Ag News: Dealers Don’t Support Deere Strike

**A majority of equipment dealers do not support striking John Deere workers.

According to a recent Farm Equipment Magazine poll, roughly 54% of dealers said they don’t support the strike, while 37% said they did, and 8.5% weren't sure.

Deere workers have rejected two tentative contracts, but a Deere spokesperson says there will not be a third offer.

Dealers that do support the strike accused Deere of prioritizing its shareholders.

**Both U.S. beef and pork exports are on a record pace through September.

According to the U.S. Meat Export Federation, beef export volume posted one of the best months on record in September, up 20% from a year ago.

Export VALUE jumped 59%, the second-highest month on record.

For the first three quarters of 2021, beef exports were up 18% from last year.

Pork exports were down 1% from a year ago, but value was up 8%.

For the year, exports were 1% above last year's record pace, while value climbed 9%.

**The USDA is distributing $243 million in grants to support specialty crops.

The grants will fund research, agricultural extension activities and other programs to increase demand for agricultural goods.

Specialty crop initiative grants have already been awarded to University of California, Berkeley and UC Davis for research on climate-smart lettuce production.