Commodity Market Update: Precious Metals Surge While Orange Juice Plummets

With seven months of trade now in the books, we review our list of 48 commodities and their performance since New Year’s. Precious metals, far and away, are leading the list, marking a strong 2025 performance so far. Traders and analysts alike are watching trends closely as metals soar, livestock rises, and trade tensions weigh on grains. Top Commodity Performers …

action

Tyler Clarkson Confirmed as USDA General Counsel, Earning Praise from Ag Leaders

The U.S. agriculture community is responding positively to the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Tyler Clarkson as General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Clarkson’s appointment, finalized last week, marks a return to a familiar leadership role for the seasoned legal expert who previously served at USDA during the first Trump administration. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins praised the …

government regulations

Luke Lindberg Confirmed as Under Secretary for Trade: Agriculture Leaders Applaud Bold Move to Strengthen U.S. Trade Agenda

The U.S. agricultural community is welcoming a major development in trade leadership. Last week, the U.S. Senate confirmed Luke Lindberg as Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs—a move being hailed as a significant step in realigning America’s global trade strategy to favor U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins praised the confirmation, stating, “President Trump …

2024 Georgia Quality Cotton Award Winners Announced

The 2024 Georgia Quality Cotton Awards were presented at the 2025 Georgia Cotton Commission Mid-Year Meeting on July 23 in Statesboro, Georgia. The awards are co-sponsored by the Georgia Cotton Commission and Bayer Crop Science/Deltapine and administered by the University of Georgia (UGA) Cotton Team. Dr. Yangxuan Liu, a UGA Extension economist, conducted the analysis. Camp Hand presented the awards …

Heritage

Heritage Roots of American Farming Communities

Honoring Agricultural Heritage Across the Early U.S. In the years following the American Revolutionary War, as the United States emerged as a new nation, it also became a cultural mosaic of immigrant groups. Despite the diversity, farming communities across the country gradually began to reflect distinct ethnic heritages. These roots shaped the social fabric of American agriculture and remain visible …

ticks

Ticks to Tech: The Evolution of Cattle Ear Tags

A Persistent Pest Problem in the Mid-20th Century In the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s, cattle producers across the southern United States faced a major challenge: the Gulf Coast tick. These pests would burrow into the ears of cattle, causing painful open wounds. Unfortunately, the problem didn’t stop there. These wounds attracted additional threats, most notably the screw worm, …

cotton crop harvest

USDA Releases July Cotton and Peanuts Crop Progress Report

Cotton Sees Slight Decline but Outpaces 2024; Peanuts Hold Steady The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released its July crop progress report, offering an updated outlook on the nation’s cotton and peanut crops. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey shared the latest condition ratings and regional highlights during the weekly update. Cotton Conditions: A Mixed Bag with Regional Challenges As of …

cattle industry

Cattle Industry Reaction to USTR 301 Investigation of Brazil

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has initiated a Section 301 investigation into Brazil’s unfair trade practices, with a sharp focus on agricultural products—especially beef. Southeast AgNet’s Dale Sandlin sat down with Kent Backus, Executive Director of Government Affairs at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), to discuss the implications for the U.S. cattle industry and the broader …

GT Thompson Talks About Farm Bill at Peanut Convention

At last week’s Peanut Convention in Panama City, Congressman GT Thompson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, addressed attendees with updates on the latest farm bill—referred to as “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed in Washington. Thompson outlined several critical provisions tailored to benefit peanut growers and emphasized the collaborative process that helped shape the legislation. Farmers Helped Shape the Bill …