News Archives
Scoular partners with Regrow for regenerative agriculture program
Scoular will have the ability to develop regenerative sourcing programs with its customers, thanks to a new partnership between the company and Regrow.

Higher food costs, less federal help means food banks struggle
Early last year, Mid-Ohio Food Collective leaders looked at their warehouse and saw shelves filled to only 32% capacity, down from the 105% peak after COVID struck in 2020.
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More votes needed for whole milk in schools bill
The dairy industry is making a last-minute push to get more support for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids bill in the U.S. House.

Soybeans with momentum heading into 2024
Soybeans have a lot of momentum going into 2024.

BASF defines new corporate structure for ag business
The German chemicals giant BASF has announced plans to separate several of its businesses to unlock earnings potential. Agricultural Solutions was specifically named in the reorganization.

USDA signs agreement with Agriculture Future of America to prepare young people for careers in agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Agriculture Future of America (AFA), formalizing a partnership to promote the common goals of strengthening the future competitiveness and sustainability of the U.S. agriculture industry by preparing more young people for careers in agriculture.

Despite rising wage rates, farmers must rely on H-2A program
According to data analyzed in a recent Market Intel report, H-2A usage reached new highs in fiscal year 2023, despite an increase in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, which outpaced the hourly wage growth rate of all private employees. This increase in both demand for workers and wage rate continues to put stress on the bottom lines of farmers and ranchers.
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NOPA names Tkacz Buller as new president and CEO
Kailee Tkacz Buller has been named the first female to serve as president and CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association, filling the vacancy left by the departure of longtime leader Tom Hammer.

Vilsack touts US leadership over ag and food at UN Climate Summit
The final COP28 declaration on how the world should avoid global warming won't include a detailed dive into agriculture and food, but U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack still said a lot was achieved for agriculture over the past two weeks.

Dairy Defined: Whole milk brings the nutrition children want and need
Much has changed about milk consumption since 2012, the year that whole and 2 percent milk varieties were no longer allowed in federal school meal programs. Since then, the body of research supporting the benefits of fuller-fat milk has grown more robust, with research showing that dairy foods at higher fat levels are linked to outcomes such as lower total body mass in kids and lower childhood obesity.

Rep. Austin Scott calls for increased reference prices
As the farm bill debate approaches 2024, a key House Agriculture Committee member is calling for increasing the reference prices that can trigger payments to farmers under the Price Loss Coverage program.

USDA cuts U.S. corn, wheat ending stocks
The USDA has tightened its domestic balance sheets for corn and wheat, while leaving soybean ending stocks unchanged from November.

United Soybean Board elects Steve Reinhard as new chair
Farmer-leaders of the United Soybean Board (USB) elected Steve Reinhard from Ohio as the 2024 chair and 10 additional farmer-leaders to serve on the Executive Committee during the USB December meeting in St. Charles, Missouri.

CONAB lowers Brazil soybean, corn estimates
Brazil’s equivalent of the USDA has cut its soybean and corn production projections.

Thrifty Food Plan fight 'flashpoint' in farm bill work, Stabenow says
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., called on nutrition advocates Thursday to defend the authority granted in the 2018 farm bill to update the Thrifty Food Plan without being cost neutral.

Missouri agriculture director wants more meat and poultry inspectors
The 2024 legislative session is right around the corner and lawmakers are already getting to work on the next state budget.

Farmers collaborate with state and federal agencies to meet nitrogen loss goals two years early
A new report by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Hypoxia Task Force (HTF) demonstrates that the hard work of farmers and ranchers to reduce nutrient losses in the Mississippi River watershed is paying off.

Iowa farmer pleads guilty to livestock theft, wire fraud, other charges
A Clayton County, Iowa, farmer faces up to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty Dec. 1 to livestock theft, wire fraud and one count of making a false bankruptcy declaration while operating an unlicensed custom cattle farm known as "Fawn Hollow."

Democrats join Republican criticism of USDA's Emergency Relief Program payment formula
Congressional Democrats are joining their Republican colleagues in questioning how USDA is implementing the 2022 Emergency Relief Program.

Tariffs on Moroccan fertilizers hampering family farms
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), along with 57 agriculture organizations including 22 state corn grower groups, urged the U.S. International Trade Commission today to consider the impacts that tariffs on Moroccan shipments of fertilizers are having on family farms.

House members call for crop insurance updates, other farm bill initiatives at hearing
A steady stream of lawmakers filed into the House Ag Committee's hearing room Tuesday where they advocated for changes to crop insurance, trade program expansion and a slate of other policies on their farm bill wishlists.

United Soybean Board announces Lucas Lentsch as incoming CEO
The United Soybean Board (USB) is pleased to announce that Lucas Lentsch will join the organization as its Chief Executive Officer starting January 1, 2024.

October ethanol, DDGs exports down from September
U.S. ethanol exports fell back a little bit in October.

December WASDE: A quiet ritual to end 2023
For corn, soybeans and wheat, Friday's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report offers no new U.S. production estimates.

Midwestern states continue battle with EPA over E15 regulations
The general counsel for Growth Energy says the U.S. EPA’s delayed action on year-round E15 sales has reached a tipping point for Midwestern states.

Future of US dairy trade to Canada remains uncertain after second USMCA dispute
The first thing U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack did after the U.S. lost its second USMCA dairy battle with Canada was vow to keep on fighting – reminiscent of statements released by U.S. lawmakers and U.S. dairy groups, but that fight may be at an end after two exhaustive legal fights that both ended in a decision by a three-member dispute panel.

USDA now accepting applications for online farm loans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched an online application for Direct Loan customers.

GROWMARK partners with InnerPlant on InnerSoy pilot
GROWMARK, Inc. has partnered with InnerPlant on a commercial pilot of InnerSoy, the world’s first soybean fungal sensor. InnerPlant genetically engineers plants to emit optical signals when the plants are stressed from a lack of water or nutrients, or under attack from pathogens, like fungi.


