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 …
Irish-born inventor Harry Ferguson holds a permanent place in American agriculture history for developing one of the most important innovations ever introduced to farming equipment. His work fundamentally changed how tractors and implements function together, improving efficiency, safety, and productivity for farmers worldwide. The Birth of Modern Tractor Technology Ferguson is credited with developing and patenting the first hydraulic lift …
Super Bowl Sunday Is America’s Biggest Wing Day WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 29, 2026) — From coast to coast, Super Bowl Sunday has become synonymous with one food above all others: chicken wings. According to the National Chicken Council’s (NCC) annual Chicken Wing Report, Americans are projected to consume 1.48 billion chicken wings during Super Bowl LX, as the New England …
By Clint Thompson The cotton jassid was one of the main stories that defined Georgia’s 2025 cotton season. It’s been under the spotlight during University of Georgia winter meetings and was the main highlight at the Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) annual meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Phillip Roberts, University of Georgia Extension cotton entomologist, was a featured speaker at the …
Asgrow Names 2025 National Yield Contest Winners Asgrow brand soybean products from Bayer Crop Science have announced the winners of the 2025 Asgrow brand national yield contest. The annual competition is open to all U.S. farmers planting Asgrow brand soybeans and recognizes producers who achieve exceptional yields through strong management and agronomic practices. One of this year’s winners is Russ …
Farmer Calendar Highlights Major Meetings and Economic Outlook It’s a busy week on the farmer calendar, with several major agricultural meetings taking place across the Southeast, along with new economic forecasts that could impact the agricultural sector in the year ahead. Kicking off the week’s events, the Georgia Cotton Commission will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, January 28. The …
USMEF Supports U.S. Pork Producers Amid Mexico’s Trade Investigation The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is actively supporting U.S. pork producers as Mexico conducts an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation into pork imports. Mexico announced the investigation in December, focusing specifically on pork hams and shoulders—key products in U.S. export trade. Erin Boer, USMEF’s Vice President of Economic Analysis, emphasized the …
Government Shutdown Appears Likely, but USDA Will Remain Open Hope of avoiding another government shutdown is fading as Congress approaches a critical funding deadline. With divisions still unresolved and time running out, the probability of a shutdown continues to rise ahead of Friday’s midnight cutoff. Last week, seven House Democrats broke with party leadership to pass the Department of Homeland …
American Agriculture Enters a New Century In the early 1900s, American agriculture continued to expand and diversify as the nation entered a new era of scientific research and modernization. Farmers across the country were adopting new practices aimed at improving productivity, restoring soil health, and strengthening regional agricultural economies. This period marked an important transition, as innovation increasingly guided farm …
