USDA Updates Livestock Insurance Options to Offer Better Protection, Flexibility

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has updated three key crop insurance options for livestock producers: the Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP), Livestock Gross Margin (LGM), and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP). USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) revised the insurance options to reach more producers, offer greater flexibility for protecting their operations, and ultimately, better meet the needs of the country’s swine, …

Local Food Marketing Practices

USDA Releases Data on Local Food Marketing Practices. More than 147,000 American farms produced and sold food locally through direct marketing practices, resulting in $9 billion in revenue during 2020. The Local Food Marketing Practices data released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service covers both fresh and value-added foods, such as meat and cheese. For effective promotion of such initiatives, …

Plan for Disease Management

With peanut seed going in the ground, farmers are being encouraged to plan for disease management. Tyron Spearman has the story. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June …

USDA to Provide $50 Million in Support to U.S. Cotton and Wool Apparel Manufacturers Impacted by the Pandemic

(WASHINGTON, May 5, 2022) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a commitment of $50 million to assist eligible apparel manufacturers of worsted wool suits, sport coats, pants, or Pima cotton dress shirts; Pima cotton spinners; and wool fabric manufacturers and wool spinners. The new Cotton and Wool Apparel (CAWA) program is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative and the …

Very Concerning Pasture and Rangeland Condition Report

The national average for pasture and rangeland conditions as of the first of May is very concerning. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey explains the concern behind USDA’s first pasture and rangeland condition report for the year, and how it is reflecting the ongoing drought across the western part of the country. Rippey noted 18% of the nations’ pasture and rangeland conditions are rated …

Congress Holds More Hearings on Beef Industry Competition

Lawmakers continue to look into the lack of competition in the beef industry and the effect it’s having on cattle producers. Gary Crawford has more. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides …

African Swine Fever Vaccine Passes Tests Required for Regulatory Approval

Scientists with USDA’s Agriculture Research Service (ARS) announced last week that a vaccine candidate for African swine fever passed an important safety test required for regulatory approval. The successful safety test moves the vaccine one step closer to commercial availability. The new results show that USDA’s vaccine candidate does not revert to its normal virulence, after being injected into swine. …

ASI Podcast: Recording Data during Lambing

The April edition of the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) Research Update podcast offers sheep producer’s information on Recording Performance Data during Lambing. This information is provided by Dr. Tom Murphy of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. Dr. Murphy said, “An animal’s genetic value for all of its traits for the rest of its life …

Avocados Are Good for More Than Guacamole

It’s a Cinco de Mayo favorite, but avocados are good for more than just guacamole. A study published recently in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that eating avocados may lower the chances of heart attacks and heart disease. They compiled research collected over the last 45 years. Medical News Today says, “After adjusting for major dietary and lifestyle …