Top Agriculture News

2025 marks the 40th anniversary of what many consider the Agriculture Department’s flagship conservation program. The person perhaps most connected to the creation of the Conservation Reserve Program in 1985 is former Agriculture Secretary John Block. He shared some of his thoughts on CRP a decade ago during the program’s 30th anniversary. The Reagan administration […]

I planted some Russian Sage (Salvia yangii) decades ago. Alas, I can’t remember when it faded into oblivion. It is really not native to Russia and hails from Central Asia, ie, Afghanistan, Tibet. The name derives from the genus of the plant which is “perovskia” and it was named for the Russian General V.A. Perovski in the 1800’s. I don’t know why, I suppose he was some sort of wise person or “sage”.

Continued contraction in the cattle feedlots and U.S. cattle inventory. Livestock analyst Michael McConnell says, from USDA’s latest Cattle on Feed report covering the period ending Sept. 1: “There was 11.08 million head of cattle on feed with feedlots that have a capacity of larger than 1,000 head. That is 1% lower than a year […]

USDA Conservation Reserve Program reaches its 40th anniversary this year. “Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest voluntary land conservation programs in the U.S. Originally, it was intended to primarily control soil erosion and provide stability to commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production. And the program has evolved […]

Outdoor recreationists and tourists to our nation’s forests may have noticed some improvements to infrastructure if they have visited over the past five years. That, according to Betty Jewett of the U.S. Forest Service, reflects the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020. “Forest Service and four Departments of the Interior agencies, and so that is […]

This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at [email protected] or 843-540-4540. Grain markets continue to trade on low volume and no enthusiasm. Harvest is picking up steam in the Midwest, and while there are some good yields out there, there is also a lot of disease pressure and […]

An appropriate time annually for National Farm Safety and Health Week. Dan Neenan of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety says: “We always have it the third full week in September. [It] brings [it] top of mind, not only to the farmers, but also to the motoring public, making people think about putting safety […]

Rural mental health, a subject that has gained more attention and less stigma over the past few years, “There is a lot to be encouraged about. Our overarching goal is to break the stigma that has long existed around mental wellness. We really have devoted a lot of time and energy and resources to building […]

I must say that I have rarely written an article about a plant I like but I don’t recommend for WPTF Weekend Gardener listeners. Sweet Autumn Clematis(Clematis teriflira) or Japanese Clematis is an exception. Sweet Autumn Clematis is actually in the Buttercup family. It does not act like one however. It is a master at spreading and surviving once its roots are established. It is very invasive and NC State doesn’t recommend that you plant this vine. The North Carolina Invasive Plant Council feels the same way. I don’t even know where you can buy this plant now. It is purported to be poisonous too. That being said, when I see it blooming in my yard and especially along the roadside in late August into September, I know fall is on the way and I love fall and winter.

It’s starting to look a little drier around the Carolinas here; we’ve not had any significant rain over the last week or two. We’ve got state assistant climatologist Corey Davis here. Corey, I’ve been hearing that drought is back on the map. What is the issue with that, and also, what’s the impact of it? […]