florida

Farm Leaders Call for Stronger Farm Bill, Risk Management at Senate Ag Hearing

At a recent Senate Agriculture Committee hearing titled Perspectives from the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy, Part 1, agricultural leaders Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation, and Rob Larew, President of the National Farmers Union, urged lawmakers to modernize the Farm Bill and strengthen risk management programs amid economic struggles faced by farmers …

ncba

NCBA Announces 2025 Policy Priorities

During the annual Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show this week in San Antonio, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced their 2025 policy priorities. Rusty Halvorson has the story. Some of NCBA’s 2025 Policy Priorities include: Click here to see NCBA’s full priorities list. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune …

conservation

USDA-NRCS in Georgia Announces Conservation Stewardship Program Sign-up

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Georgia (NRCS-GA) has announced a Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) sign-up. Agricultural producers and forest landowners looking to build on previous conservation efforts should apply by March 7 to be included in this funding batch.  “Through the Conservation Stewardship Program, our customers continue to raise the bar on their conservation operations,” said Terrance O. Rudolph, state conservationist for NRCS …

corn market

Farmers Could Benefit from Biofuels under New Administration

Farmers could get some relief, at least from biofuels, as the new White House, EPA and other agencies start to roll out policies. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is optimistic the new administration will help, not hinder agriculture stuck under the weight of high input costs and low commodity prices. RFA’s Troy Bredenkamp said the ethanol industry expects the president and his …

Cattle Enhancement Board

Cattle Inventory Drops One Percent

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released their annual Cattle Inventory Report, and according to a story from Rusty Halvorson, there are one percent fewer cattle in the U.S. compared to the same time last year. Key findings in the USDA report, as of Jan. 1, 2025 include: USDA NASS surveyed approximately 36,100 operators across the nation during the …

Meat Institute

Meat Institute Strategies to Reduce Meat Prices

The Meat Institute sent a letter to President Donald Trump to provide strategies to reduce burdensome regulations and address meat prices for consumers. The letter included a list of recommended actions for the administration to take, including rescinding the final rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act put in place in March 2024. “Despite a lack of legal authority and court …

UGA Beef Team

U.S. Cattle Inventory Down One Percent 

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released their annual Cattle Inventory Report, and it shows there were 86.7 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of January 1, 2025, which is down one percent from January 1, 2024.  Other key findings in the report were:   To obtain an accurate measurement of the current state of the U.S. cattle …

Brooke Rollins

Brooke Rollins Vows Swift Action on Farm Aid at Senate Confirmation Hearing

On Thursday, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a confirmation hearing for Brooke Rollins, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Agriculture. Rollins, 52, told lawmakers she plans a rapid rollout of assistance to farmers and ranchers if confirmed, placing economic relief at the top of her agenda. Rollins said the American Relief Act of 2025, which includes $31 billion in …

dairy production

Final Rule Amends Pricing Formulas for FMMO’s

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently announced the final rule amending the uniform pricing formulas applicable in all 11 Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMO’s). Rusty Halvorson has more details. According to AMS, the amendment changes included returning the base Class 1 skim milk price formula to the higher-of the advanced Class 3 or 4 skim milk prices. The Class 3 and …

Special Envoy

USDA to Measure Financial Well-Being of Farmers and Ranchers

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will spend the next few months gathering information about land ownership income, expense, debt, asset, demographic and other landlord characteristics to provide detailed information from agricultural landowners. The Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Agricultural Land (TOTAL) survey will ask producers to provide in-depth information about their operating revenues, production costs, and household characteristics. “TOTAL will …