I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. George Washington had a complicated relationship with slavery during his lifetime. He controlled a cumulative total of over 577 slaves forced to work on his farms and including his house in Philadelphia. As president, though, he signed laws by Congress that both curtailed slavery but also protected it. But his will …
Longshoremen’s Strike Over for Now
In a joint statement Thursday evening, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) announced there is an end, at least temporarily, to the work stoppage that shut down the East and Gulf Coast ports earlier this week. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom says the end of the strike is terrific news for U.S. …
Dock Worker Strikes Threaten U.S. Meat Exports
Dock worker strikes across the East and Gulf Coasts threaten to disrupt the U.S. meat and livestock industries significantly, according to Erin Borror, Vice President for Economic Analysis at the U.S. Meat Export Federation. The affected ports are critical, having facilitated nearly $3 billion in red meat exports during the first seven months of the year, averaging about $100 million …
Possible Longshoremen Strike Could Affect Agriculture
Longshore workers at various ports may walk off the job early Tuesday. Mark Oppold has more details about how it could affect agriculture. 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 …
USDA to Gather Data about Farm Labor
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct its biannual Agricultural Labor Survey in October. More than 1,700 farmers and ranchers in the Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina will be asked to participate in the survey. This is an opportunity for producers to provide accurate information about hired farm labor, including total number of hired farm workers, total hours worked, …
Traders Interested in New Jobs Numbers
The new jobs numbers report comes out today. Mark Oppold notes many people will be looking at where those numbers come in. 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 SharpShooter™June …
Waiting on the Jobs Report
The next big report many traders will be looking for is the jobs report. Mark Oppold notes what the September report could mean. 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 …
American Ag Groups Call on Canadian Officials to Head of Strike
Groups like the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) urged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resolve a dispute between Canada’s railway executives and union leaders that could lead to a strike. A work stoppage there could interrupt rail service into the U.S. “If a strike shuts down rail service from Canada into the U.S., it will adversely impact America’s farmers who rely …
Labor Bill Passes Appropriations
There was strong debate at the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, as the full committee marked up the bill for fiscal year 2025 funding for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. “The bill puts workers first by ensuring businesses can stay open. We protect farmers from a Labor Department determined to close small family-owned farms across …
DOL Providing Housing Grants for Farmworkers in Florida and Other States
The Department of Labor (DoL) recently announced the availability of $6.5 million in grants to help organizations improve their delivery of safe and sanitary housing solutions for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents. Administered by the DoL’s Employment and Training Administration, the National Farmworker Jobs Program will award approximately eight grants to organizations that propose project designs to provide housing services in …










