tariffs

Possible Retaliatory Tariffs Loom as Trade Policies Shift

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, signals a renewed focus on trade disputes and tariffs. Greer, a seasoned trade expert and former chief of staff to Robert Lighthizer, helped shape Trump’s earlier policies, including tariffs on China and the replacement of North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Trump emphasized Greer’s role …

payment

Farm Loan Concerns in Struggling Ag Economy

A new report says banks could be more hesitant to lend to the farm sector just as the agricultural industry is expected to enter a major credit crunch. Rabobank says that could disproportionately hurt smaller producers in the process. After two years of near-record profits, a significant drop in crop prices is pushing more producers to take out loans. Although …

American Agriculture History

American Agriculture History Minute: Settling and Farming the Plains

I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Iowa is located where the great eastern forests and the prairies of the western United States met. There’s not a straight line where trees stopped and grass took over, but it is in Iowa where trees finally gave way to the endless miles of the Great Prairie. Settlers on the prairie …

American Agriculture History

American Agriculture History Minute: Homestead Act of 1862

I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. By 1813, the western frontier had reached the Mississippi River. St. Louis was the largest town on the frontier and it even then called the gateway for travel on westward. There was wide agreement on the need to settle new territories quickly, but the debate polarized over the price the government …

thanksgiving

Thanksgiving on the Farm

On this Thanksgiving Day, Mark Oppold takes a break from looking at the markets to bring us a holiday poem he wrote a few years ago. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark …

Markets

Positive Responses on Cabinet Nominee

We are seeing positive responses about the new Agriculture Secretary nominee. Mark Oppold has more details on her, and another nominee that Wall Street is watching. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark …

valent usa

Valent Offers Financing Programs for Growers

For peanut growers looking for help when it comes to financing next year’s crop, there are options being made available. Valent Market Segment Manager, Vincent Restucci, explained to Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman how their financing programs work. To learn more, go to valent.com and click on Resources, then Programs & Offers. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, …

Brooke Rollins

Farm Groups Respond to Brooke Rollins’ Nomination as Agriculture Secretary

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Brooke Rollins as the next Secretary of Agriculture, drawing varied reactions from agricultural organizations eager to collaborate on key issues facing rural America. The National Farmers Union (NFU) expressed hope that Rollins’ rural upbringing and agricultural experience would inform her leadership. NFU President Rob Larew emphasized the challenges awaiting her, including high input costs, market …

propane

Propane Industry Doubles Incentives for Hurricane-Affected Farmers

Farmers in the southeastern United States hit hard by recent hurricanes have a new opportunity to rebuild, thanks to an expanded program from the Propane Education Research Council (PERC). According to Mike Newland, Director of Agriculture Business Development at PERC, the organization is doubling its financial incentives for farmers in disaster areas who purchase new propane equipment. PERC’s standard incentive …

Feeding America

Hunger Crisis in America: Feeding America CEO Urges Action

The United States is facing its highest levels of food insecurity since the 2008-2009 economic downturn, according to Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. In a recent interview, Babineaux-Fontenot revealed that nearly 50 million Americans, including 14 million children, are experiencing hunger. These statistics, she emphasized, are a stark reminder of the growing crisis. Babineaux-Fontenot noted that while food insecurity …