The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced $17.7 million in available funding to support the delivery of education, mentoring, and technical assistance programs that help beginning farmers and ranchers in the U.S. and its territories. Funding is made through NIFA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “BFRDP …
USDA Helping to Protect Wetlands, Ag Lands and Grasslands
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is encouraging those wanting to protect critical wetlands, agricultural lands and grasslands to consider enrolling their property into conservation easements. NRCS Acting Chief Leonard Jordan said “Protecting these lands preserves America’s heritage, natural resources and open space.” Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …
Tax Reform, Crop Yields, Commodity Prices
There’s lots of talk about tax reform, crop yields, and commodity prices these days, but little about a 2018 farm bill. And it now appears formal writing of a new farm bill may have to wait ‘til next year. Earlier in the year, there was lots of talk about a new farm bill. That was August. Two months later, Democrat Debbie …
Cattlemen Applaud Court-Ordered Stay in Farm Emissions Reporting
A Washington, D.C., Circuit Court decision will stay a mandate regarding farm emissions reporting required under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). CERCLA was enacted in 1980 in response to industrial pollution. EPCRA was first implemented in 1986 to help deal with chemical spills. Craig Uden, President of …
GAO: USDA Should Increase Checkoff Program Oversight
At the request of House Minority Leader and California Democrat Nancy Pelosi, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) prepared a report regarding the Agricultural Marketing Service and its oversight of national checkoff programs. The Hagstrom Report says the AMS should increase its oversight of the 22 national checkoff programs that producers pay fees to for industry research and promotion to expand …
South Korea Looking at New Trade Deal with the Eurasian Economic Union
South Korea’s trade minister met with Russian officials this week in order to lay the groundwork for a new free trade deal with the Eurasian Union. The move comes amid increasing pressure from the U.S. to renegotiate the South Korean – American trade deal, known as KORUS. The South Korean Trade Minister met with the CEO of a state-owned banking …
Fifth Round of NAFTA Talks End
The fifth round of talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) ended on Tuesday with the New York Times calling the discussions “bogged down.” While the U.S. has tried to cool down tensions between negotiators by extending the deadline to finish the discussions, tensions are said to still be simmering. The U.S. also asked the top negotiators to …
Turkey Prices Struggling at Thanksgiving
Politico says news outlets around the country are picking up on USDA data that shows how turkey prices have dropped sharply in recent years. Experts say the reason behind the drop in price is the simple economics of supply and demand. Dewey Warner is a research fellow with Euromonitor International who says the prices drop has been building for a …
Pork: A Category Leader
USDA tracks consumer demand for commodity products, like pork, beef and chicken. National Pork Board vice president of domestic marketing Jarrod Sutton says per capita consumption is up for fresh pork. Compared to one year ago, fresh pork prices are up 3.8 percent at the retail level. Sutton says the Pork Checkoff is using insight-driven strategies to grow domestic pork …
Farmers Getting Only 11 Cents of Every Food Dollar
The National Farmers Union and the American Farm Bureau Federation say that consumers are paying less and farmers are receiving less for this year’s Thanksgiving Day dinner. The NFU Farmer’s Share publication says farmers and ranchers get 11.4 cents of every dollar that consumers spend on their turkey day dinner. The Farm Bureau’s annual Thanksgiving Day Price Survey found that …