Top Agriculture News

What to make of USDA’s October crop production forecast? Chief Economist Seth Meyer starts with analysis. “We had a little bit of a yield increase in corn. Yield was up two tenths of a bushel from the previous estimate, and that was pretty much in line with what trade expectations were. Let’s note that this […]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Small Business Administration has run out of money for its disaster assistance loans, delaying much needed relief for people applying for aid in the wake of the destruction caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to businesses and people affected by disasters. The organization said earlier this month that it expected to soon run out of funding. Congress can approve more funds, but doesn’t reconvene until after the election. The SBA is pausing new loan offers until it gets more funding. SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman said people should keep applying for the loans, however.

Friday’s USDA Crop Production Report showed corn production is forecast at 15.2 billion bushels, up less than one percent from the previous forecast, but down one percent from last year. Soybean growers are expected to increase their production by ten percent from 2023, with the forecast at 4.58 billion bushels. Based on conditions as of […]

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Officials say federal disaster workers paused and then changed some of their hurricane-recovery efforts in North Carolina, including abandoning door-to-door visits, after receiving threats. The threats that they could be targeted by a militia emerged over the weekend, at a time when the government response to Helene is being targeted by rampant disinformation. The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office said it received a call about a man with an assault rifle who commented about possibly harming employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency working in the hard-hit areas of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock, in the North Carolina mountains. The man was later arrested charged with a misdemeanor.

In just a few short days, the 156th N.C. State Fair kicks off, and so does the N.C. State Fair Farm Family of the Day, sponsored by the Tractor Supply Company. One North Carolina farm family will be recognized every day of the fair, highlighting the contributions of family farms to our state’s $111 billion […]

The U.S. Sustainability Alliance was formed to share the stories and values of U.S. farmers, fisherman, and foresters with European audiences. Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation President, talked with EU officials about the sustainable practices and conservation programs in U.S. agriculture. “We met with them because agriculture in the United States has a great […]

It’s fall, and to many people that means pumpkin patches and hayrides. Commissioner, tell us what South Carolina agritourism farms are doing this October. Fall is an especially busy time for agritourism farms. Pumpkin patches, hayrides, corn mazes, trick-or-treat events, harvest festivals… We continue to see an increase in agritourism. Definition: agriculture-based activities that bring […]

This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at [email protected] or 843-540-4540. We got USDA’s latest supply and demand estimates on Friday. The market only expected very minor adjustments and that is what USDA delivered. USDA pegged corn carryout just barely below the psychologically important 2 billion bushel level […]

A question of major concern to many in North Carolina and beyond, following Hurricane Helene’s devastation in the mountains has been, “What about the Christmas trees?” Western North Carolina is a major producer of Fraser firs and other popular holiday varieties. Larry Smith’s trees have been selected national winners in the White House Christmas tree […]

Agriculture Undersecretary for Food Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie is among those who acknowledge a full scope of damages is weeks, even months away, yet there are preliminary indications how farms and forests in the impact zones fared. The undersecretary, at a recent federal post hurricane response briefing, said from a federal crop insurance perspective… […]