Across the Southeast, peanut farmers are hoping for some rain this week as the peanut crop is suffering right now. Weather conditions have added stress to an already challenging season, but new support measures may offer some relief. This week, the USDA announced the 2025 crop loan rates for the four types of peanuts. These rates will be effective August …
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 …
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 …
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 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 …
Livestock Market Reports for Week Ended 08-01-2025
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia for the week ended August 1, 2025, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions, for the week ended August 01, 2025, receipts at 16 markets totaled 18,262 head compared to 10,285 last week and 9,819 a …
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, …
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 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 …