The U.S. Supreme Court has handed Bayer-owned Monsanto a major legal victory in a decision that could reshape future pesticide litigation in the United States. In a 7-2 ruling, the Court found that federal law prevents states from allowing failure-to-warn lawsuits against pesticide manufacturers when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a product’s label without requiring additional warnings. …
USDA Base Acre Increase Opportunity
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced this week through the Farm Service Agency that eligible landowners have until Aug. 31 to review and consider base acre increases on farms enrolled in the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) or the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4. This act allow provides landowners with …
USDA Launches Great American Cotton Plan
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the Great American Cotton Plan aimed to further strengthen the cotton farm economy and restore domestic textile manufacturing. Secretary Rollins said, “Since 1607, cotton has helped build and sustain rural America. Our farmers grow some of the highest quality cotton in the world, but over the last several years, America’s cotton growers have …
How Citrus Fruits Spread Across the World and Reached America
Citrus fruits are now a major part of agriculture across the United States, especially in states like Florida, California, Arizona, and Texas. But the history of oranges, lemons, limes, and other citrus fruits stretches back thousands of years to ancient civilizations and early global trade routes. According to agricultural historians, the exact origin of citrus fruits cannot be precisely identified. …
Buried Treasure in an Iowa Cornfield: Farmer Unearths Rare 1850s Silver Coins
A Remarkable Discovery Along the Missouri River In March 2017, an ordinary day of fieldwork turned into an extraordinary moment in modern agricultural history. According to this edition of the American Agriculture History Minute with Mark Oppold, Iowa farmer Robert Ellis made a discovery that stunned historians, collectors, and treasure hunters alike. While plowing a field near the Missouri River …
Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Encouraging Voter Participation Today
With Election Day today, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is encouraging everyone to get out to the polls and we caught up with Erin Beasley with ACA to learn more. “Well, for months we’ve been leading up to the big Tuesday primary vote and that will take place here on May 19th is the primary voting day for the state of Alabama and …
Historic Iowa Farmland Auction Draws Crowds and Millions
A Rare Moment in American Agricultural History In a remarkable snapshot of rural America, Mark Oppold highlights an extraordinary farmland auction that captured the attention of the local farming community and beyond. Events like these are not just about land changing hands—they represent legacy, opportunity, and the enduring value of American agriculture. Bitter Cold, Red-Hot Demand On a frigid February …
House of Representatives passes Farm Bill 2.0
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567), also known as Farm Bill 2.0, and agricultural groups are reacting to the passage. Agricultural Retailers Association President and CEO Daren Coppock said, “ARA applauds the House for advancing the Farm Bill, which delivers certainty for farmers, strengthens rural economies, and helps …
Drought and Wildfires Impacting Southeastern States
Drought impacts have escalated in recent weeks across the southeast impacting crop planting and pasture availability. Now, wildfires have become a threat in both Georgia and Florida, with disaster declarations and burn bans put in place. Earlier this month, USDA designated 30 Alabama counties as primary natural disaster areas and 12 contiguous disaster counties due to drought impacts and this …
USDA Finalizes National Environmental Policy Act Rule
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced last week that USDA has finalized a rule to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. According to the Department, the changes outlined in the rule “consolidated seven agency-specific NEPA regulations into a single, department wide framework, reducing the overall volume of regulations by 66 percent.” Secretary Rollins said, “Since last July, agencies …










