The latest Rural Mainstreet Index from Creighton University shows farmland prices are declining while farmer borrowing is growing. Released last week, the overall index for May increased to 12.5 from April’s record low 12.1 but down significantly from March’s weak 35.5. The index ranges between 0 and 100, with a reading of 50.0 representing growth neutral. Farmland prices continue to …
Celebrating Memorial Day
Memorial Day is an American holiday, always observed on the last Monday of May. And as Tyron Spearman reports, it’s a holiday where we continue to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funded Research Impactful for the Future of the Florida Cattle IndustryOctober …
NAFB Releases Farmer Survey Results Regarding COVID-19
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) recently conducted a non-scientific email survey of farmers and ranchers regarding COVID-19 and its ramifications on their livelihoods and farm-radio listening habits. “In these unprecedented times, NAFB knows its farm-broadcaster members are working harder than ever to bring unbiased and honest reports to their listeners across the country,” said Tom Brand, NAFB executive …
Senators Seek Meat Worker Protections from USDA
Senate Democrats want Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to provide more worker safety protection to meat processing employees. A group of 29 Senators, led by Democrat Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, penned a letter to Perdue outlining recommendations for ways the Department of Agriculture should improve worker safety. The Senators wrote, “While we recognize the importance of keeping these plants running, it …
NACD Submits Comments on RCPP Rule
Last week, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) submitted public comments to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on the interim Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) rule. RCPP was first created in the 2014 Farm Bill, and conservation districts across the country have successfully applied for, partnered with and led a large portion of all projects since the program’s …
USDA SECURE Rule Paves Way for Agricultural Innovation
(Washington, D.C., May 14, 2020) U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced a final rule updating and modernizing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) biotechnology regulations under the Plant Protection Act. The Sustainable, Ecological, Consistent, Uniform, Responsible, Efficient (SECURE) rule will bring USDA’s plant biotechnology regulations into the 21st century by removing duplicative and antiquated processes in order to …
America’s Meatpacking Facilities Practicing Safe Reopening to Ensure a Stable Food Supply
(Washington, D.C., May 8, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today applauded the safe reopening of critical infrastructure meatpacking facilities across the United States. These meatpacking facilities have resumed or plan to resume operations this week following President Trump’s Executive Order directing the facilities to implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of …
New Fungicide from AgBiome Innovations
Maintaining your crops is as important now as it’s ever been, and AgBiome Innovations can help. Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman talked with Bond McInnes, technical service manager at AgBiome, about their company and a new product, Howler. It’s a broad spectrum fungicide that can be used effectively at every phase of production. Learn more about AgBiome and Howler fungicide at …
Secretary Perdue Issues Letters on Meat Packing Expectations
(Washington, D.C., May 6, 2020) U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue last night sent the following two letters to governors across the nation and leadership of major meat processing companies. These letters establish the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) clear expectations for the implementation of President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order signed last week. The President’s Executive Order directs plants …
Another Meatpacking Plant Suspends Operations
Tyson Foods announced it will be suspending operations indefinitely at its plant in Waterloo, Iowa, which is its largest U.S. pork plant. That plant’s closure means approximately 15% of pork processing capacity across the country has gone offline. More than 150 of the country’s largest meat plants are in counties where the rate of COVID-19 infections is already relatively high. …