USDA Unveils New Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced details of the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program. Through the new program, USDA will provide about $350 million in pandemic assistance payments to dairy farmers who received a lower value for their products due to market abnormalities caused by the pandemic. The assistance is part of a larger package including permanent improvements …

Retail Fresh Fruit Prices Drop in July

Retail prices for fresh fruit are coming down, but are still considerably higher than a year ago. Gary Crawford has the story. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through …

Legislation Designed to Improve Livestock Assistance

North Dakota Republican John Hoeven and Montana Democrat Jon Tester introduced bipartisan legislation in the Senate to improve livestock disaster assistance. The Hagstrom Report says the bill is designed to accomplish several things, including aligning coverage between the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) and Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP). It will also increase producer assistance under LFP to compensate them more …

Agricultural Land Values Making Big Gains in 2021

We’ve reported before how the interest in buying agricultural land has been growing after the COVID-19 slowdown blanketed the land market in 2020. And the value of that land continues to climb as well. Rod Bain has a story looking at the reasons behind a substantial year-over-year increase in agricultural land values. According to Farmers National Company, individual investors, both first-time, …

U.S. Ag Tractor Sales Hold Steady in July

Gains in larger and four-wheel-drive tractors offset smaller declines in the sub-40 horsepower range in the U.S. in July. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers says U.S. total farm tractor sales fell 0.8 percent in July compared to 2020, while U.S. combine sales jumped 19.2 percent. The articulated four-wheel drive segment led the way for the third straight month by climbing …

Infrastructure Bill Discussed at Cattle Industry Convention

Tuesday, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which includes investments of importance to many areas of agriculture. One group pleased to see this passage is the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). And during this week’s Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Nashville, Tennessee, NCBA Sr. Executive Director of Government Affairs, Danielle Beck, explained to Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman why …

Agriculture Pleased with Senate Passage of Infrastructure Package

Many in agriculture announced their pleasure with the U.S. Senate passed this morning of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The bill includes investments of importance to many areas agriculture. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (WASHINGTON, August 10, 2021) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released the following statement following Senate passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs …

Cargill and Continental Grain Purchasing Sanderson Farms

Cargill and the Continental Grain Company Monday announced a joint-venture agreement to acquire Sanderson Farms, the third-largest poultry producer in the U.S. The all-cash purchase totals $4.53 billion, or $203 per share, a 30.3 percent premium to Sanderson Farms’ share price of $155.74 on June 18, 2021. Cargill and Continental Grain will combine Sanderson Farms with Wayne Farms, a subsidiary …