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Adjuvants are vital to drone spraying effectiveness
When spraying with a traditional ground rig, adjuvants can help to improve the efficacy of the application by improving droplet spread, increasing the amount of product that contacts the target, and reducing drift. Those same benefits can also be found when adding adjuvants to the tank mix of a drone sprayer. Joe Vaillancourt of Winfield United says the benefits from adjuvants can be even more pronounced with drone spraying because of the number of factors that need to be accounted for to...
Trump names USDA Undersecretary Nominees
President-elect Donald Trump has announced a slate of undersecretary nominees for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Via social media, Trump announced that he will nominate Richard Fordyce as Agriculture undersecretary for farm production and conservation; Dudley...
New President, same ag issues persist
As President Trump begins another term, America’s agricultural sector faces critical challenges that demand urgent attention. Farmers and ranchers are grappling with labor shortages, trade disputes, and rising costs—issues that have persisted for far too long. These...
Foot-and-mouth disease in Germany could impact pork trade
Despite a 25% decline in production over the past decade, Germany remains a global leader in pork exports, particularly to the rest of the European Union. However, a recent detection of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in a water buffalo herd at a small exotic farm near...
Beef supplies tightening, how will that impact prices?
USDA released its latest publication for beef production year over year and the report provides indications regarding steer price projections for 2025. That is World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski who says the lack of cattle being imported from...
Hundreds of ag groups write Senators backing USDA Secretary Nominee Rollins
Last week, 427 national and state agricultural groups and agribusinesses sent a letter to leaders of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee supporting Brooke Rollins' nomination as Agriculture Secretary and calling on the committee and entire Senate to "promptly...
Updated poultry tournament rule provides needed transparency
The USDA issued a final poultry tournament rule under the Packers & Stockyards Act this week. The American Farm Bureau Federation calls this new rule a step in the right direction. Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy with AFBF, said the rule includes...
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Don’t get too comfortable with the current cattle prices
Both the live and feeder cattle markets are experiencing unprecedented price levels. Those levels won’t last forever, though, so it’s important to maintain a level of caution when navigating the marketplace. Ross Baldwin, hedging strategist at AgMarket.Net, said he...
Examining the operating expense ratio
The operating expense ratio is a tool that farmers can utilize to determine the financial efficiency of their grain farms. Gerald Mashange, an agricultural economist at the University of Illinois, explains how the operating expense ratio is calculated. Mashange says...
Vaccinating birds against HPAI poses trade and logistical challenges
The war on avian influenza may soon include vaccines for birds. However, there are challenges to a nationwide vaccination strategy. USDA is investing significant resources to fight Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, including $100 million into research and development...
Bessent signals optimism as U.S./China trade talks stall in public
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in an interview with CNBC, expressed optimism that “substantial progress” in U.S./China trade negotiations could be achieved in the coming weeks. However, the overall status of talks remains uncertain, with public statements from both...
2025 World Pork Expo right around the corner
The 2025 World Pork Expo is right around the corner, set for early June in Des Moines, Iowa, and it promises to once again bring together pork producers, industry leaders, and ag enthusiasts from across the country. National Pork Producers Council President Duane...
