Iowa’s transition from eastern forests to the vast grasslands of the Great Prairie created a different set of challenges for early American settlers. Unlike farmers who settled in heavily wooded areas, prairie settlers had to break through thick, tangled root systems, find suitable materials for building homes and fences, and secure fuel in a landscape where trees were increasingly scarce. …
Recently several small and mid-sized meat and poultry processing facilities were awarded funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program. Undersecretary for Rural Development Glen Smith shared the four phases associated with the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program. “Phase one is to support the expansion of new capacity modernization of existing processing operations. Phase …
Well peanut farmers selling peanuts at the buying points now are wondering what has happened to the peanut market. They only approved about half of their crop at $500 a ton and all other peanuts are going into the loan at $355. Here is a good reason why. China, the biggest competition in the world, they have their peanut area …
The expansion of America’s western frontier helped shape the nation’s agricultural history, influencing settlement patterns, land ownership, and the development of farming across the country. One of the most significant milestones in that process was the Homestead Act of 1862, which established a path for settlers to acquire land by living on it and improving it. In this edition of …
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended October 30, 2026, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions, for the week ended October 30, 2026, receipts at 16 markets totaled 15,437 head compared to 11,372 last week and 9,710 last …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service have confirmed a New World Screwworm case in a dog located in Arizona. This is the first New World Screwworm case in Arizona. In a post on X from USDA’s New World Screwworm Rapid Response account, livestock and pet owners are warned, saying “USDA has confirmed Arizona’s first …
We are announcing the ninth annual Georgia National Antique Ag Show. It opens on November the 11th through the 14th at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, Georgia. Visitors will get a first-hand look at just how dramatic the transformation in agriculture has been. This year’s theme, From Mules to Biker Chips, honoring the past, showing the future, celebrating 250 …
10 months of trade for 2026 will be in the books after the close of business today, and we review our list of 58 commodities and how they’ve fared now, year to date. Energies, no surprise, continue to top our list. After 10 months, heating oil, gasoline, and crude oil rank number 1, 2, and 3. In fact, the highest …
Early American Agriculture Began With Barley, Peas and Corn The history of American agriculture began with the crops early European settlers brought with them and the agricultural knowledge they learned from Native Americans. From the first fields planted in Plymouth Colony to the development of plantation agriculture in the South, farming evolved to reflect the crops, climates and economic priorities …
Recently, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum signed a Secretary’s Order aimed at expanding grazing opportunities, improve the health of federal rangelands, as well as provide critical support for America’s ranchers. This move is an effort at bolstering the nation’s livestock industry. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said, “Under the leadership of President Trump, we are committed to restoring …
