The Department of Agriculture is making a $15 million investment for the Conservation Innovation Grants Classic program. Through the program, grantees work to address water and air issues, along with soil health and wildlife habitat challenges, all while supporting agricultural production. This year’s funding priorities are climate-smart agriculture, addressing invasive species and conservation in urban…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Farm Equipment Sales Rise and Fall
U.S. and Canadian ag tractor monthly unit sales in July 2022 fell, while combine sales grew in the U.S., according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. U.S. total farm tractor sales fell 21% for the month of July compared to 2021, while combine sales for the month grew 9.2% to 715…… MORE
Farmers Markets Growth Slows
USDA’s Economic Research Service data shows the growth in the number of farmers markets is slowing. According to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, from 1994 to 2019, the number of farmers markets rose from 1,755 to 8,771 in 2019, averaging growth of nearly 7% per year. Expansion began to slow in 2011 before eventually falling below…… MORE
Shrinking Cattle Herd Might Mean Higher Beef Prices
American shoppers struggling with inflation are looking at higher beef prices continuing in their local meat cases. Because of high feed prices and severe drought, ranchers were forced to reduce their cattle herds. Grain prices have dropped to their lowest levels since Russia invaded Ukraine, but Reuters says that might not mean lower food prices…… MORE
Cal Farmland Value Increases
U.S. farmland prices increased 12.4% over the last year, according to new data from the Department of Agriculture. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service released the 2022 Land Values Summary earlier this month and shows the U.S. farm real estate value, a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms, averaged $3,800 per…… MORE
Farmland Security Act Introduced
Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin and Chuck Grassley of Iowa introduced the Farmland Security Act to increase scrutiny over foreign investments into America’s agricultural land. The legislation would make sure that Congress can address the impacts of foreign investments on family farms, rural communities, and the domestic food supply. “This bipartisan legislation will provide the tools…… MORE
Consumers Rely on Chicken Despite Inflation
Research presented at the 2022 Chicken Marketing Summit shows that U.S. consumers are still buying chicken. The survey showed that while consumers average rating for their current financial situation is midway between “poor” and “excellent,” 87% are buying the same amount or more of fresh chicken compared to six months ago. During the past six…… MORE
Poultry Producers Settle Claims on Unfair Worker Treatment
Three of the biggest poultry processors in the U.S. will settle claims by the Justice Department over their alleged efforts to work together to drive down employee compensation. Reuters said Cargill, Sanderson Farms, and Wayne Farms agreed to pay a combined $84 million in restitution to workers harmed by their alleged information sharing in order…… MORE
U.S. Cattle Inventory Down
The Cattle Report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service says U.S. farms contained 98.8 million head of cattle and calves as of July 1st. Cows and heifers that have calved total 39.8 million, while there were 30.4 million beef cows in the U.S. as of July 1st, 2% lower than 2021. The number of…… MORE
Advocates Claim Deere Might be Violating Clean Air Act
Consumer advocates claim that John Deere may be violating the Clean Air Act by limiting repairs on the emission control systems of its machines. Such repairs are only authorized to certified John Deere dealers. Politico says the Clean Air Act requires companies to provide the necessary information, including software, to repair emission control systems in…… MORE
