U.S. and Guatemala Sign Reciprocal Trade Agreement Strengthening Agricultural Market Access The Office of the United States Trade Representative has announced the signing of a new Reciprocal Trade Agreement between the United States and Guatemala, marking another step in strengthening economic ties across the Western Hemisphere. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer joined Guatemala’s Minister of Economy, Adriahna Gabriela Garcia, to …
A Snapshot of Agricultural Progress American agriculture has always been shaped by innovation, but few changes were as transformative as the mechanization of farming. In this American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold outlines how corn production efficiency evolved between 1850 and 1930—revealing how fewer labor hours and less land dramatically increased productivity. Corn Production in 1850: Heavy Labor, Limited Efficiency …
Florida Agriculture Braces for Rare Winter Storm As a powerful winter storm—forecast as a potential bomb cyclone—moves toward Florida this weekend, state agriculture leaders are warning of significant impacts to farmers and producers across the state. In response, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has formally requested swift federal action to support producers facing potential losses. Simpson Requests USDA Disaster …
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia for the week ended January 30, 2026, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: **Due to weather conditions, barns in the northern half of Alabama were closed** At Alabama Livestock Auctions, for the week ended-January 30, 2026, receipts at 16 …
USDA Secretary Rollins Supports President Trump’s Push for Year-Round E-15 Sales U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins voiced strong support for President Donald Trump’s call for congressional action to allow the nationwide, year-round sale of E-15 gasoline, underscoring the administration’s continued focus on strengthening biofuel markets, energy security, and rural economies. President Trump made the announcement during remarks in Iowa, …
Georgia Ag Forecast Points to Modest Growth and Continued Cost Pressures The Georgia Ag Forecast, presented last week to agricultural stakeholders across the state, outlined a mixed economic outlook for the industry in the near term. Economists highlighted modest national economic growth, stabilizing inflation, and slightly improved farm income, while also warning that rising production costs and stagnant commodity prices …
Alabama Beef Checkoff Showcases 2025 Promotion and Outreach Successes The Alabama Beef Checkoff is highlighting a strong slate of promotion, education, and research efforts in its 2025 update to members, underscoring the program’s continued investment in strengthening beef demand and supporting producers across the state. Among the most impactful areas was Marketing and Consumer Outreach, where the Checkoff leveraged high-visibility …
Accountability and Advocacy: How the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Earns Legislative Trust Accountability and transparency are essential when it comes to agricultural policy and funding, and the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board continues to earn strong support from state legislators for exactly those reasons. To better understand why the Board’s work resonates so well in Tallahassee, we sat down with Sam …
Second Case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in Walker County, Georgia The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), in coordination with USDA-APHIS, has announced a second confirmed case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry flock in Walker County, Georgia. This latest detection follows the first confirmed case announced on January 14 and is located within the …
Congress Faces January 30 Deadline to Avoid Government Shutdown as Markets Watch Earnings January 30 has arrived — a date Congress has been aware of since last fall as the deadline to pass a spending bill to fund the federal government for fiscal year 2026. If lawmakers fail to reach an agreement by midnight tonight, the result would be a …
