By Clint Thompson Georgia cotton growers impacted by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 will benefit from disaster assistance funding announced earlier this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Taylor Sills, executive director of the Georgia Cotton Commission, discussed the impact that the funding will have on his growers who are struggling through challenging times. “Our industry is in …
In the early decades of the 19th century, the United States was a nation built on agriculture. As Mark Oppold explains in this American Agriculture History Minute, no one at the time would have been surprised to see that the U.S. economy was overwhelmingly agriculturally based. Farming was not simply an industry—it was the core of daily life and national …
Early Farmers and the Realities of Supply and Demand In this American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold explains how early American farmers and ranchers quickly learned a fundamental economic principle: the law of supply and demand. These producers discovered that market forces could just as easily boost their prosperity as threaten it, depending on how supply aligned with global demand. …
Ag Community Praises Newly Proposed WOTUS Rule The agricultural community is reacting strongly to the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers’ recent release of the newly proposed Waters of the U.S. Rule (WOTUS). After years of regulatory back-and-forth and ongoing legal disputes, many leaders in agriculture say the new proposal provides long-awaited clarity and relief for farmers, ranchers, and landowners. …
USDA Reports Record-High Peanut Production Expected for 2025 USDA has released new numbers following the government shutdown, and the latest data show that the U.S. peanut industry is heading toward a record-breaking harvest. According to updated projections, the country “will now have three million seven hundred and thirty five thousand five hundred and fifty tons.” This represents an increase of …
USDA Officials Praise Mexico’s Screwworm Prevention Efforts During Chiapas Visit During the recent trade mission that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins led to Mexico, USDA officials had the opportunity to visit one of the New World Screwworm Detection Sites. The visit offered important insight into how Mexican authorities are working to prevent the reintroduction of the pest into North …
Arlan Suderman: Recent U.S.–China Deal Was “More of a De-Escalation Than an Agreement” Arlan Suderman with Stonex recently wrote a commentary that has sparked discussion throughout agricultural and financial markets. His analysis raises doubts about the strength of the trade agreement announced between the United States and China in late October. According to Suderman, the event was not a breakthrough …
EPA and Army Corps Propose New WOTUS Rule: Clarity for Landowners and Economic Growth The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers have officially released a new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that aims to provide clarity and predictability under the Clean Water Act. This action is a significant development for American farmers, landowners, and …
Understanding This Year’s USDA Peanut PLC Program Payments Peanut farmers across the Southeast continue to navigate fluctuating markets, and one tool available to support them is the USDA’s Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program. Many growers may qualify for a payment this year based on how the market price of peanuts compared to the USDA reference price. As explained, “The peanut …
Global Stock Markets Hit Record Advances in 2025 The U.S. stock market isn’t the only stock exchange worldwide showing record advances. “Wall Street has been setting records seemingly every week.” This surge has captured global attention, but it’s part of a broader trend—major markets worldwide are experiencing strong, synchronized growth. Year-to-date, “the Dow is up over 10 percent, S&P 500 …
