Planting Progress Shows Strong Early Season Gains
The USDA released its eighth Crop Progress Report of the 2025 growing season on May 5. Here’s a look at the most recent corn, soy, wheat, and oat numbers.
Read more
USDA
Report Shows 75% of Corn Crop in Good/Excellent Condition
USDA released its 10th Crop Progress report of the 2024 growing season on June 3. Here’s a look at the most recent corn, soy, wheat, and oat numbers.
Read more
Feds Boost Biosecurity Funding at Dairy Farms to Fight Bird Flu
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will now pay dairy farms with confirmed avian influenza infections to help contain the virus’ spread.
Read more
USDA Unveils $1.5 Billion in Climate Smart Grants
The USDA is providing $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2024 for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to support conservation and climate solutions.
Read more
Record Drop in Farm Income Expected in 2024
Farmers can expect the largest recorded year-to-year dollar drop in net farm income in 2024.
Read more
$700 Million Allocated to Connect Rural Areas to High-Speed Internet
The USDA today announced nearly $700 million in grants and loans to connect thousands of rural residents, farmers and business owners in 22 states reliable, affordable high-speed internet.
Read more
USDA To Provide Additional Assistance to Farm Loan Borrowers
The USDA announced it will begin providing additional, automatic financial assistance for qualifying guaranteed Farm Loan Programs (FLP) borrowers facing financial risk.
Read more
USDA Announces $320 Million to Strengthen Food Supply Chain
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that the USDA is making investments that will create new and better markets for agricultural producers and food businesses in 19 states across rural America.
Read more
Got (Whole) Milk?
A House committee approved a bill that would allow cafeterias to serve full-fat and 2% milk.
Read more
Farm Grants Available for Females
Statistics have proven that female farmers are under-represented in the agricultural field lately. The USDA has recognized this discrepancy and offers many farm grants for women to help level the playing field.
Read more
Crop Progress: USDA Reports Planting Pace – Slower Than Expected
The latest crop progress data from the USDA showed both corn and soybean plantings moving slower than analysts anticipated.
Read more
USDA Reports Beef Cow Herd Near Record Low
Beef cow inventory has settled at progressively lower levels since the 1990-2004 cattle cycle.
Read more
2023 USDA Crop Production Report
The USDA recently released its Annual Crop Production Report focusing on corn, soybeans, and wheat.
Read moreSlow Start for Corn Planting
corn planting is moving at its slowest pace in nine years. Poor timing for threats to the world’s largest corn crop as prices remain near record levels.
Read moreUSDA Payments to Livestock Producers Impacted by Drought or Wildfire
New Emergency Livestock Relief benefits to be delivered through two-phased approach; compensation for 2021 forage losses WASHINGTON, March 31, 2022 –
Read moreCorn, Soybean Harvests Ahead of Schedule
The U.S. corn and soybean harvests have passed the halfway mark.
Read more
Demand from China Leads to Surge in U.S. Ag Exports
Analysts forecast that China, reclaiming its spot as the No. 1 customer, will account for $1 of every $5 in overseas sales this year.
Read more
U.S. Forecasts Highest Prices for Crops in Years
The USDA estimates the corn crop will sell for a season-average $5.70 a bushel, soybeans for $13.85, and wheat for $6.50. Those would be the highest farm gate prices since 2013 for corn and soybeans and the highest since 2014 for wheat.
Read more
Vilsack Focuses on Sustainability in First Hearing
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley introduced Vilsack at the Ag Committee hearing, an indication of bipartisan support for the nominee to succeed Sonny Perdue.
Read more
Shrinking Grain Supplies Send Prices Skyward
Dry weather and an uptick in demand from China has influenced the supply-and-demand scenario on grains.
Read moreVilsack Expected to Return as USDA Chief
If confirmed, Vilsack will face challenges related to diminished trade, a decline in rural populations, a mandate to combat climate change, and a burdened food stamps program.
Read more
USDA Issues $14 Billion in COVID Relief to Farmers
This is the second round of assistance the administration will send to farmers. It distributed $19 billion earlier this year.
Read more
USDA Projects Farm Income at 7-Year High
The last time federal payments accounted for a greater percentage of farm income was 2001 at 41 percent. Sonny Perdue said Monday he hopes to announce a new version of coronavirus relief this week.
Read more
Three Farm Belt States Get Quarter of Relief Money
Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin have collected one-fourth of USDA’s corona-virus relief payments. California has the largest average payment.
Read more
USDA, Prosecutors Investigate Meatpackers
The president of the North Dakota Farmers Union said the industry has rarely seen such obvious market abuses by the meatpacking industry.
Read more
Farm Aid to Launch After Memorial Day
Farmers and ranchers seeking a lifeline from the Agriculture Department can sign up for a relief check starting Monday.
Read more
USDA Predicts Better 2020 for Ag, More Aid Possible
In spite of challenges such as the coronavirus and competition from Brazil, the USDA’s chief economist sees “more hopeful signs” for farmers.
Read more
Farmers Receive Final Round of 2019 Trade Support
USDA has rolled out the final tranche of 2019 payments to farmers hurt by global trade disputes. The funds could bring total payments for the year close to $14.5 billion.
Read more
ASF Vaccine Shows Promise, Availability Seems Distant
U.S. officials have developed a 100-percent effective vaccine against African swine fever, but it likely will not be available for commercial use for years.
Read moreUSDA Considers Third Round of Trade Aid
USDA will decide in January whether to issue the third tranche of payments under the 2019 Market Facilitation Program. A trade deal with China will not necessarily stop USDA from releasing the money.
Read moreUSDA, FCC Focus on Internet Capacity for Rural America
The FCC will establish a $9 billion fund to deploy advanced wireless services to rural America and designate $1 billion for precision ag needs. The USDA continues to invest in broadband infrastructure.
Read moreUSDA: Harvest Lags Behind Historic Average
Harvests for corn, soybeans, and cotton is not as far along as the average of previous years.
Read more
USDA Sends Hurricane Aid to Southern Farmers
The USDA is providing up to $800 million in block grants to states hit by Hurricanes Florence and Michael in 2018. A spokesperson said $381 million will go to Florida, $337 million to Georgia and $25 million to Alabama.
Read moreUSDA, State Ag Groups Accelerate Research on Climate
State departments of ag have adopted new policies on climate resiliency. The USDA hopes to boost funding for the same issue after distributing more than $3 billion in disaster money to farmers.
Read more