The Senate version of the “Big Beautiful Bill” tax package brings mostly positive news for livestock producers. Kent Bacus, NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs, explained that many provisions from the House version have carried over—most notably, the increase in the estate tax exemption to $15 million per individual ($30 million per couple), adjusted for inflation and made permanent. Other …
U.S. officials are reporting positive developments in the fight against the New World Screw Worm. Once spotted 700 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, the pest’s northward advance appears to be slowing, thanks in part to intensive surveillance and targeted interventions. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins recently ordered the border closed to cattle originating from Mexico to prevent the parasite’s spread. Ethan …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced the development of a sterile fly production facility to combat the New World Screw Worm, a significant threat to livestock. Located at Moore Airfield in Texas, the project will enhance domestic production and support operations in Panama. Ethan Lane, Senior VP of Government Affairs at the NCBA, joined USDA officials on-site and praised …
The USDA FSA has opened the nomination period for its 2025 County Committee elections. With more than 2,200 committees nationwide, these local governing bodies play a critical role in how federal programs are implemented at the local level. FSA Director Bill Beam highlights that nearly 7,700 producers serve on FSA committees, each comprised of 3 to 11 elected members who …
As summer temperatures rise, so does the risk of wildfires across the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking decisive action in anticipation of an above-normal fire season, with nearly 96% of the Forest Service’s 11,300 firefighter hiring target already met and full staffing expected by mid-July. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins emphasized that America now …
Peanut growers pour their energy into every growing season, aiming for healthy crops and high yields. But as challenges like white mold and leaf spot persist, experts are urging producers to be proactive—especially when it comes to fungicide resistance. We spoke with Abraham Fulmer of BASF, who emphasized the importance of diversifying fungicide programs and staying ahead of resistance. “Fungicide …
In the ever-evolving world of agriculture, few names carry the weight of tradition and innovation like Massey-Ferguson. But how did this iconic brand come to be? It all began in 1891, when Hart Massey and Allison Harris merged their companies to form Massey-Harris Limited. Their early innovations included threshing machines and, interestingly, safety bicycles—a surprising reflection of the company’s versatility …
Long before tractors revolutionized American agriculture in the 1930s, a different machine was already transforming the harvest: the threshing machine. In 1847, Daniel Massey launched the Newcastle Foundry in Ontario, Canada, producing some of the world’s first mechanical threshers. These devices separated grain from stalks—an essential but once backbreaking task. Above: A vintage threshing machine at work during a historical …
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia for the week ended June 20, 2025, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions, for the week ended June 20, 2025, receipts at 16 markets totaled 9,235 head compared to 10,520 last week and 9,781 last …
The Georgia Cotton Commission and University of Georgia (UGA) Cotton Team advise growers about the importance of summer cover crop options for fields that will be left fallow this growing season. Taylor Singleton, UGA assistant professor and Extension sustainability specialist, outlined in the UGA Cotton Team June Newsletter what growers must remember when planting cover crops. Growers who are considering …
