Top Agriculture News

Farmers in the Carolinas continue to battle the effects of extreme weather, starting with a flash drought in June to heavy rains in July, followed by tropical storm Debbie in August. USDA Undersecretary Robert Bonnie toured eastern North Carolina last week and saw the crop damage firsthand. “We saw that North Carolina farmers have been […]

Some cattle industry analysts may have been a little bit surprised at this number in last week’s USDA cattle on feed report. “During July, producers placed about 1.7 million head of cattle on feed, which was about 6% above year earlier.” USDA livestock analyst Shale Shagam. That number larger than had been expected. It leaves […]

It’s no secret that prices have softened in the grain markets during the last several weeks. Greg Ruehle, executive director of the National Sorghum Producers, says the lower grain prices include sorghum. “Prices for all of the grain commodities have softened these last six or seven weeks, and sorghum hasn’t been immune to that. We […]

Taking a look back at August now, as we wrap up this month, which has certainly had its ups and downs weather wise in the Carolinas, I’m Mike Davis, talking with Corey Davis from the State Climate Office of North Carolina. “Well, Mike, when we look at the month as a whole, obviously that one […]

This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at [email protected] or 843-540-4540. The ProFarmer crop tour is behind us and now priced in. The market is watching the last few weeks of US weather that matters and waiting for the USDA Sept report that comes out on September 12th […]

The August update to USDA’s trade outlook increased imports and exports for fiscal year 2024. Betty Resnick, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation, talks about what the numbers show. “Increasing the overall forecasted exports to $173.5 billion and reduce the trade deficit by $1.5 billion to $30 and a half billion. Now this […]

As Americans head to their backyard grills to celebrate the end of summer, Bernt Nelson, an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says consumers may see some much-needed slight savings as retail prices decrease from unprecedented highs. “Beef prices set records in the month of July. If we take a look at USDA ERS’s […]

High path avian influenza (HPAI or H5N1) continues to be a threat to birds and now cattle and even humans, in rare instances. At a forum in Raleigh, North Carolina this week, which included Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf, North Carolina Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler emphasized the importance of diligence and cooperation among […]

A federal judge blocked the U.S. Labor Department from enforcing a rule in 17 states that would prevent agricultural employers from retaliating against migrant workers with H-2A visas for joining labor unions. Employers also couldn’t retaliate for workers organizing against wage theft, trafficking, and other abuses. Courthouse News says the judge sided with states in […]

If you work in the egg industry, either in production or marketing, you know that the egg market can be a little bit volatile at times. But here recently, a “little bit” would be a little bit of an understatement. This from Agriculture Department Livestock Analyst Shayle Shagam because eggs, or egg prices anyway, are […]