JBS USA has announced that they have reached a new collective bargaining agreement with UFCW Local 7 at their Greeley, Colorado Beef Production Facility. According to JBS, “he agreement, which runs through April 2028, reflects the same economic framework JBS USA presented in its Last, Best and Final offer—an offer that remained unchanged economically throughout the bargaining process. While JBS USA is …
Maritime officials say the buildup of ships on either side of the Strait of Hormuz will take months to restore normal traffic when it does open. Reuters reporting there are over 3,000 vessels now in the Gulf area, including over 800 oil tankers. The narrow passage when the Strait does open when it meets the Gulf of Oman like a three-lane highway merging into …
Introduction to an Agricultural Visionary Mark Oppold’s American Agriculture History Minute highlights the remarkable contributions of Jon Kinzenbaw—a man whose ingenuity helped reshape modern farming practices across North America. Born in 1944 in Victor, Iowa, Kinzenbaw emerged as a key figure in agricultural equipment innovation during a time of rapid transformation in the industry. Early Life and Roots in Iowa …
The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association connects with the cattle industry through various efforts and one of those is through visits at the Alabama stockyards. We caught up with Michael Smith with the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association to learn more. Smith said, “We are kind of getting back in the normal swing of things here at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and one of my …
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, in collaboration with the Florida Forest Service is urging Floridians to take action ahead of this year’s Wildfire season. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, “Florida’s peak wildfire season usually encompasses April, May, and June, and the National Interagency Fire Center has predicted an “above normal significant wildfire potential” across the state …
Peanut research at the University of Georgia in Tifton has had a direct impact on the world’s top selling candy, Peanuts M&M’s. Back in 2005, Mars, the manufacturer of M&M’s, were receiving some complaints about the taste of the Peanut M&M’s, it wasn’t exactly like they thought it should be. The Mars officials agreed, they said disease and environmental issues such as droughts and …
The USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service has released the updated New World Screwworm Response Playbook in the event that the pest is detected in the United States. According to APHIS, “The updated Playbook outlines critical science-based strategies for Federal, state, tribal, and local responders, including how to: Coordinate response operations; Reduce spread and prevent establishment of NWS in new areas; …
Thirty counties in Alabama have been designated as Natural Disaster Areas due to the recent drought. Twelve additional contiguous counties have been listed as disaster counties. Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate said, “These drought conditions are placing significant stress on Alabama farmers and ranchers, impacting crops, pastures and livestock across much of our state. We strongly encourage producers to …
The second weekly crop progress report of the season yesterday afternoon. Of course, attention on planting progress for the various crops, but also a lot of attention on the improvement or lack of it for winter wheat. Some of the lowest conditions ever for early in April. Major states like Nebraska, Kansas, and that excellent category still below 10 percent. Even the good percentage …
Citrus fruits are a staple of modern agriculture, found in kitchens, grocery stores, and farms across the United States. But their origins stretch back thousands of years and span continents, cultures, and trade routes. In this American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold highlights the fascinating journey of citrus—from ancient beginnings to becoming a cornerstone of American agriculture. The Mysterious Origins …
