American agriculture

American Agriculture History Minute: Hay Press Invented

I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. The baling of hay began with the invention of the first hay press in about 1850. Hay was baled then for easier handling, reducing space for storage and for shipment. The first bales weighed around 300 pounds because the original machines were vertical in nature. They used a horse-drawn screw press …

quarterly

APHIS Announces New Health Plan for U.S. Hog Industry

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently announced a new health plan for the U.S. hog industry. Rusty Halvorson has more details. 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 …

medicine

A Team Effort by Medicine and Agriculture

Thanks to research over the years, Mark Oppold notes how a team effort by medicine and agriculture helped one woman overcome a serious medical issue. 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 …

asi

Red Meat Production Down Three Percent in November

USDA says red meat production fell year over year in November as cattle and hog slaughter both declined. Commercial meat output totaled 4.56 billion pounds in November, down three percent from November 2023.  Beef production dropped three percent on an annual basis to 2.22 billion pounds. Cattle slaughter fell six percent to 2.57 million head last month. USDA said the …

commodities

How Agricultural Commodities Performed in 2024

With 2024 in the rear-view mirror, Mark Oppold looks back at how certain agricultural commodities actually performed for the year. 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 16, …

bracing

Bracing for a Potential Work Stoppage at Ports

As we kick off the New Year, many are bracing for a potential work stoppage at various ports around the country. Rusty Halvorson has the story. U.S. agriculture is bracing for a potential work stoppage at East and Gulf Coast ports that could greatly disrupt U.S. exports. Contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance broke …

meat

Meat Supplies in Cold Storage Drop in November

The USDA says red meat in cold storage declined in November. Meat supplies in freezers on November 30 fell three percent month over month and five percent year over year to 7.41 billion pounds. In a report this week, USDA said that beef in storage totaled 440.5 million pounds, a two percent increase from October but down four percent from …

pork exports

Tracking Hog Futures this Week

A quarterly report this week is something traders dealing with hog futures is paying attention to. Mark Oppold has more details. 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 16, …

good numbers

Good Numbers for U.S. Meat, Dairy Exports

As we near the end of 2024, there are some good numbers when it comes to the exports of U.S. meat and dairy products. Rusty Halvorson has more details. 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 …

BLT season

Congress Leaving Town with No Prop 12 Fix

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is deeply disappointed in Congress’ decision to relinquish its responsibility to produce a five-year farm bill and an overdue federal solution to California’s Proposition 12. The organization says pork producers don’t have the luxury of waiting for Congress to pass a new five-year bill.  “After years of losing money and forcing family farms out of business, …