Pork exports have enjoyed a healthy first half of 2023, but beef sales to overseas customers have lagged, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Though soybean aphids are an invasive species in North America, they have been present for more than 20 years. During that time, management options have changed.

With summer flying by, the August World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) and accompanying Crop Production reports are almost here, set for release at 11 a.m. CDT Friday, Aug. 11.

A climatologist says water levels remain low on the Mississippi River and the situation could worsen this fall.

Supermarket prices ticked up 0.3% last month, driven by a jump in the cost of beef as well as increases for some fruits, vegetables and dairy products, according to the monthly Consumer Price Index.

A new national cover crop survey report released Tuesday challenges assumptions on the role of incentive payments in cover crop adoption. Incentives play a key role in getting some farmers started on cover crops—49% of the cover crop users participating in the survey reported receiving some sort of payment for cover crops in 2022, and 77.8% of cover crop non-users said incentive payments would be helpful.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Acting Rural Development Under Secretary Roger Glendenning recently announced that USDA is partnering with the Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement to strengthen the nation’s rural workforce.

An annual report from the USDA shows that cropland values continue to increase, and an ag economist says producers should be cautious before buying any land.

Current and former food company employees suing 11 companies for an alleged conspiracy to suppress employee wages, have asked a federal court to dismiss the case against one of the companies as a result of a settlement agreement and to approve a second cooperation agreement reached with another company.

Prices for fertilizer products have been dropping for months from highs last year after many producers cut down on applications, but major manufacturers such as Mosaic and Nutrien see farmer demand rising amid bullish fundamentals.

One of the most important tools for livestock producers is a sharp No. 2 pencil. The pencil and some basic arithmetic can help take the emotion out of desperate measures to find feed.

Secretary Vilsack proclaimed August 6-12, 2023, as National Farmers Market Week to celebrate the growth and impact of farmers markets and their vital role in America’s food supply chain.

Attorneys general in Nebraska and Iowa sued the EPA on Monday, asking a federal court in Iowa to force the agency to finalize a rule to allow permanent year-round E15 sales in eight Midwest states.

The USDA’s good to excellent ratings for U.S. corn and soybeans improved slightly over the past week.

Tyson Foods on Monday announced the closure of four chicken processing plants, and the meatpacking giant said it lost money on its chicken and pork business during the latest quarter while barely covering costs on its beef segment.

Researchers who manipulate lignin, a molecular fiber that allows plants to grow tall and transport water, unexpectedly discovered its synthesis has more far-reaching effects on plant development than previously suspected.

As part of a cooperative agreement to develop and implement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, Action for Healthy Kids on Monday announced that it is awarding nearly $30 million in subgrants to 264 school districts across 44 states and the District of Columbia, reaching students in some of our nation’s highest need schools.

Without providing details about actual livestock losses, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen asked the USDA for additional federal assistance for cattle producers who reportedly lost animals in a major heat wave across the state last week.

Cropland values jumped 8.1% this year, hitting an average of $5.460 an acre, USDA reports. Many states have seen double-digit increases this year, with Kansas leading the nation with an increase of 16.6%.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association wants a federal estate tax code that promotes the continuation of family-owned businesses and protects America’s farmers and ranchers.

The National FFA Organization and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Science (MANRRS) recently signed a memorandum of understanding to create a formative alliance with the shared goal of growing diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry of agriculture.

Truterra, LLC, a leading agricultural sustainability business that offers consultation, tools and solutions for the ag and food value chain, recently announced the launch of four new data-driven regional and crop-specific programs to support farmers as they adopt regenerative growing practices.

AGCO, Your Agriculture Company (NYSE: AGCO), a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, reported its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023. Net sales for the second quarter were approximately $3.8 billion, an increase of approximately 29.8% compared to the second quarter of 2022.

On a charred portion of the Kansas prairie, aspiring research scientist Giovanni Moore is on the lookout for a remarkable beetle that protects humans and livestock from parasites and pathogens by feeding on or removing animal feces.

U.S. diesel prices have soared back above the $4 per gallon mark and an ag economist says farmers have some decisions to make. Greg McBride, Director of Brokerage with Allendale, tells Brownfield prices have risen more than 30-cents per gallon since the last week of June due to some cuts in oil production.

Iowa farmers on Thursday urged members of Congress to be cautious in seeking to curb Chinese theft of U.S. intellectual property and unfair trade tactics, noting the nation's importance as a consumer of soybeans and other commodities. “We need to be deliberate and thoughtful, please,” Iowa farmer Suzanne Shirbroun said at a House Committee on the Chinese Communist Party roundtable in Dysart, Iowa. She said revoking China’s permanent most favored nation status would “decimate agriculture exports and could deal a great blow to the American farmer."

Following its downgrade of the U.S. government's credit, Fitch Ratings on Thursday also downgraded the Farm Credit System (FCS) as a government-sponsored entity that is tied to the debt and ratings of the federal government. The immediate impact of the downgrade in ratings on farmers and agribusinesses that rely on Farm Credit lenders is likely minimal for now. But FCS's four banks and 59 lending associations nationally could see their reserve requirements affected in the future if another rating adjustment is made down the line.

Minnesota farmers are facing several challenges, from drought to dairy supply chain issues, that can put a financial strain on the family. However, producers can find help through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Farm Advocate Program.