Florida agricultural operations that were impacted by Hurricane Idalia and related weather events are being reminded there is technical and financial assistance available to help you recover. Producers should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure and livestock losses and damages. The Natural …
Sign Up Underway for Fiscal Year ’24 NRCS Programs
Two of the flagship programs through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are accepting applications for project funding for the new fiscal year. This includes the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). NRCS Chief Terry Cosby talks about climate smart conservation practices and the partnership between landowners and NRCS technical staff to put these practices into action. Signups for pother NRCS …
4WD Tractor Sales Surge in Third Quarter
There was quite a surge in the sales of four-wheel drive tractors in the just ended third quarter. According to new data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), 100+hp 2WD tractors and 4WD tractors grew year-over-year here in the U.S. Both segments, along with self-propelled combines remain positive for the year. But the biggest overall growth among tractors was …
Crop Reports Could Affect the Grain Trade
The new crop reports could have some bearing on grain futures. Mark Oppold has more details on that, and also how third quarter earnings season is getting underway. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Targeted Research for Florida Cattle IndustryFebruary 20, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Allows Viable Research in the Cattle IndustryFebruary 6, 2026Florida Cattle …
HPAI Confirmed in South Dakota
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed this week that the first commercial case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was discovered in South Dakota. APHIS says the virus was confirmed in a commercial turkey flock of 47,300 birds on October 4. Another case was also recently confirmed in a small non-commercial flock located in Idaho. The Canadian …
Smithfield Foods to Close North Carolina Pork Plant
Smithfield Foods will close its Charlotte, North Carolina pork-processing plant and transfer production to its Tar Heel, North Carolina facility. The company says the move is to increase efficiency and better utilize existing capacity, and comes as the company faces “abundant supplies and soft demand” weighing on pork prices. The company will provide financial and other transition assistance to the …
Delivery Innovation Could Reduce Hunger
An innovative way to reduce hunger in rural areas. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Delivery of food may be the way to increase access in rural America, according to a recent report by CoBank. While roughly one in ten Americans faces food insecurity, rural communities are particularly affected. Rural communities comprise 63 percent of all U.S. counties …
NCBA: OFF Act a “Narrow-minded” View of Checkoffs
Cattle producers continue to keep their eyes on the proposed Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act. Senior Director of Government Affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Tanner Beymer, said the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act would be damaging to the NCBA and other organizations. “It essentially would say that checkoffs are not allowed to contract …
FSIS Update on Peanuts Received
The Federal State Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued an update on the amount of peanuts that have been received and recorded thus far. Tyron Spearman runs through the new numbers. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Targeted Research for Florida Cattle IndustryFebruary 20, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Allows Viable Research in the Cattle IndustryFebruary 6, …
Record Value for Mexico Fuels August Pork Exports; Modest Rebound for Beef
According to new data released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), August exports of U.S. pork were steady year-over-year. This was led by another tremendous performance in Mexico, as shipments totaled 226,519 metric tons (mt) in August, while export value fell 1.5% to just under $650 million. Exports to leading market Mexico remained on a record …