USDA did announced their program to help farmers hurt by trade disruptions last month. Tyron Spearman has more information. USDA Funds Designed to Help Farmers Sponsored ContentVerdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Resources To Researchers For Applied ResearchJune 12, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Encourages Research into Producers QuestionsJune …
Producer Sentiment Plummets in July
Concerns over agricultural trade weighed heavily on producers’ current and future expectations of the agricultural economy. As a result, the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer tumbled in July, dropping 26 points to a reading of 117. To paint a further bleak picture, the Index of Current Conditions fell from 138 in June down to 99, while the Index of Future …
Smithfield Foods Hit with Hefty Penalty in North Carolina
A federal jury in North Carolina decided on Friday that Smithfield Foods would have to pay a hefty dollar amount of $473.5 million dollars to neighbors of three of the company’s large hog farms. The neighbors had filed an unreasonable nuisance lawsuit because of odors, flies, and large trucks rumbling down the road. The jury says Smithfield owes the compensation …
Ag Holds Roundtable on Lawsuit Abuse
A special agriculture roundtable discussion took place on Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina. The goal was to highlight a recent wave of nuisance lawsuits in the state targeting hog farms. Lawmakers and agricultural leaders discussed the growing threat to farmers and how out-of-state lawyers are using nuisance lawsuits to get around states’ right-to-farm laws. The discussion included the economic impact …
Trump Tweets on SNAP Work Requirements
The biggest difference between the House and Senate versions of the farm bill was front and center on Twitter. President Trump jumped into the debate via Twitter, in an effort to tip the scales toward House Republicans ahead of conference negotiations. “When the House and Senate meet on the very important farm bill, hopefully, they will be able to leave …
Senate Approves Ag Appropriations Bill
The Senate earlier this week approved a number of appropriation bills, including the 2019 Agriculture appropriations bill, before heading off to a two-week long recess. The Senate voted 92-6 to pass a bill that funds the Agriculture Department and related agencies, and other federal agencies such as Transportation, Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency. Senate leadership is hopeful to pass …
Poll Shows Voters Narrowly Support Aid for Farmers
A poll by Morning Consult and Politico shows nearly six in ten voters favor President Trump’s $12 billion plan to provide aid to farmers suffering from his trade policy. Nearly 2,000 registered voters were surveyed, and 57 percent either somewhat or strongly support the farmer aid package that was announced a week ago. Support came primarily from Republicans, with nearly …
Roundtable to Discuss Nuisance Lawsuits
Agriculture leadership and lawmakers will come together Friday to discuss the threat that nuisance lawsuits pose to the U.S. agriculture industry, rural America, and farm families. North Carolina U.S. Representative David Rouzer, and Senator Thom Tillis, along with House Agriculture Committee Chair Mike Conaway, and North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, will convene the National Agriculture Leaders Roundtable, which will …
Agri View: Farm Losses from Disasters
It is almost daily that the news is speaking of losses from natural disasters across the country. Everett Griner talks about the farm losses you never hear about after a natural disaster in today’s Agri View. Farm Losses from Disasters We are officially in the hurricane season now. We will be until the last day of November. We have been …
Farmers Benefiting from Trump Tax Cuts
Farm families are reaping the benefits of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) signed by President Donald J. Trump in December, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report. The Economic Research Service (ERS) studied 2016 Internal Revenue Service and USDA data and released findings last month showing the effective tax rate for farmers is 3 to 6 percent …