dairy

United Dairy Farmers of Florida Director Encouraged About The Future

Dan Agri-Business, Cattle, Dairy, Economy, Florida

On a recent episode of the Grazing the Facts podcast, we learned why Ray Hodge with the United Dairy Farmers of Florida is encouraged about the future of the Florida dairy industry. Hodge said, “I think in Florida, we are unique in many ways. You know, as I said earlier, I’m a seventh generation Floridian. We’ve seen a lot of change. The …

Programs

A Look At Government Programs For Row Crops

Dan Agri-Business, Field Crops, Funding, Peanuts

Peanut farmers, cotton farmers, and others are trying to figure out exactly what they’re going to plant this year. One thing we’ve learned is the PLC program, or Price Loss Coverage, or the ARC program put on by the government, they are decoupled from production. Both are determined by the farm’s base acres and the payment yield. Both base and payment yields are historical …

Product of USA

Cattle Industry Reaction to Product of the USA Label

Dan Agri-Business, Beef, Cattle, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA)

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is reacting to the reveal of the new Product of the USA Label and we caught up with Kent Bacus, Executive Director, Government Affairs for NCBA to learn more. Bacus said, “We’re excited about this new Product of the USA label. This is something that has been fully enforced since January 1st of this year and …

wheat

Wheat Crop Outlook

Dan Agri-Business, Commodities, Economy, Wheat

The calendar turns to April next Wednesday. USDA’s first weekly crop update comes the following Monday, but state ag departments continue their weekly updates and the early picture for winter wheat shows damaged caused by temperature fluctuations the last 30, 45 days. Top producing state, Kansas, reporting good to excellent ratings now below 50%, well below USDA’s fall rating, 62%. And in fact, the lowest early spring …

Union veterans

From Soldiers to Sodbusters: How Union Veterans Settled Kansas

Dan Agri-Business, American Agriculture History Minute, This Land of Ours

At the close of the Civil War, a new chapter in American agriculture began across the Kansas prairie. Through government homestead programs, Union Army veterans were offered land as an opportunity to rebuild their lives. More than 100,000 veterans answered the call, setting out to transform open prairie into productive farmland. A New Opportunity After War These men were more …

phosphate fertilizer

Agricultural Groups Request Revocation of Phosphate Fertilizer Duties

Dan Agri-Business, Environment, Fertilizer, Legislative, Regulation

A group of agricultural organizations are requesting the Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, to revoke the countervailing duty orders on the importation of phosphate fertilizers. In a letter to Secretary Lutnick, the group highlights that Countervailing duty orders will increase the current economic conditions facing American farmers. The letter states, “Maintaining the phosphate fertilizer CVDs will allow a small set …

Product of USA

USDA Unveils New Product of USA Label

Dan Agri-Business, Beef, Cattle, Eggs, Poultry, USDA

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced a new Product of USA label for meat, eggs and poultry producers as part of a voluntary labeling standard that became effective on January 1, 2026. Secretary Rollins said, “Our great patriot ranchers and producers grow, raise, and harvest the world’s safest, most affordable, and abundant food supply. American consumers want to …

Federal Reserve

Final Federal Reserve Board Meeting For Chairman Powell Upcoming

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Events

The next Federal Reserve Board meeting is a little more than a month away. It’s the last one for Board Chairman Powell before his term expires in May, and his last meeting could be an historic one. There’s more talk on Wall Street that the Fed may be looking at three scenarios at their meeting, April 28th, 29th, leaving interest rates unchanged, …

Tractor Supply

From Mail-Order Roots to Rural Retail Giant: Tractor Supply’s Rise

Dan Agri-Business, American Agriculture History Minute, This Land of Ours

A Humble Beginning in 1938 American agriculture has always depended on innovation—not just in the field, but in how farmers access the tools they need. In 1938, Charles E. Schmidt recognized a major gap and launched a mail-order tractor parts business in Minot, North Dakota. At the time, many farmers faced long travel distances to find replacement parts. Schmidt’s mail-order …

florida

Agriculture Industry Reacts to Signing of Florida Farm Bill

Dan Agri-Business, Farm Bill, Florida, Legislative

With the signing of the Florida Farm Bill, the agricultural industry is reacting. Jim Spratt, chairman of the Florida Ag Coalition said, “The Florida Ag Coalition membership applauds Commissioner Simpson for championing a strong Florida Farm Bill and thanks Governor DeSantis for signing this important legislation to safeguard family farms, enhance food security through Farmers Feeding Florida and promote the …