By the mid-1800s, Midwest farm families were settling in and expanding. Once their land was cleared and crops established, many pioneers shifted their focus to building newer, larger homes. It wasn’t just the houses that evolved—barns began to take on a central role in the American agricultural landscape. In the 1860s and 70s, barns transitioned from simple storage structures into …
Historic Budget Legislation Advances with Narrow Margins The U.S. House of Representatives has officially passed the final version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” securing a 218 to 214 vote. This closely mirrors the U.S. Senate’s razor-thin approval of the same legislation, which passed 51 to 50 thanks to a tie-breaking vote cast by Vice President J.D. Vance. This comprehensive …
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is reacting to the announcement by the US Department of Agriculture again closing the US Mexico Border to shipments of livestock due to the threat of the New World Screwworm. Last week, a New World Screwworm case was reported in Veracruz, Mexico, approximately 370 miles south of the US Mexico border. NCBA CEO Colin …
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit last week against the State of California regarding regulations impacting egg and poultry production alleging the violation of the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution. The complaint challenges the laws and regulations of the State of California which impose requirements on farmers preventing them from “using commonly accepted agricultural methods that helped keep …
In the late 18th century, a young Massachusetts farm boy named Eli Whitney unknowingly set the stage for a major turning point in American agriculture. At just 12 years old, Whitney demonstrated his mechanical talent by crafting a handmade violin and later running his own nail-making business. While attending college, Whitney stayed at a widow’s home where he overheard a …
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia for the week ended July 11, 2025, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions, for the week ended July 11, 2025, receipts at 16 markets totaled 10,454 head compared to 0 last week due to July …
US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced that the USDA will be expediting the implementation of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program for producers impacted with eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. The $16 Billion in assistance will be distributed in two stages. Secretary Rollins said, “American farmers are no stranger to natural disasters that …
August Crop Report Will Reflect Real Field Data, Not Just Models The upcoming August 12th USDA Crop Report is expected to carry significantly more weight than the July update, especially within the grain trade. According to agricultural broadcaster Mark Oppold, this report will be the first of the season to rely on actual in-field surveys rather than computer-generated models. Starting …
A “Beautiful Bill” Aims to Reshape Agriculture and the Economy In Washington, lawmakers are discussing what’s being called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a major legislative proposal that promises to boost economic growth and restore fiscal sanity—especially in agriculture. The bill has received vocal support from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who says it includes transformative policies across the board. …
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has paused the phased reopening of ports along the US Mexico Border due to further northward spread of the New World Screwworm in Mexico. Earlier this week, Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality reported a new case of New World Screwworm in Veracruz, approximately 160 miles northward of the current sterile …
