I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. In 1860, Horace Greeley wrote in his New York Tribune newspaper, “I would not live in Minnesota because you can’t grow apples there”. Indeed, no one at that time had solved the short growing season, but that finally changed in 1868 when horticulturalist Peter Gideon cultivated and grew an apple that …
Tracking Agricultural Commodities after One Month
Today, Mark Oppold takes time to review how certain agricultural commodities performed during the first month of trading in 2025. Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024SECURE FUNDING NOW | USDA-Sponsored Farming Project Underway in the Southern PiedmontFebruary 1, 2024
Specialty Crop Marketing Assistance Deadline Extended
The USDA reminds specialty crop producers to apply for assistance for marketing and food safety certification expenses. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is providing an additional $650 million in funding for the new Market Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program and extending the application deadline to this Friday, January 10th. Meanwhile, FSA also reminds specialty crop producers of the January 31, 2025, deadline to …
China Approves More GM Crops to Boost Food Security
China approved five gene-edited crop varieties and 12 types of genetically modified soybeans, corn, and cotton. Reuters says the expanded approvals are intended to boost high-yielding crops, reduce the need for imports, and ensure Chinese food security. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs awarded safety certificates to the 17 crop varieties, according to a document on its website. The …
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 ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024SECURE FUNDING NOW | USDA-Sponsored Farming Project Underway in the Southern PiedmontFebruary 1, 2024
Marketing Assistance Available for Specialty Crop Producers
The Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) two billion-dollar Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops Program is accepting applications now through January 8, 2025. The goal of the program is to help specialty crop producers expand markets and manage higher costs. “Specialty crop growers have typically faced higher marketing and handling costs relative to non-specialty crop producers due to the perishability of fruits, vegetables, floriculture, …
USDA to Conduct the 2024 Census of Horticultural Specialties
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the 2024 Census of Horticultural Specialties this winter to provide a comprehensive picture of the U.S. horticulture industry. Survey codes are being mailed to more than 40,000 horticulture producers to respond online. Collected just once every five years, this is the only source of detailed production and sales data for U.S. floriculture, nursery, …
Walnuts Declared “Healthy” Under New FDA Definition
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that walnuts meet its updated criteria for foods that can be labeled or identified as “healthy.” This change is designed to align food labeling with the latest nutrition research and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It also aims to help consumers make more informed decisions when building healthy eating patterns. According …
Tracking Agricultural Commodities after 11 Months
Eleven months of 2024 are now under our belt, and it’s time for Mark Oppold to look at where certain agricultural commodities currently stand with one month to go. Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024SECURE FUNDING NOW | USDA-Sponsored Farming Project Underway in the Southern PiedmontFebruary 1, 2024
Wine Industry Faces Challenges Over Tariffs and Distribution Rules
The U.S. wine industry is grappling with challenges stemming from international tariffs and complex distribution laws, both of which impact the market for domestic and imported wines. Ben Aneff, President of the U.S. Wine Trade Alliance, explains that the unique U.S. “three-tier” distribution system, a structure stemming from Prohibition’s end, mandates that wine is sold through separate importers, distributors, and …