Top Agriculture News

North Carolina got the all-clear from the World Organization of Animal Health last week that the dairy herd that had contracted avian influenza had now tested negative. But the U.S. dairy industry and federal officials continue steps to eliminate the H5N1 virus in dairy herds across several states. Officials at the state level are also […]

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management, or FARM Program, is the U.S. dairy’s on-farm national responsibility program. One of the important parts of the program is on-farm biosecurity. Emily Yeiser-Stepp, executive director of the National Dairy FARM Program, says biosecurity is more important than ever after the recent outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza […]

Representative Jim Costa (D-CA) and Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) led 70 colleagues in sending a letter to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack regarding the National Agricultural Statistics Service. The officials are asking for a reversal of the USDA’s decision to cancel or discontinue several NASS reports. The July Cattle Report, the Cotton Objective Yield Survey, and […]

Farmer sentiment dropped sharply in April, as indicated by the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. It fell 15 points to an April reading of 99. Both of the sub-indexes of the barometer also dropped. The Current Conditions Index dropped 18 points to 83, while the Future Expectations Index fell by 14 points to 106. […]

In 2023, the U.S. became a net food importer for the first time, which the Midwest Food Products Association says isn’t a good thing. Jason Culotta, president of the Midwest Food Products Association, says the imbalance began due in part to a growing emphasis placed on “fresh fruits and vegetables.” “Fresh fruits and vegetables, especially, […]

“We are seeking to address a need that we’ve heard from across the country related to a need for more farm labor and stable, affordable suitable house for that workforce.” What USDA Rural Development Undersecretary Basil Gooden is referring to is a recent Notice of Funding $48 million for farm labor housing. “We have two […]

Some farmers are struggling. Weeds that they used to control with trusted herbicides have now grown resistant. Organic farmers have never had access to tools they could use to effectively fight back certain weed pressure. But a startup in North Carolina says they have the answer for both. Daniel Pepitone is founder and COO of […]

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack has been bemoaning the fact that the US has lost a tremendous number of farms and millions of acres of farmland since the 1990s. Industry experts say much of it is caused by inflation and the escalating cost of doing business as well as the encroachment of low density residential development. […]

This is the Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at [email protected] or 843-540-4540. Row crop markets continue to find significant strength led by beans. We know from the commitment of traders report that comes out every friday that the funds had started buying back the big short position as of last […]

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has big plans for May 17-19 at the Got to Be NC Festival in Raleigh, and we hope you will plan to join us for food, music, tractors, agricultural exhibits, working dog demonstrations, tractor pulls, entertainment, rides and games. Admission and parking is free. Pay as you […]