I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. The first FFA national convention was held in Kansas City in 1928. Kansas City would, by the way, host the FFA convention for the next 70 years. In 1933, a group of FFA members from Fredericktown, Ohio, arrived at the convention wearing crisp blue corduroy jackets with the FFA emblem on …
Farm Bill Discussions to Continue
We told you yesterday that the lame duck session will be the last chance to get a new farm bill passed before the end of the year. Tyron Spearman has more information on what needs to be done and the chances this can happen yet this year. Sponsored ContentFL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement …
No Support from the Crop Report
The latest crop report is not expected to have much of a factor on the trade. Mark Oppold has more details. Sponsored ContentFL 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 16, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …
USDA Planning to Test Bulk Milk
USDA is planning to test raw bulk milk nationally for the H5N1 bird flu virus because of the growing number of cases during the past month in California dairy herds. Rust Halvorson has more details. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke to reporters last week about USDA’s plans to expand the testing of milk across the country. USDA will begin broader …
American Agriculture History Minute: Ralston Purina Company Formed
I’m Mark Opel with an American Agriculture History Minute. As American agriculture expanded, farmers continued to make improvements in their production of grain, and by the late 1880s, 1890s, attention focused on improving animal production and meat quality. Enter William Danforth, who in 1894 established an animal feed company, Purina Mills. Danforth later partnered with Webster Edderley, founder of a …
Pre-Election Farmer Sentiment Bounces Back
October (.pdf) provided a surprising pre-election bounce in farmer sentiment as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbed to 115, 27 points above the September index. The biggest driver of the sentiment improvement was an increase in producers’ confidence in the future. The Future Expectations Index jumped 30 points to 124. The Current Conditions Index also rose in October …
Lame Duck Session Last Chance for a Farm Bill
The lame duck session will be the last chance to get a new farm bill passed before the end of the year. Tyron Spearman has more information on what some are looking at. The lame duck session is scheduled to begin after Veteran’s Day, which is November 11th. Sponsored ContentFL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle …
USMEF Holding Strategic Planning Conference
Members of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) are in Tucson, Arizona, this week for their annual Strategic Planning Conference. As attendees gather to discuss key initiatives and industry strategies, organizers might want to consider the use of badge scanners for conferences like these. Badge scanners could streamline check-ins, enhance networking opportunities, and provide valuable data for future event planning. Rusty Halvorson …
Crop Futures Looking for Solid Support
Many of the crop futures continue to look for solid support. Mark Oppold has an update on various issues affecting the trade. Sponsored ContentFL 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 16, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement …
Florida NRCS Continues EQIP Disaster Assistance Signup
We told you last week that the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida (NRCS-FL) had started accepting applications for disaster assistance funding through the Emergency Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This is to provide technical and financial assistance to agricultural landowners and producers in recovering from damages caused by the three Hurricanes that has affected the state this year, Debby, Helene, and Milton. NRCS-FL …










