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House Ag Chair proposes sweeping change in ag labor program
House Agriculture Committee Chairman G. T. Thompson has introduced legislation aimed at expanding the H-2A agricultural guest worker program and addressing long-standing farm labor shortages. Politico said “The Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act of 2026” would broaden access to H-2A workers while allowing some undocumented agricultural employees in the U.S. to apply for temporary legal status under the program if they meet eligibility requirements. Thompson said the proposal is intended to...
Port labor contract dispute disrupting red meat exports
U.S. agriculture is bracing for a potential work stoppage at East and Gulf Coast ports that could greatly disrupt U.S. exports. Contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance broke down in mid-November over...
Secretary Naig’s Year in Review (part 1)
It’s hard to believe that 2024 is coming to an end on Wednesday. It feels like just yesterday that we were kicking off the new year. I know they say time flies, but this one felt like we blinked and missed it. However, as fast as this year seemed to go, it wasn’t...
U.S. Export Sales Report (12-27-24)
We normally don’t expect much from the export sales report during the holidays, but today’s report was surprisingly good. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest numbers from the USDA. There haven't been any flash sales recently, but...
Previously reinstated Beneficial Ownership Filing requirement on pause again
The roller coaster that is the battle over Beneficial Ownership Information reporting requirements is going for another loop. A previously reinstated filing requirement has once again been put on hold. Dustin Sherer, director of government affairs for the American...
Momentum building for E15 despite being left out of funding bill
National year round E15 sales were not included in the year end final stopgap government funding bill. However, the issue could still be building momentum heading into 2025. E15 sales, including in the summer driving season, were a part of the earliest stopgap bill...
Port labor dispute affecting red meat exports
U.S. agriculture is bracing for a potential work stoppage at East and Gulf Coast ports that could greatly disrupt American red meat exports. Contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance broke down in...
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More Ag News
U.S. Export Sales Report (4-17-25)
Despite the intense volatility and uncertainty in the global market, this week’s export sales were excellent for corn and soybeans. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn sales were significantly higher than average. Soybean sales were also great this...
Cybercrime is a very real problem in rural America
Cybercrime might seem like something straight out of a futuristic spy novel, but it’s absolutely real, and it even happens in rural America. The Federal Trade Commission recently reported another record year of fraud losses totaling $12.5 billion by American...
Grassley says fluid ag markets help U.S. producers amid China tariffs
As China and the United States engage in a tariff tug of war, China is placing levies on U.S. farm goods and making purchases from America’s competitors. However, U.S. senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says some of those losses can be offset. Grassley confirms that China...
Bayer may stop producing glyphosate
Bayer says it may stop producing glyphosate, the world’s most popular weedkiller unless it can get court protection against lawsuits blaming the herbicide for causing cancer. The Wall Street Journal says Bayer currently produces about 40 percent of the world’s...
John Deere continues to advance autonomous farming
Agricultural technology has advanced at an astonishing pace, transforming how we work the land in ways my grandfather could never have imagined. He was the last in our family to plow fields with horses, eventually trading reins for the steering wheel of a tractor, a...
