NCBA Urges Suspension of Brazilian Beef Imports in Section 301 Investigation The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has taken a strong stance in the ongoing Section 301 Investigation into Brazil’s trade practices, voicing serious concerns about Brazil’s treatment of U.S. beef and long-standing food safety issues. Earlier this week, the U.S. International Trade Commission held a hearing to investigate whether …
New Clean Water Rule to clarify WOTUS Definition and Conform with SCOTUS Sackett Ruling
Trump Administration Set to Propose New Clean Water Act Rule, Rolling Back Wetlands Protections The Trump administration is preparing to propose a new Clean Water Act rule that may eliminate federal protections for many wetlands across the United States, according to an internal EPA presentation obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News. “Under the proposed rule, the federal government would regulate wetlands …
USDA Discontinues Farm Labor Survey Amid Rising Concerns Over AEWR
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it will discontinue the Farm Labor Survey, a decision that may have significant implications for farm wage reporting and the future of agricultural labor programs like H-2A. According to a filing in the Federal Register, USDA is ending the long-standing survey due to “recent improvements to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of …
USDA Extension Service: A Legacy of Education and Support
The Roots of Agricultural Support The Department of Agriculture was first established in 1862, but it would take more than 50 years before one of its most impactful programs came to life. With the passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914, the USDA Extension Service was officially created. This initiative formed a partnership between the USDA and land-grant universities to …
Lewis B. Schmidt and the First Agricultural History Course in America
Farm Families and the Birth of Agricultural Policy As farm families moved westward and settled across the American heartland, they were unknowingly shaping the foundation of U.S. agriculture. Their struggles, innovations, and resilience created a living history that would later influence government officials tasked with developing agricultural policy. Recognizing the importance of this legacy, a few forward-thinking scholars insisted that …
Upcoming Peanut Industry Events
Georgia Cotton and Peanut Day Highlights Industry Research and EU Trade Progress The Georgia Cotton Commission and the Georgia Peanut Commission are joining forces to host Cotton and Peanut Day this week, offering producers valuable updates on research, policy, and international trade developments. “Coming up on the peanut calendar this week, the Georgia Cotton Commission and the Georgia Peanut Commission …
Fresh Pork Expected to Be More Price-Competitive with Beef and Chicken
Fall Pork Outlook: Tighter Supply, Competitive Prices, and Pork Month Demand As the fall season approaches, the pork industry is bracing for tight supplies and shifting market dynamics. According to a new report from the National Pork Board, pork is expected to remain a price-competitive protein option for consumers, even as production lags behind expectations. “A National Pork Board report …
Horsepower to Tractor Power: A Turning Point in American Agriculture
The Shift That Changed Farming Forever I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. The story of American farming is filled with innovation, but one of the most transformative shifts was the move from horsepower to tractor power. While today it seems natural to see tractors in every field, the transition was anything but quick or simple. Why Farmers …
National Pork Producers Share Optimism in US EU Trade Framework
National Pork Producers Council Optimistic About US-EU Trade Agreement Framework The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has expressed optimism regarding the recently released trade agreement framework between the United States and the European Union. The framework includes targeted efforts to address longstanding trade imbalances that have impacted the pork industry for decades. National Pork Producers Council President Duane Stateler shared …
USDA Opens Sign-up for Supplemental Disaster Relief Program
Farmers impacted by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 now have access to much-needed financial support. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened the first phase of sign-up for its Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP), aimed at helping producers recover from major crop losses. “We know farm operations across the United States were impacted by devastating natural disasters in …










