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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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%.

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.

The National FFA Organization and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Science (MANRRS) recently signed a memorandum of understanding to create a formative alliance with the shared goal of growing diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry of agriculture.

Truterra, LLC, a leading agricultural sustainability business that offers consultation, tools and solutions for the ag and food value chain, recently announced the launch of four new data-driven regional and crop-specific programs to support farmers as they adopt regenerative growing practices.

AGCO, Your Agriculture Company (NYSE: AGCO), a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, reported its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023. Net sales for the second quarter were approximately $3.8 billion, an increase of approximately 29.8% compared to the second quarter of 2022.

On a charred portion of the Kansas prairie, aspiring research scientist Giovanni Moore is on the lookout for a remarkable beetle that protects humans and livestock from parasites and pathogens by feeding on or removing animal feces.

U.S. diesel prices have soared back above the $4 per gallon mark and an ag economist says farmers have some decisions to make. Greg McBride, Director of Brokerage with Allendale, tells Brownfield prices have risen more than 30-cents per gallon since the last week of June due to some cuts in oil production.

Iowa farmers on Thursday urged members of Congress to be cautious in seeking to curb Chinese theft of U.S. intellectual property and unfair trade tactics, noting the nation's importance as a consumer of soybeans and other commodities. “We need to be deliberate and thoughtful, please,” Iowa farmer Suzanne Shirbroun said at a House Committee on the Chinese Communist Party roundtable in Dysart, Iowa. She said revoking China’s permanent most favored nation status would “decimate agriculture exports and could deal a great blow to the American farmer."

Following its downgrade of the U.S. government's credit, Fitch Ratings on Thursday also downgraded the Farm Credit System (FCS) as a government-sponsored entity that is tied to the debt and ratings of the federal government. The immediate impact of the downgrade in ratings on farmers and agribusinesses that rely on Farm Credit lenders is likely minimal for now. But FCS's four banks and 59 lending associations nationally could see their reserve requirements affected in the future if another rating adjustment is made down the line.

Minnesota farmers are facing several challenges, from drought to dairy supply chain issues, that can put a financial strain on the family. However, producers can find help through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Farm Advocate Program.

The main method for getting rid of weeds in a crop field is fairly simple: spray them with a herbicide. But some weeds are resistant to herbicides. Knowing which ones are resistant ahead of time could save farmers time and money by not applying a herbicide that isn’t going to work.

It's hot. It's dry. And the last place farmers likely want to be is in a corn field, shovel in hand, digging up corn plants. Still, corn rootworm doesn't sleep during sizzling summers. "When it comes to corn rootworm, take a proactive approach," said Safeer Hassan, Bayer corn systems manager. "What you do this season can affect what happens [with corn rootworm infestations] next season."

Farm Credit lenders are asking Congress in the upcoming farm bill to expand their authority to rural community facilities and fisheries projects, but some community bankers are worried the changes will siphon away their business. Farm Credit System lenders, unlike private banks, are exempt from federal, state, municipal and local taxes related to real estate. But the system's nearly 70 associations are restricted to lending money for agricultural real estate, farm equipment, agribusiness, rural home mortgages, and other specific agricultural and rural uses. Two new proposals supported by Farm Credit System institutions, however, would expand these authorities. One bill, the Fishing Industry Credit Enhancement Act, would allow Farm Credit System loans to go toward boat builders, gear manufacturers, bait suppliers and other businesses that “provide direct assistance to fishing operations.”

USDA’s Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation wants to give reference prices a boost in the next farm bill. During a forum on the farm bill and ag policy issues at Minnesota Farmfest Tuesday, Undersecretary Robert Bonnie said reference prices in the Commodity Title of the farm bill have not kept up with the current ag economy.

Row crop farmers have a Cover Crop Decision Tool to help them decide which cover crop will work best on their farms for potential fall/winter grazing.

In 2023, the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill that allows a partnership or S-Corp to elect to pay its state income taxes.

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa says it isn’t likely his proposed cattle market reform will be included in the 2023 Farm Bill. He tells Brownfield Senator Fischer, one of the main leaders in this area, has told the leadership of the Senate Ag Committee that she doesn’t want it included in the farm bill. “So with her saying that it’s pretty difficult for us to move ahead,” he says.

One of the more recent analysis products for clarifying how drought is affecting vegetation in the contiguous U.S. is the Vegetation Drought Response Index, or VegDRI. This index was developed with sponsorship from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA), and NASA. The index is produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) in collaboration with the USGS and the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC). Production of the VegDRI maps began in 2006 with coverage of seven states in the northern Great Plains and has since expanded to include all the lower 48 states.

The controversial idea of requiring farmers to update the base acreage that they use to qualify for commodity payments has gotten a fresh boost with the endorsement of the National Corn Growers Association. Members of the group believe the savings from a mandatory base update could be used to fund increases in commodity program reference prices, a top priority for many farm groups.

Pet food and specialty pet food treats and supplements packaging will more closely resemble human food labels with new, recommended labeling regulations approved for publication by the Association of American Feed Control Officials and sought by the industry.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson confirmed Monday he wants the House leadership to schedule floor time for the farm bill before he releases a draft of the bill or holds a markup. Thompson, a Republican from Pennsylvania, made the statement in an interview with DTN on the sidelines of a farm bill listening session hosted by Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, in her district. Thompson said he believes he will be ready to release the draft "at the end of August" and plans a markup "in mid-September," but only if leadership has told him what week the bill will be scheduled to come up on the House floor.