The Missouri River: A Pillar of American Agriculture History Early Settlers and the Great Plains The Missouri River has played a pivotal role in shaping American agriculture and westward expansion. As Mark Oppold explains in an American Agriculture History Minute, early settlers who crossed the Mississippi River often found themselves facing the Missouri River as they entered the vast expanse …
NCBA Highlights The Keynote Speakers for CattleCon 2026
CattleCon 2026: NCBA Announces High-Energy Keynote Speaker Lineup The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is gearing up for CattleCon 2026, and this year’s event brings exciting updates to the convention experience. We caught up with Kristen Torres with NCBA to learn what attendees can expect from the general sessions and the impressive roster of keynote speakers. According to Torres, one …
Trump Announces Farmer Bridge Assistance Program
USDA Announces $12 Billion in One-Time Bridge Payments for American Farmers President Donald Trump, joined by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bissett, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, Senator Deb Fischer, Senator John Hoeven, and Representative Austin Scott, has announced a major new effort to assist American farmers still struggling from years of …
More Details on the Emergency Bridge Payments to Farmers
The earlier mentioned one-time bridge payments to American farmers are intended in part to aid farmers until investments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes a 10 to 21 percent increase in reference prices, are set to reach eligible farmers on October 1, 2026. Farmers who qualify for the FBA Program can expect payments to be released by …
Kansas State University: The First Morrill Act Land-Grant College and Its Civil War Origins
A Pioneering Beginning During the Civil War Kansas State University—originally named Kansas State Agricultural College—was formally established on February 16, 1863, in Manhattan, Kansas. As described in Mark Oppold’s American Agriculture History Minute, its founding took place during the American Civil War, a period marked by national upheaval yet also visionary public investment in education. Despite the challenges of wartime, …
USDA Expands Crop Insurance For Ag Producers
Expanding Access to Risk Protection Final Rule Modernizes Crop Insurance for 2026 The U.S. farm community is preparing for important changes after U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that updates are coming to federal crop insurance processes. The Expanding Access to Risk Protection Final Rule is designed to streamline requirements across multiple crops, improve program efficiency, and respond directly …
USDA Applications now open for the America First Trade Promotion Program
USDA Now Accepting Applications for America First Trade Promotion Program The U.S. Department of Agriculture has officially opened the application period for the America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP), a major new initiative designed to strengthen U.S. agricultural exports and global market presence. Funded by Congress earlier this year, the AFTPP provides $285 million in support for agricultural export, marketing, …
USMEF Participates in America First Trade Promotion Program
USDA Opens Application Period for 2025 America First Trade Promotion Program With a renewed focus on strengthening agricultural trade deals over the past few months, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins officially announced the 2025 America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP) earlier this year. The program is now fully open for applications following congressional authorization of $285 million to …
NCBA’s CattleCon Provides New Experiences for Cattle Producers in 2026
NCBA Prepares for an Exciting CattleCon 2026 in Downtown Nashville The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is gearing up for CattleCon 2026, set to take place February 3–5, 2026, in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. This year’s event promises fresh experiences, unmatched access to Nashville’s vibrant culture, and valuable opportunities for cattle producers to connect, learn, and celebrate the industry. We spoke …
New Pest Found in Georgia
Georgia Issues Pest Alert for Invasive Brown Winged Plant Hopper The Georgia Department of Agriculture has released a Pest Alert concerning the recent detection of the Brown Winged Plant Hopper, an invasive insect species native to China. This pest poses potential risks to Georgia’s agriculture and landscape plants, making awareness and early reporting essential. According to the Georgia Department of …










