmers can continue to plan for the next crop year. It is imperative we do what it takes to help our farmers, because if we cannot feed ourselves, we will no longer have a country. With this program serving as a bridge to the improvements President Trump and Republicans in Congress have made, it will allow farmers to leverage strengthened price protection risk management tools and the reliability of fair trade deals so they do not have to depend on large ad hoc assistance packages from the government.”

Additional Farmer First Actions Taken by the Trump Administration

In addition to $12 billion in bridge payments announced today, the Trump Administration has been working around the clock since January 20th to put American farmers first after inheriting one of the worst farm economies the country has experienced in decades. The following actions have been taken to date and together show historic investments and bold and unrelenting dedication to helping our nation’s farmers thrive again.

Over $30 Billion in Ad Hoc Assistance Delivered to Farmers Since January 2025

Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (<a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/emergency-commodity-assistance-program/dashboard">ECAP</a>)&nbsp;is helping farmers recover from the economic hardships of 2024. This program distributed more than $9.3 billion to over 560,000 farmers for soy, corn, sorghum, and other row crops.

Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (<a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/marketing-assistance-specialty-crops-masc">MASC</a>)&nbsp;is helping specialty crop producers recover from rising input costs and other market disruptions stemming from the Biden Administration. This program distributed over 1.8 billion in assistance to over 52,000 producers.

The&nbsp;Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (<a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/supplemental-disaster-relief-program-sdrp/dashboard">SDRP</a>)&nbsp;is helping producers recover from severe weather events in 2023 and 2024. This program has distributed nearly $6 billion to over 388,000 farmers with up to an additional $9 billion to be distributed over the next four months.

Over $2.5 billion via&nbsp;block grants&nbsp;delivered to states and sugar beet and cane processors via block grants to cover losses from 2023 and 2024 that were left uncovered by existing USDA programs.

With the signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill in July, President Trump has made crop insurance more workable and affordable for American farmers and ranchers. Crop insurance is an essential risk management tool that allows American farmers and ranchers endure weather and market volatility. The bill increases crop insurance premium support for beginning farmers and ranchers by expanding the definition from five to 10 years of experience, enabling more producers to qualify for assistance over a longer period. These improvements will result in over $400 million in savings every year for America’s farmers on insurance premiums.

For the first time in over a decade the statutory reference prices for the farm safety net programs, ARC and PLC, were raised by 10-21% for major commodities such as corn, soybeans, and wheat. Thanks to OBBBA USDA is also expanding eligibility for these price support programs by adding more than 30 million new base acres to the program making them eligible for future PLC or ARC payments starting in crop year 2026.

OBBBA extended the marketing assistance loan programs through 2031 and updated loan rates for major commodities beginning in the 2026 crop year, providing stronger loan rates for crops like wheat, corn, cotton and soybeans.

The bill included historic investments to the domestic sugar programs and USDA made them available starting October 1, 2025. The loan rate for raw cane sugar has increased to an average 24 cents per pound for the 2025 - 2031 crop years, with refined beet sugar rates increased to an average of 32.77 cents per pound.

OBBBA invested in USDA’s major conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). These funds will result in over $34B in conservation work on agricultural land over the next 10 years.

OBBBA provides $285 million a year for agricultural trade promotion and facilitation. This is in addition to the existing $234M per year of funding for MAP and FMD. These dollars are key to opening and expanding foreign markets.

OBBBA included many important tax provisions for farmers and ranchers. Some of the most impactful provisions for agriculture are the permanency of the 20% qualified business income deduction, full bonus depreciation and the $15 million per individual estate tax exemption, now also indexed for inflation. With the current land values, equipment costs and input prices, even modest-sized farms can easily exceed that threshold, meaning upon the owner’s death, far more family operations would face massive tax bills than previously estimated. A permanent bonus depreciation means that farmers can continue to write off the entire cost of new equipment, land improvements, new barns and other capital upgrades in the year of purchase, rather than depreciating them over many years.

Oversight on Competition &amp; Farmer Input Costs

On September 26, 2025, the USDA and the Department of Justice signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-09-29-doj-usda-mou-farm-inputs.pdf">Memorandum of Understanding</a>&nbsp;(PDF, 1.3 MB) that represents a joint commitment by both agencies to protect American farmers and ranchers from the burdens imposed by high and volatile input costs—such as feed, fertilizer, fuel, seed, equipment, and other essential goods—while ensuring competitive supply chains, lower consumer prices, and the resilience of U.S. agriculture and the food supply.

