The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), led by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have jointly announced a major policy shift aimed at improving the nutritional impact of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Earlier this week, both secretaries signed six new food choice state …
Robert McCormick was a successful farmer in Virginia who owned a substantial 532-acre estate. This farm was nearly self-sufficient, a testament to the resourcefulness and hard work of the McCormick family. Notably, the estate included its own gristmill, which was used to grind grain into flour, providing an essential staple for the farm and its surrounding community. The McCormick farm …
The Reluctant Start of a Farming Innovation In the annals of American agriculture, few figures loom as large as Cyrus McCormick. His journey from invention to industrial impact is a classic tale of perseverance in the face of skepticism. In 1831, McCormick successfully demonstrated the world’s first mechanical reaper—an invention poised to transform farming. But while the machine showed immense …
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 …
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 …
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 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 …
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 …
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 …
Fed Likely to Hold Rates Steady, Despite Potential Dissent As the Federal Reserve Board prepares to conclude its latest policy meeting, expectations are high that interest rates will remain unchanged. However, this anticipated outcome is not without controversy within the board itself. According to market indicators such as the CME FedWatch Tool, there is a 96 to 97 percent probability …
