The Senate overwhelming approved the nomination of Tom Vilsack as Agriculture Secretary. The Senate voted 92 to seven to approve the nomination via a roll call vote on Tuesday, sending Vilsack back to the Department of Agriculture’s top position. Vilsack returns to the agency after serving as Agriculture Secretary during the Obama administration. The…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Fresh Produce Sales Growth
Fresh produce continues its steady growth at retail, with increased sales for fruits and vegetables during the fourth quarter of 2020. That’s according to a new report on United Fresh, detailing the fourth quarter of last year and the 2020 year-end report. Among the fourth quarter highlights, both fruits and vegetables continued to grow…… MORE
Mystery Seed Investigation Finished
The USDA recently finished a months-long investigation into thousands of reports from citizens who received unsolicited seed packages in the mail last year. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service found no evidence that someone was intentionally trying to harm U.S. agriculture with the shipments. APHIS did confirm that some of the seeds sent…… MORE
Protecting Livestock Sellers
The Department of Agriculture this week announced a new Dealer Statutory Trust to Protect Livestock Sellers. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, signed in December, amended the Packers and Stockyards Act by adding language to establish a “Dealer Statutory Trust” for the benefit of unpaid cash sellers of livestock. Much like the existing packer and poultry…… MORE
Senates Sets Vote for Vilsack Confirmation
The Senate will vote to confirm Tom Vilsack as Agriculture Secretary next week. The exact time is uncertain, but the Senate calendar has the vote planned for Tuesday, February 23rd. The Senate will debate the nomination for 20 minutes before voting, with the majority and minority parties receiving equal time. Expect smooth sailing for…… MORE
Economist Says Livestock Producers Need Insurance
American livestock producers need the equivalent of crop insurance. The Hagstrom Report says American Farm Bureau Chief Economist John Newton made that statement in front of the recent Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau Meeting. Newton says that in the 2023 Farm Bill, we will need “careful consideration as to how we are reaching the…… MORE
Tractor Sales Increase
Farm tractor and combine unit sales start the year continuing growth in the nation, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. AEM reports U.S. total farm tractor sales rose 24.7% in January compared to 2020, while U.S. combine sales grew a significant 76.8%. U.S. unit sales grew across all segments,…… MORE
Cal Grape Crush Down
This is a portion of a news release from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service on California’s grape crush. The 2020 crush totaled 3,542,038 tons, down 13.9% from the 2019 crush of 4,115,413 tons. Red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes crushed, at 1,813,964 tons, down 15.9% from 2019. White wine…… MORE
Hemp Checkoff Survey Results
Hemp industry stakeholders released survey results regarding industry attitudes towards a hemp checkoff program. The overall survey results show that nearly eight out of every ten farmers and processors support the checkoff program for research, promotion, and consumer education. More than 60% of farmers and processors support being assessed to fund a program. The…… MORE
World Ag Expo Online Opens
The virtual World Ag Expo runs from Tuesday through Thursday. According to organizers, exhibitors and show staff started working to create the online trade show back in October. Visitors to the online event will be able to chat directly with exhibitors through a live text chat system in the platform, as well as view seminars,…… MORE
