early kansas farming

Early Agricultural Experiments in Kansas: A Government-Led Effort

Expanding West After the Louisiana Purchase In the early 1820s, following the landmark Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the United States government began turning its attention toward agricultural development in the vast western territories. Among these areas was what is now the state of Kansas—a region seen as rich with potential for farming and trade. At the time, the federal government …

lab-grown meat ban

Florida Fake Meat Ban Withstands Appeals Court Challenge

The Florida Fake Meat Ban withstood an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit by a lawsuit filed by Upside Foods, Inc. The Florida law that banned the manufacture, distribution and sale of all lab grown meat, SB 1084, was challenged by the Calfornia startup and focused on the sale of lab-grown chicken. Florida Commissioner of …

basf

Weather Impacts to Planting Decisions

Well, one report this week might indicate some decisions have to be made about where you plant corn, peanuts, cotton, and where water is available or not. The National Weather Service reports that severe to extreme drought conditions are across the region. Drought conditions remain the worst experience, they said, since 2012. Long-term hydraulic drought impacts persist with also the significant impacts to rivers …

pork

USMEF Working to Bolster In-Home Use of Pork in Mexico

The U.S. Meat Export Federation has been working to increase the consumption of pork in homes in Mexico, especially as exports to Mexico have set records for the past five years with greater demand through restaurants. USMEF Regional Director for Mexico and Central America, Gerardo Rodriguez explains, “The percentage is lower than what we thought. So we get to find …

Colorado Irrigation

Colorado Irrigation: How Greeley Transformed Western Agriculture

The Birth of Agriculture in Greeley Greeley became Colorado’s first major agricultural settlement, marking a turning point in the development of farming across the state. Early settlers arrived with optimism but quickly encountered a harsh and unforgiving environment. At the time, much of the region was labeled the “Great American Desert,” a term used to describe the dry, unpredictable conditions …

dairy

United Dairy Farmers of Florida Director Encouraged About the Future

On a recent episode of the Grazing the Facts podcast, we learned why Ray Hodge with the United Dairy Farmers of Florida is encouraged about the future of the Florida dairy industry. Hodge said, “I think in Florida, we are unique in many ways. You know, as I said earlier, I’m a seventh generation Floridian. We’ve seen a lot of change. The …

E15 fuel waiver

EPA Approves Nationwide Sales of E15 Gasoline

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin has issued a temporary emergency fuel waiver allowing the sale of E15 nationwide. According to the Agency, “Through the waiver, EPA is fortifying the domestic gasoline supply chain and providing Americans relief at the pumps ahead of the summer driving season. Beginning on May 1, 2026, EPA’s waivers will work to prevent disruption …

Programs

A Look At Government Programs For Row Crops

Peanut farmers, cotton farmers, and others are trying to figure out exactly what they’re going to plant this year. One thing we’ve learned is the PLC program, or Price Loss Coverage, or the ARC program put on by the government, they are decoupled from production. Both are determined by the farm’s base acres and the payment yield. Both base and payment yields are historical …

Product of USA

Cattle Industry Reaction to Product of the USA Label

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is reacting to the reveal of the new Product of the USA label. We caught up with Kent Bacus, executive director, government affairs for NCBA to learn more. Bacus said, “We’re excited about this new Product of the USA label. This is something that has been fully enforced since January 1st of this year and …