Top Stories
U.S. Senators call for more action against NWS
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is urging the USDA to take additional steps to contain the growing New World Screwworm outbreak in the U.S. The lawmakers, led by Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, sent a letter to USDA expressing concern about the threat the parasite poses to livestock, wildlife, pets, and rural economies. According to the senators, USDA has confirmed 12 active cases of New World Screwworm since early June. "We urge the USDA to take further immediate action to contain and...
Ag banker testifies on farm economic conditions
The American Bankers Association provided testimony before the House Ag Committee and offered the association’s views on the financial conditions in farm country. Tony Hotchkiss, char of the Agriculture and Rural Bankers Committee, emphasized the critical role banks...
Senator Ernst says USDA needs to modernize its assistance programs
Earlier this week, Senator Joni Ernst joined with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the rest of the Iowa Delegation in Washington in penning a letter to U.S. Ag Secretary and former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack about the need for the United States Department of Agriculture...
Weather has generally been friendly to corn and soybeans
As we enter the late July growing period the weather nationally is for the most part cooperating during a key part of the growing season. Right now, there are not any major weather concerns for the stretch run of July says USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. Nationally...
Over 500 organizations unite for new farm bill
The American Farm Bureau Federation, along with 529 other organizations, urged lawmakers to prioritize programs that benefit all American families, emphasizing that they are too important to delay any further. Joe Gilson, the director of congressional relations for...
U.S. Export Sales Report (7-25-24)
As we approach the end of the marketing year, the export sales have picked up a little bit. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an analysis of the latest numbers from the USDA. While it’s good to see sales like this, especially for soybeans, McBride said it...
Defense Department backs off lab-grown meat
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association confirmed that the effort to prevent ultra-processed, lab-grown protein in the diet of the American armed forces was successful. The announcement came following news that the U.S. Department of Defense is not pursuing...
Video
More Ag News
Old farm bill doesn’t give farmers necessary risk management tools
As Congress returns to D.C., it is now expected that they will pass another extension of the 2018 farm bill. This is a far cry from what the ag industry was wanting- and hoping for- earlier this year. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, during a...
How to pick the right Christmas tree
If you haven't done so already, time is running out to pick that perfect Christmas tree. Barbara H. Smith is a horticulture specialist with Clemson University Extension, and she said the tradition of decorating the modern tree goes back almost 200 years. Smith gave...
Next Senate Majority Leader vows to upend slow Senate pace
Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune vows to kick-start legislative action on farm and other legislation in 2025 when the GOP takes over leadership of the new Congress. Thune says that the Senate has not done enough during this Congress, beginning with the farm...
Soybean meal exports set a new record
U.S. soy remains America’s number one agricultural export, adding $31.2 billion to the U.S. economy in marketing year 2023-2024. Total soy export volumes were down from the prior year at 60.8 million metric tons, partly due to fewer carry-in stocks and the expansion...
EPA working on outreach with Farmers
Frequently, we find ourselves scratching our heads about AG’s relationship with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). More often than not, regulations and interpretations of their authority have ended up in the country's courtrooms. It’s been a strained...
