China Growing Less Corn as Acreage Drops

Farmers in China will plant less corn this season, resulting in the nation’s smallest crop in six years. A poll by Reuters finds that during the spring planting season, growers in China plan to cut corn acreage for the second straight year to 35.2 million hectares, the equivalent of roughly 85 million acres, 4.1 percent less than a year ago. …

EPA Administrator Promises Back-to-Basics Agenda

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt last week promised a back-to-basics agenda approach for the federal agency. While visiting a Pennsylvania coal mine, Pruitt announced the agenda, saying the new focus “means returning EPA to its core mission: protecting the environment by engaging with state, local,and tribal partners to create sensible regulations that enhance economic growth.” In his speech to …

Little Time to Reverse Organic Livestock Rules

If confirmed next Monday, Agriculture Secretary nominee Sonny Perdue will have little time to oppose organic livestock rules finalized by the Department of Agriculture just a day before President Donald Trump was sworn in. Politico reports the rules will go into effect May 19th, but Congress has until April 28th to undo the measure, and Congress doesn’t seem likely to …

USDA Seeking to Advance Modernized Pork Slaughter

The Department of Agriculture wants to move forward with a modernization of pork slaughter. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service last week announced the agency wants to move forward with a system that will focus inspection resources and improve food safety. The effort is supported by the National Pork Producers Council, which says the improvements would increase efficiency and effectiveness …

Scott Pushes for Money to Repair Lake Okeechobee Dike

by Jim Turner, News Service of Florida Gov. Rick Scott waded into the legislative battle over Everglades restoration Monday. The governor gave support to a revised Senate water-storage plan and called for lawmakers to financially help the federal government speed repairs to the dike around Lake Okeechobee. In a news conference as the legislative session entered its final three weeks, …

Signup Deadline for Alabama NRCS Initiative is Monday

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama wants to pass along a quick reminder that Monday, April 17 is the signup deadline for a new Urban High Tunnel Initiative focused on addressing conservation in Alabama’s urban areas. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark Research ProjectsApril 3, 2026United Dairy Farmers of Florida Director Encouraged About the FutureMarch …

NRCS Invites Growers to South Florida Farm Tour

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida invites growers to the South Florida Farm Tour Thursday, April 27, at 4:00 p.m. The tour, being held at Loxahatchee Groves in West Palm Beach, is designed to highlight the benefits of USDA and NRCS Programs for Hispanic Farmers. If you would like to attend please RSVP or notify Ricardo Alvarez, Outreach Specialist, by April 20 …

Order Rescinding the Prohibition of Poultry Exhibitions and the Assembling of Poultry to be Sold Issued

After weeks of extensive testing of both commercial and backyard flocks within the surveillance zones established in Alabama, there has been no new detection of avian influenza. Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries John McMillan, in consultation with state veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier, officially rescinds the Order Prohibiting Poultry Exhibitions and the Assembly of Poultry to be Sold in Alabama*. This …

DDG Prices at Lowest Point in a Decade

Recent trade tensions have hit the dried distiller’s grain market hard. Prices for the U.S. corn byproduct used in animal feed have dropped to the lowest they’ve been at for this time of year in a decade. Earlier this year, China imposed import tariffs on the product, slowing American exports to the world’s largest market. A Bloomberg Report says the …