U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is awarding more than $35 million in grants to 15 independent meat processors in 12 states to increase processing capacity, spur competition to expand market opportunities for U.S. farmers and create jobs in rural areas.

Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) is pleased to announce the sale of approximately $20 million in Investment Tax Credits to an undisclosed corporate buyer. This transaction monetizes Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) Investment Tax Credits generated from the commercialization of a renewable natural gas (“RNG”) production facility by Gevo NW Iowa RNG, LLC (“Gevo RNG”) and provides net cash proceeds of approximately $17 million to Gevo after transaction fees.

Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program has released the 2023 Summary of U.S. Agricultural Confined Space-related Injuries and Fatalities ahead of National Farm Safety and Health Week.

United States net farm income in 2024 was $137 billion, falling slightly below the United States Department of Agriculture ‘s (USDA) September forecast and $9 billion lower than the 2023 figure, according to the latest update of the annual U.S. farm income and consumer food price report by The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri. Further declines in income are projected in 2025 as some moderation in production expenses and high cattle prices are not enough to offset the impact of lower crop prices.

U.S. ethanol production hit a 12-week low last week.

Environmental Working Group is challenging claims by Tyson Foods that certain beef products have climate-smart benefits, accusing Tyson of "greenwashing" its environmental claims.

Minnesota will soon be home to a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blending facility – only the third in the United States – that will provide SAF supply via existing pipeline to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) – Delta’s second-largest hub where it uses 250 million gallons of fuel annually.

Interest rates on farm loans are at multi-decade highs, and many hope relief will come on Wednesday afternoon.

The expansion of agricultural trade to Vietnam is a priority for USDA.

Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, Wednesday highlighted a number of issues currently plaguing the nation’s rail service—which have resulted in delayed shipments, longer wait times, and higher costs for America’s ethanol producers.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), joined by 25 other agriculture groups, sent a letter this week to the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways & Means Committee encouraging them to reauthorize a lapsed trade program, called the Generalized System of Preference.

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Tuesday expressed their strong disappointment with a preliminary ruling by Colombia’s government that unfairly targets U.S. dairy exporters by advancing baseless claims that U.S. milk powder was unduly subsidized.

A U.S. Senator from Kansas says time is running out to get a new farm bill, but there is a sense of urgency from a leader of the U.S. Senate Ag Committee to do something immediate to meet the needs of U.S farmers and ranchers.

In a letter sent today to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, the Renewable Fuels Association asked for an update on the agency’s investigation of certain biofuel feedstock imports and urged the adoption of more stringent feedstock verification requirements for imported used cooking oil and tallow.

“We’ve had challenges from the start of the season,” says LG Seeds Agronomist Robby Meeker, who covers east-central Illinois. Like much of the country, farmers in his area dealt with late planting as well as a mix of wet and dry spells. That set the stage for additional threats like disease, nitrogen deficiency and insect pressure.

Fears are increasing that the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance Ltd. (USMX) will likely not reach an agreement on their current contract that expires at the end of the month, opening the door for a strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports.

Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA), a global leader in agricultural technology and Pairwise, a technology company pioneering the application of gene editing in food and agriculture, announced a collaboration today to accelerate the delivery of advanced gene editing solutions to farmers, ultimately benefitting both the environment and everyday consumers.

For the 80th year in a row, the United States is celebrating National Farm Safety and Health Week (NFSHW) during the third week of September – this year it takes place September 15-21, 2024. NFSHW is a time to increase awareness of the high injury and fatality risk in agriculture and to improve agricultural health outcomes through outreach and education.

A leader with the American Soybean Association says she’s concerned about the threat of a port strike and its potential impact on the soy industry.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Senator John Boozman (R-AR) met with 120 pork producers at the National Pork Producers Council’s (NPPC) Fall Legislative Action Conference, discussing prospects for a 2024 Farm Bill and a federal solution to California’s Proposition 12.

Contrary to the average trade pre-report opinion, USDA raised their U.S. average yield projection for corn in the Sept. 12 NASS Crop Production report.

Senator Braun recently celebrated the passage of the House version of the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024, led by Representative Newhouse.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump clashed on a broad range of issues in their debate Tuesday night. A few key topics in rural America were addressed while others were ignored.

U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says he’d like to see guidance from his agency on the 45Z tax credit issued before the end of December.

Nearly 300 Farmers Union members from across the United States have converged in Washington this week to meet with lawmakers and advocate for the timely passage of a comprehensive five-year farm bill before the end of 2024, emphasizing its importance given current challenges faced by America’s family farmers and ranchers.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor arrived in Ho Chi Minh City Monday to launch a USDA-sponsored agribusiness trade mission.

As fall approaches, many farmers are evaluating the timing of their manure application. Ideally, ammonium-rich manures are applied when temperatures are cooler (50°F and cooling) to increase the probability that applied nitrogen will still be in the upper soil profile next year when crops are growing.

Farm leaders from opposite sides of the aisle agree the country needs a new farm bill, but they are split on taxes, regulations, trade policies and just how farmers and the agricultural economy will fare under the next presidency.