DELMARVA — President Trump signed an executive order Friday elevating regenerative agriculture as a national priority, directing his administration to fast-track programs targeting soil health, farm resilience, and food security. The signing took place at a White House event attended by farmers and agricultural leaders.
Policy
Maryland farmers are pushing back against a newly enacted heat illness prevention rule that requires employers to provide water, rest breaks, and shade any time the heat index reaches 80°F or higher — indoors or out. Karl Shlagel, who operates Shlagel Farms in Waldorf, says the mandatory break schedule actually extends the workday into the hottest afternoon hours, producing the opposite effect of what workers want. Shlagel described the rule as the toughest of its kind in the nation, stricter than California’s. Tyler Hough of Maryland Farm Bureau noted the rule followed the 2024 heat stroke death of a Baltimore sanitation worker.
Markets
Grain futures closed mixed Friday. July corn settled at $4.12¾, down 2 cents. July soybeans closed at $11.26¼, off 1¼ cents. July Chicago wheat fell 12¾ cents to $5.78¼. At Laurel Grain Company in Laurel, Delaware, December corn is bringing $4.57/bu, with November soybeans at $11.07.
Forecast
Temperatures are expected to reach 90°F Friday afternoon with a chance of rain showers. Saturday calls for showers and thunderstorms with a high of 82°F. Producers are advised to plan field work accordingly.
This article is based on the Delmarva Farm Report Update Evening Edition, June 26, 2026. Hosted by Tom Bradley.
