Researchers at Tokyo University of Science (TUS) have uncovered groundbreaking potential in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for sustainable pest control and enhanced crop defense. VOCs are natural chemicals plants release when stressed, such as during pest attacks. These compounds signal nearby plants to activate their defenses, forming a natural communication network. In a review published in Trends in Plant Science, …
Speculation Starts on Next Agriculture Secretary
Speculation has already begun on who the next Secretary of Agriculture will be when Donald Trump returns to the White House in January. Successful Farming says Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller, former ambassador Kip Tom, and Ted McKinney of NASDA are among a handful of people viewed as potential nominees to run the Department of Agriculture. Incoming presidents typically try …
Election Results Set the Stage for New Priorities in Agriculture
The outcome of the 2024 General Election is set to bring significant changes to the agricultural landscape, according to at least one expert. With Donald Trump returning to the presidency, new dynamics will unfold, especially in the U.S. Senate, where pivotal shifts are already affecting the agriculture sector. That, according to Ethan Lane, Vice President of Government Affairs for the …
American Agriculture History Minute: Ethnicity in Early Agriculture
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Ethnicity made a difference in early American agriculture. German immigrants brought different practices and traditions to the New World than English, Scottish, or Irish farmers, for example. Each simply carried forward practices from their homeland, but with a lot more land to work with and fertile soil. German farmers, for example, …
FDACS Urges USDA to Issue Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Milton Agricultural Damage
~ Preliminary Agricultural Damage Assessment Estimates Losses at $1.5 – $2.5 Billion ~ (FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/October 17, 2024) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson sent a letter to the United States Secretary of Agriculture formally requesting a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Disaster Declaration for Florida counties impacted by Hurricane Milton. Hurricane Milton caused catastrophic damage to Florida’s agricultural producers, compounding losses and …
McKalip on Agricultural Recovery Following Hurricane Helene
While the total extent of damage may not be known for days or weeks, in response to the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, the Biden-Harris Administration is bolstering recovery efforts across the agricultural sector. Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug McKalip reinforced this during an interview Monday morning with Southeast AgNet. “I just wanted to take a second to, acknowledge, the hurricane …
Agriculture’s Role in Addressing Climate Change Discussed at NYC Climate Week
Agriculture is in the spotlight as a component of addressing climate change, with recognition ofits potential to provide solutions beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Speaking at aNew York Climate Week session hosted by FoodTank, John Piotti, CEO of American FarmlandTrust (AFT), presented a systems-based approach to agricultural climate solutions, focusing onregenerative practices, farmland preservation, and farmer support. According to Piotti, …
Agricultural Production Losses from Hurricane Debby top $93M in Florida, UF Economists Estimate
The agricultural production losses (.pdf) Florida experienced due to Hurricane Debby have an estimated value between $93.7 million and $263.2 million, according to a preliminary UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP) report based on producer surveys. The Category 1 storm made landfall Aug. 5 near Steinhatchee, Florida, and affected more than 2.2 million acres of agricultural lands — 68% of it used …
Update from G20 Agricultural Ministers Meeting
An update from G20 agricultural ministers meeting. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Xochitl Torres Small provides highlights from the G20 Agricultural Ministers meeting held in Brazil this weekend. Listen to Sabrina Halvorson’s This Land Of Ours program here. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Track Record Well Received By LegislatorsJanuary 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …
USDA Launches Interactive Census of Agriculture Maps
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) launched a collection of interactive maps to allow data users to access key Census of Agriculture information. The newly redesigned Ag Census Web Maps application offers the public access to maps and accompanying data to help visualize, download and analyze census of agriculture data down to the county level. The app parses maps and statistics from the …










