Top Agriculture News

Over half of the 70 ag economists surveyed in Farm Journal’s Monthly Survey of Ag Economists believe the U.S. agriculture economy is in a recession. Seventy-five percent of the other economists believe the ag economy is on the brink of a recession, up from the 56 percent who responded that way in the previous month’s […]

The Southeast has moved from rescue to now, starting that long job of recovery and rebuilding post-Hurricane Helene. One of the industries closely tied to agriculture that took a direct hit was North Carolina’s craft brewing industry. Lisa Parker is executive director of the NC Craft Brewing Guild, and says a quarter of the Tar […]

State and local fairs are first and foremost agricultural, and at the NC State Fair, they’re taking that message to kids and adults alike with what they call the Field of Dreams. It’s an actual micro farm where visitors can become farmers, if just for a few minutes. Carl Tart is the exhibit manager. “We […]

More than 70,000 students wearing blue corduroy jackets are in Indianapolis this week for the 97th National FFA Convention and Expo. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it almost feels like a family reunion.” That’s says Amara Jackson from Michigan, who is serving out her final week as National FFA President. This […]

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A sheriff’s office statement and data from the state show that the North Carolina county that is home to Asheville overcounted deaths caused by Helene by as many as 30. The information in the statement on Tuesday significantly reduces the death toll from the historic storm. Buncombe County officials had previously reported 72 deaths and are now deferring to a state tally of 42 deaths for the county. The county’s number dates back to an Oct. 3 news release and briefing by Sheriff Quentin Miller. But state officials, relying on reviews by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh, have consistently reported a number lower than that for the county.

We are now getting some data on how Helene and other disasters have affected South Carolina agriculture. Tell us about it, Commissioner. Agriculture Here are the initial damage projections using data and calculations from Clemson Extension: Loss Category Drought & Other Debbie Helene Total Crop & Livestock $31,335,370 $133,220,315 $65,358,490 $229,914,175 Infrastructure (including Fencing) $0 […]

Traceability is an important topic in the livestock industry. Dr. Patrick Webb, assistant chief veterinarian for the National Pork Board, says real-time traceability is vital to keeping the pork industry safe from a disease outbreak. “For the herd veterinarian, having good traceability to understand how the animals are moving through the production system and the […]

Every four years the N.C. State Fair celebrates Century Farm and Bicentennial Farm Families at a reunion. This year saw the largest number of attendees gather in the program’s history. If you are coming to the State Fair, you can also help Western NC on Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day. I hope we can set […]

This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at [email protected] or 843-540-4540. In response to an incident that was dubbed the Great Russian Grain Robbery in the early 1970s, the USDA developed reporting requirements and releases to make the exports transparent to the market. Everytime anyone in the US […]

There’s a new breed of peppers on the market. More specifically, it’s a new breed of mild Habaneros created by breeders at Oregon State University. OSU Professor Jim Myers says peppers are indeed a fruit. “Yes, they are, but they’re used, in this case, you know, quite often they’re used as a vegetable. They’re used […]