Trade Caucus Presents Opportunities for Agriculture Lawmakers in the House of Representative’s launched a new Agricultural Trade Caucus. The effort seeks to advance and promote policies vital to U.S. agriculture, including boosting agricultural exports, facilitating food and agriculture trade, and knocking down unnecessary trade barriers. The caucus includes Republicans Adrain Smith of Nebraska, Dusty Johnson…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
New California Biofuels Plant Impacts Soybean Market
The increasing use of biofuels should generate bullish vibes for agricultural commodities in the future. E-T-F Trends says plans for a biofuel plant in California could spur more investors to take a closer look at agricultural commodities. California has one of the more ambitious plans when it comes to reducing carbon emissions. Given this, the…… MORE
Growing Future Leaders on GIVE FFA Day
Interested people are invited to support the FFA and agricultural education through Give FFA Day on Thursday, February 22nd. For the eighth straight year, funds raised support programs on local, state, and national levels. During the 24 hours of giving, supporters can donate to the National FFA and the state FFA associations of their choice.…… MORE
California Ranchers Watching Wolves Attack Their Herds
Ranchers in California who see wolves attacking their cattle can only watch, unlike other states where wolves can be shot for it. Meantime, a California state fund set aside to compensate ranchers for their losses is quickly running out of money. “Not only can you not kill a wolf for attacking and killing one of…… MORE
First Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant Represents Opportunity
Sustainable aviation fuel could grow into the largest new market ever seen for U.S. farm commodities thanks to the start of production at LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels. However, groups in Midwestern states say they could miss out on the opportunity without low-carbon ethanol, which requires carbon capture and sequestration. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association executive director…… MORE
Small Family Farms at Highest Financial Risk
Small family farms were more likely to have greater financial vulnerability than other farms, according to data from USDA’s Economic Research Service. Researchers calculated the operating profit margin by taking the ratio of profit to gross farm income to find that in 2022, between 52% and 79% of small family farms, depending on the farm…… MORE
Farm Groups Launch Mental Health Initiative
Farm Family Wellness Alliance launched Togetherall over the weekend, launching free, anonymous, online mental health and wellbeing services for farm families. Announced at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, the effort offers a safe, clinically moderated peer-to-peer community, where members around the world are there to listen, support and…… MORE
New FDA Food Safety Rule
Although the U.S. food supply is one of the safest, foodborne illness is a public health concern. The Food and Drug Administration has a new rule requiring detailed records for certain foods as they move through the supply chain, which can help trace the source of a potential outbreak. FDA has taken steps like issuing…… MORE
USDA Launches Pilot Beef-Grading Program
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a pilot program to allow more cattle producers and meat processors to access better markets through USDA’s official beef quality grading and certification. The Remote Grading Pilot for Beef, developed by the AMS, matches simple technology with robust data management and program oversight to allow a USDA grader to assess…… MORE
Large Family Farms Account For Most Of Commodity Production
Large-scale family farms accounted for a majority of the value of commodity production in 2022, according to a new report from USDA’s Economic Research Service. Specifically, these farms accounted for 76% of dairy products, 65% of specialty crops, 65% of cotton, 51% of cash grains and soybeans along with 56% of hog production. On the…… MORE
