Reuter’s Tom Polansek reported that, “the U.S. Department of Agriculture will spend $25 million on a facility in Arizona to disperse sterile flies used to combat the flesh-eating livestock pest New World screwworm, the agency said on Wednesday.” “The facility will expand Washington’s efforts to control the spread of screwworms as the USDA plans to […]
Audrey Jackson
Audrey Jackson is a freelance multimedia journalist. She has reported from 18 countries and 13 states, covering stories about health care, refugee aid, education systems, natural disasters and religion. She is a graduate of Harding University.
Farmers Spent $1.4 Billion More on Diesel During Planting Season
Successful Farming’s Mariah Squire reported that, “a new study by Joint Economic Committee Democrats found that farmers of key crops in the U.S. spent $1.4 billion more on diesel fuel during the 2025–2026 planting season than they did last season.” “The study, released last Thursday, analyzed corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice planted by U.S. […]
Corn Conditions Drop Amid Heatwave
AgWeb’s Tyne Morgan reported that, “triple-digit heat indices swept across the Midwest and Plains late last week and into the weekend, and the damage is already showing up in the numbers. USDA’s weekly Crop Progress report released Monday showed the steepest week-over-week decline in corn good to excellent condition ratings for this point in the […]
House Adopts Budget Proposal for Package with $12 Billion in Farm Aid
Progressive Farmer’s Jake Zajkowski reported that, “the House of Representatives passed a $95 billion budget resolution Wednesday along party lines that would direct up to $12 billion in aid to struggling farmers while providing $73 billion for defense and intelligence spending tied to the ongoing war with Iran.” “The resolution passed 216-214, with Reps. Warren […]
US to Lift Screwworm Ban on Mexican Cattle Imports
Reuters’ Tom Polansek and Kanishka Singh reported that, “the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Friday it is lifting a ban on imports of Mexican cattle that it imposed more than a year ago to keep out the flesh-eating livestock pest New World screwworm.” “The halt of imports drove U.S. beef prices to record highs, […]
Agricultural Labor Bill Divides Republican Party
Newsweek’s Billal Rahman reported that, “hard-line Republican lawmakers and conservative groups are criticizing a GOP-backed agricultural labor bill that would allow some undocumented farmworkers to obtain temporary legal status, arguing the measure amounts to amnesty.” “The proposed legislation has highlighted a split within the Republican Party, with more conservative members wanting a tougher response to […]
USDA Moves Forward with Mandatory Relocation Despite Pushback
Meatingplace’s Peter Voskamp reported that, “the USDA Rural Development Mission Area recently announced that it is moving forward with its declared intention to move nearly 3,000 members of its workforce out of the Washington DC area in order to ‘modernize operations, increase accountability, and ensure federal resources are positioned where they can deliver the greatest […]
Monsanto Withdraws Glyphosate Duties Petition
E&E News’ Grace Yarrow reported that, “Bayer is withdrawing its request that the Trump administration impose countervailing duties on glyphosate imports from China after backlash from the agriculture industry.” “The parent company of pesticide giant Monsanto filed a petition last month with the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration and the U.S. International Trade Commission, arguing […]
American Farmers May See Deeper Losses in 2027
Northern AG Network reported that, “several years of high inflation and low commodity prices, coupled with volatile production costs, are continuing to squeeze farmers financially. These forces are projected to hit farmers with $32 billion in losses for the major row crops in 2027 after a projected loss of $31 billion in 2026. Fruit, vegetable, […]
Product of USA Label Gains Momentum with Meat and Poultry Companies
Quality Assurance & Food Safety Magazine’s Jacqueline Mitchell reported that, “ten meat and poultry companies have recently adopted the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) voluntary Product of USA label, identifying meat, poultry and egg products from animals that are born, raised, harvested and processed in the United States. USDA launched a nationwide awareness campaign about […]
New 25% Tariff on Brazil Spares Beef, Other Key Agricultural Imports
Progressive Farmer’s Chris Clayton reported that, “the Trump administration announced 25% tariffs on a range of Brazilian products, including ethanol, but the U.S. currently imports virtually no Brazilian ethanol, while agricultural products such as beef and coffee were exempted from the new tariff action handed down late Wednesday.” “Among the actions U.S. Trade Representative’s Office […]
Oklahoma Reaches New Settlement with Poultry Companies in Decades-Long Pollution Case
Meatingplace’s Chris Moore reported that, “Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced a nearly $44 million settlement resolving the state’s 21-year lawsuit against six poultry companies accused of contributing to nutrient pollution in the Illinois River Watershed.” “The agreement settles claims against Tyson Foods, Cargill, George’s, Peterson Farms, Cal-Maine Foods and Simmons Foods,” Moore reported. “Oklahoma […]
House Reconciliation Bill Could Include $11 Billion in Farm Aid
Politico’s Meredith Lee Hill and Kelsey Brugger reported that “House Republican leaders and White House officials are coalescing around a roughly $80 billion policy package as they prepare for a final summer push to enact party-line budget reconciliation legislation.” “House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) said the bill would pump $67 billion into Pentagon […]
USDA Revises Beef Export Data, Lowers Sales by 90%
Reuter’s Tom Polansek reported that, “the U.S. Department of Agriculture dramatically lowered its reported beef export sales on Thursday, sparking fresh concerns about the quality of the agency’s data after staffing losses as part of the Trump administration’s reshaping of the federal government.” AgroLatam’s Marco Díaz Collins reported that, “the revised report showed that exporters […]
FTC Settlement Secures Right to Repair for Farmers
The New York Times’ Emmett Lindner reported that, “for decades, American farmers dealing with malfunctioning John Deere equipment were left with few options for repairs. The company allowed only authorized dealers to make fixes, withholding necessary tools from independent repair shops and individuals, driving up costs and wait times.” “A settlement this week with the […]
NCGA Study Finds Input Costs Higher for US Farmers Than Brazilian Counterparts
AgWeb’s Margy Eckelkamp and Tyne Morgan reported that, “for years, U.S. farmers have argued they face higher production costs than competitors such as Brazil while selling into the same global commodity market. A new analysis released Tuesday by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) suggests those concerns are well founded.” “The study, conducted by Kynetec […]
China Resumes Soybean Purchases as Trade Thaw Continues
Mississippi Today’s Cassandra Stephenson reported that, “crops are in the ground, the weather is cooperating, soybean prices are up slightly from 2025, and China — the biggest buyer of U.S. soybean exports — is once again placing orders after a trade agreement ended the country’s purchasing freeze last fall.” “But while morale is higher among […]
Unions Claim USDA Overhaul Will Gut Agency
Reuter’s Daniel Wiessner reported that, “a group of unions, nonprofits and U.S. municipalities has asked a federal judge to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s planned reorganization, including the relocation of more than 2,500 employees based in the District of Columbia.” “The coalition of plaintiffs said in a filing in San Francisco federal court late […]
USDA releases June 2026 Acreage Report and Grain Stocks
Progressive Farmer reported, “U.S. farmers planted 95.3 million acres of corn and 85.4 million acres of soybeans in spring 2026, USDA said on Tuesday, unchanged from March’s estimate and within the range of pre-report estimates.” “Tuesday’s USDA Acreage estimates were neutral for corn, neutral for soybeans and slightly bullish for wheat, said DTN Lead Analyst […]
USDA to Fund $500 Million Expansion of Domestic Fertilizer Production
Reuters’ Karl Plume reported that “U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced $500 million in new funding on Wednesday to expand domestic fertilizer production after the Iran war drove up prices.” “Fertilizer prices have soared since the U.S. and Israel launched the war, as more than 30% of global exports were caught in Iran’s near-total closure […]