On December 6, 2025, President Trump signed an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/addressing-security-risks-from-price-fixing-and-anti-competitive-behavior-in-the-food-supply-chain/" target="_blank">Executive Order</a>&nbsp;to stop price fixing, anti-competitive behavior, and foreign influence that drives up prices and threatens the security of America’s food supply. This EO recognizes that sectors including seed, fertilizer, and farm equipment may be vulnerable to anti-competitive manipulation that result in higher prices for farmers and seeks to take aggressive action in part by the establishment of Task Forces created to investigate price fixing and anti-competitive behavior, especially regarding foreign owned entities.

These actions combined reiterate the Trump Administration’s commitment to scrutinizing competitive conditions in the agricultural marketplace, including antitrust enforcement that promotes free market competition.

Lowering Farm Labor Costs through Deregulatory Actions

Farm labor costs alone increased 47% since 2020 largely due to the high cost of utilizing the H-2A program to secure seasonal labor under the Biden Administration who artificially inflated Adverse Effect Wage Rates set by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) using USDA’s Farm Labor Survey which was never designed to be used for setting government-mandated wage rates and is duplicative of other DOL data sources. As such, USDA discontinued this survey while DOL issued a bold new interim final rule which decreased wage costs for H-2A agricultural employers resulting in initial savings of at least $2 billion. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a final rule, effective October 2, 2025, to streamline the filing process for certain temporary agricultural worker petitions. These actions combined are making farm labor more affordable and more accessible for American agriculture.

USDA is Prioritizing the Purchase of Healthy U.S. Grown Commodities to Feed Those Most in Need through Section 32 Buys

This year alone, USDA has provided nearly $1 billion in Section 32 purchases, all which benefit the charitable feeding network.

On November 24, 2025, Secretary Rollins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/11/24/secretary-rollins-announces-30-million-food-purchase-back-us-producers-and-strengthen-americas-food">announced a $30 million Section 32 buy</a>&nbsp;of American grown oranges, grapefruit, and mandarins.

On August 6, 2025, Secretary Rollins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/08/06/secretary-rollins-targets-invasive-species-announces-next-steps-clear-chesapeake-harmful-catfish">announced a $2 million Section 32 buy</a>&nbsp;of invasive Chesapeake Bay blue catfish.

On August 1, 2025, Secretary Rollins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/08/01/secretary-rollins-announces-local-food-purchases-communities-need">announced up to $230 million Section 32 buy</a>&nbsp;of Alaska pollock, catfish, apples, beans and cranberries.

On May 23, 2025, Secretary Rollins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/05/23/secretary-rollins-announces-food-purchases-communities-need">announced a $67 million Section 32 buy</a>&nbsp;of American groundfish, pears, cherries, shrimp and beans.

USDA will continue to buy Section 32 commodity purchases to support American seafood, fruit, vegetable, and tree-nut producers for distribution to U.S. food banks, schools, and other outlets serving low-income individuals. These actions support President Trump’s vision to Make America Healthy Again through U.S. local farmer grown, healthy, and nutritious commodities.

This is the most pro-biofuels Administration in history

President Trump recognizes how important the Renewable Fuel Standard is for American corn and soybean farmers. EPA Administrator Zeldin delivered the boldest Renewable Volume Obligations ever and provided much certainty in the market for our producers while delivering lower prices at the pump for consumers. The RVO gives the markets the incentive to invest in American products for American consumers and to export around the world.

EPA’s decision to allow the summer sale of E-15 constituted 2025 year-round E15 and continues to deliver immediate relief to consumers, give more choices at the pump, and drive demand for corn grown, processed, and used right here in America. America’s national security depends on our energy security, and biofuels are a crucial asset that brings more jobs and helps farmers in rural America.

List of Trade &amp; Market Access Wins to Date

USDA announced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/america-first-trade-promotion-program">applications are now open</a>&nbsp;through January 23, 2026, for the $285 million America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP), a key component of the Trump Administration’s work to expand global market access and create new export opportunities for America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers.

Additionally, President Trump and his administration have worked to pen new trade deals and trade frameworks with more than 15 countries.

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