Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Celebrates 10,000+ Members and Successful 2024 Membership Drive The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) is closing out another successful membership year, and the organization is expressing deep gratitude for the cattle producers, county leaders, and sponsors who helped push membership above 10,000 members once again. According to Erin Beasley, this year marks the sixth consecutive year the ACA …
USDA Announces $30 Million Fresh Fruit Purchase to Support Farmers and Food Banks The U.S. agricultural sector is receiving a significant boost with a new USDA initiative aimed at supporting both American farmers and families in need. US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins revealed that the USDA will purchase $30 million in fresh fruit from domestic producers, supplying food banks …
Tyson Foods to Close Lexington, Nebraska Beef Facility in Early 2026 Late last week, Tyson Foods announced a major restructuring decision that will significantly affect its operations and the community of Lexington, Nebraska. The company will close its Lexington beef facility beginning in early 2026 as part of a broader effort to “right size its beef business and position it …
USDA Updates 2025 Soybean and Sorghum Production Forecasts The USDA Ag Statistics Service (NASS) has released updated forecasts for soybeans and sorghum as they continue catching up on commodity data following the federal shutdown. These updates provide a clearer picture for farmers planning for the 2025 growing season. Soybean Forecast: Record Yields, Lower Acres Soybean production in 2025 is forecast …
Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern Merger Advances Amid Agricultural Concerns Shareholders of Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) railroads have nearly unanimously approved the next step in the multi-year process to merge the two companies. If completed, the merger will create America’s first coast-to-coast railroad, promising faster delivery times and competitive rail rates for many industries. Potential Benefits Highlighted by Rail …
A Half-Century That Transformed American Agriculture From the Civil War era to the early 20th century, the United States experienced the most dramatic growth in agricultural development in its history. As Mark Oppold explains in his American Agriculture History Minute, the 50-year span between 1860 and 1910 reshaped the nation’s farming economy, population distribution, and land value in profound ways. …
USMEF Chairman Jay Tyler Outlines 2025 Priorities for Expanding U.S. Red Meat Exports The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is entering the coming year with clear direction and renewed leadership under newly elected Chairman Jay Tyler. In discussing the organization’s goals, Tyler emphasized that the priorities for USMEF remain consistent, focused, and essential to long-term global competitiveness. As he explained, …
USDA Updates 2025 Corn and Cotton Forecasts as Farmers Seek Profitable Options As USDA’s Ag Statistics Service works to catch up after the recent federal shutdown, farmers across the country continue searching for commodities that will generate profit next season—a task becoming increasingly difficult as markets tighten. The latest USDA updates on corn and cotton provide important insight into production …
USDA Launches $16 Billion in SDRP Disaster Assistance Following Government Reopening The Trump administration has officially begun rolling out long-awaited disaster assistance for America’s farmers and ranchers now that the government has reopened. The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is moving forward with the distribution of $16 billion in SDRP assistance, which includes support through both the Emergency Commodity Assistance …
Women on the Homefront: How the Civil War Transformed American Agriculture A Nation at War and Farms in Transition In the 1860s, as the Civil War pulled countless men into military service, American agriculture faced a sudden and profound shift. With many men marching off to battle, farms across the country were left in the hands of women, children, and …
