Top Agriculture News

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Republican leaders in North Carolina have proposed a new U.S. House district map that could thwart reelection prospects of a Democratic incumbent in the state’s only swing seat. The map was revealed Thursday ahead of next week’s General Assembly session. It is part of an effort to help President Donald Trump secure more GOP seats nationwide ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The new boundaries focus on the 1st District, currently held by Democratic Rep. Don Davis, who narrowly won reelection in 2024. The changes could help Republicans win 11 of North Carolina’s 14 seats. Democrats have criticized the move, calling it an attempt to undermine fair elections.

The potato industry has struggled the past couple of years with lighter consumer demand, resulting in some contracts getting reduced or terminated altogether. Is that going to be an issue during the rest of 2025 and into the future? Chris Voigt, Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission, says statewide, growers reduced the acres […]

Record-high cattle prices offer a significant financial opportunity for those producers who leverage smart marketing and risk management strategies. That’s according to Dr. James Mitch, a livestock economist at the University of Arkansas. “The prices are really high, but we looked at volatility in the market and how there are still some pretty big market […]

At a press conference on Tuesday, Democrats decried President Trump’s tariff war, saying it’s costing American farmers crucial markets they are unlikely to get back anytime soon. Minnesota governor Tim Walz pointed out that in 2024, China bought 27 million metric tons of soybeans, but this year, they have bought none. “Donald Trump didn’t create […]

Minnesota pork producer Lori Stevermer, the former president of the National Pork Producers Council, saw firsthand how challenging things are in U.S. agriculture and the pork industry. She said there is no doubt that things are rough in the U.S. farm economy. “I would say these are some interesting and challenging times for our farm […]

Older adults sometimes leave billions of dollars in government assistance on the table each year and don’t realize it. It’s money that could help cover utilities, rent, health care, and prescription drugs. Sean Voskuhl, Oklahoma State Director for the AARP, talks about those federally funded programs that go unused every year. “First, let’s talk about […]

U.S. dairy markets can be a challenge to completely understand. Mick Homb, the general manager for the Farm First Dairy Cooperative in Wisconsin, said even he’s not sure why the milk markets are doing what they’re doing. “I wish I were smart enough to explain the milk markets. It seems like milk, right now, is […]

Profitability in the ethanol segment is there, thanks to a slight rise in the profit margins in the third quarter through the first half of September. Dan O’Brien, an agricultural economist with Kansas State University Extension, talked about the profitability of the U.S. ethanol sector that uses roughly 35 percent of a corn crop in […]

We are seeing today’s technological advancements everywhere, even in agriculture where AI and automation are becoming increasingly common. Keith Veselka, CEO and Co-founder of NWFM, Northwest Farm Management, says it’s not slowing down. “I think with the emergence of AI and then the advancement of robotics, autonomy, and drones, a lot of the scanning capabilities […]

Ag employers took a big sigh of relief after the Department of Labor revised the methodology for determining the H-2A program’s Adverse Effect Wage Rate. Northwest Horticultural Council’s Senior Vice President, Kate Tynan, says it’s great news because tree fruit growers are spending nearly every dollar they make on labor costs. “We did conduct a […]