News Archives
Peterson encourages bipartisan approach to farm bill passage
Former House Ag Committee Chair Collin Peterson is calling on House GOP leaders to find the votes to pass the next farm bill not in the conservative flank of the Republican Party, but among the chamber's more moderate Democrats.

USDA to provide additional financial assistance to qualifying guaranteed farm loan borrowers facing financial risk
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it will begin providing additional, automatic financial assistance for qualifying guaranteed Farm Loan Programs (FLP) borrowers who are facing financial risk.

Recent rains restore hope to thirsty farm fields
The idiom "when it rains it pours" may have originated with a Morton salt commercial, but Zachary Grossman has now experienced it firsthand.

USDA lowers corn, soybean yield estimates
The USDA has trimmed its expectations for this year’s corn and soybean crops.

Why consider drylotting cows this fall?
This fall as pastures continue to recover from drought in previous years, some producers who traditionally pasture their cattle are considering feeding cow-calf pairs in confinement.

Heat returning to central U.S.?
The stress about the weather has eased for most of the country during the last several weeks.

EPA tightening pesticide regulations under Endangered Species Act
Environmental groups are pushing the EPA to better comply with the Endangered Species Act when registering crop protection products.

Tractor sales growth softens in U.S., Canada
Self-propelled combine sales continued to increase in the U.S., while total farm tractor unit sales in the U.S. and Canada declined in July, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

Pork exports continue to climb, beef down from 2022 record highs
Pork exports have enjoyed a healthy first half of 2023, but beef sales to overseas customers have lagged, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Options for soybean aphid control manage resistance
Though soybean aphids are an invasive species in North America, they have been present for more than 20 years. During that time, management options have changed.

August WASDE report hears from producers
With summer flying by, the August World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) and accompanying Crop Production reports are almost here, set for release at 11 a.m. CDT Friday, Aug. 11.

Mississippi River levels remain low, trade disruptions could occur
A climatologist says water levels remain low on the Mississippi River and the situation could worsen this fall.

Grocery prices back on rise, shoppers see impact of tight cattle market
Supermarket prices ticked up 0.3% last month, driven by a jump in the cost of beef as well as increases for some fruits, vegetables and dairy products, according to the monthly Consumer Price Index.

New cover crop survey data challenges assumptions
A new national cover crop survey report released Tuesday challenges assumptions on the role of incentive payments in cover crop adoption. Incentives play a key role in getting some farmers started on cover crops—49% of the cover crop users participating in the survey reported receiving some sort of payment for cover crops in 2022, and 77.8% of cover crop non-users said incentive payments would be helpful.

USDA partners with Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement to strengthen America's rural workforce
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Acting Rural Development Under Secretary Roger Glendenning recently announced that USDA is partnering with the Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement to strengthen the nation’s rural workforce.

Economist urges caution to farmers looking to buy land, USDA report shows record prices
An annual report from the USDA shows that cropland values continue to increase, and an ag economist says producers should be cautious before buying any land.

$10M settlement reached in wages case
Current and former food company employees suing 11 companies for an alleged conspiracy to suppress employee wages, have asked a federal court to dismiss the case against one of the companies as a result of a settlement agreement and to approve a second cooperation agreement reached with another company.
Fertilizer prices trend down, but producers see strengthening demand
Prices for fertilizer products have been dropping for months from highs last year after many producers cut down on applications, but major manufacturers such as Mosaic and Nutrien see farmer demand rising amid bullish fundamentals.

A No. 2 pencil is a beef producer's best tool
One of the most important tools for livestock producers is a sharp No. 2 pencil.
The pencil and some basic arithmetic can help take the emotion out of desperate measures to find feed.

USDA celebrates National Farmers Market Week
Secretary Vilsack proclaimed August 6-12, 2023, as National Farmers Market Week to celebrate the growth and impact of farmers markets and their vital role in America’s food supply chain.

Nebraska, Iowa sue EPA on E15 request
Attorneys general in Nebraska and Iowa sued the EPA on Monday, asking a federal court in Iowa to force the agency to finalize a rule to allow permanent year-round E15 sales in eight Midwest states.

57% of U.S. corn, 54% of soybeans good to excellent
The USDA’s good to excellent ratings for U.S. corn and soybeans improved slightly over the past week.

Tyson shuttering chicken plants amid meat industry struggles
Tyson Foods on Monday announced the closure of four chicken processing plants, and the meatpacking giant said it lost money on its chicken and pork business during the latest quarter while barely covering costs on its beef segment.

Experiments identify important new role of chemical compounds in plant development
Researchers who manipulate lignin, a molecular fiber that allows plants to grow tall and transport water, unexpectedly discovered its synthesis has more far-reaching effects on plant development than previously suspected.

USDA invests nearly $30 million to boost school nutrition in 264 rural and small communities
As part of a cooperative agreement to develop and implement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, Action for Healthy Kids on Monday announced that it is awarding nearly $30 million in subgrants to 264 school districts across 44 states and the District of Columbia, reaching students in some of our nation’s highest need schools.

Nebraska Governor asks Vilsack for indemnity adjustment on cattle losses
Without providing details about actual livestock losses, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen asked the USDA for additional federal assistance for cattle producers who reportedly lost animals in a major heat wave across the state last week.

U.S. cropland values leap more than 8% in 2023
Cropland values jumped 8.1% this year, hitting an average of $5.460 an acre, USDA reports. Many states have seen double-digit increases this year, with Kansas leading the nation with an increase of 16.6%.

Cattle producers want certainty in the tax code
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association wants a federal estate tax code that promotes the continuation of family-owned businesses and protects America’s farmers and ranchers.


