Supermarket prices were broadly steady in February as lower costs for dairy products, fruits, pork and chicken offset increases for beef, eggs, sugar and other products.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Thursday released a plan that will boost biomass supply chain resiliency for domestic biobased product manufacturing, while also advancing environmental sustainability and market opportunities for small and mid-sized producers.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, alongside the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Thursday announced that small and very small meat processors in need of funding can apply for a loan via ISDA.

The president of Missouri Farm Bureau says there are several unanswered questions about the next farm bill.

Two of the nation's largest meatpackers have agreed to pay a combined $127.25 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over allegations that they participated in a conspiracy to lower meat industry wages.

A new chapter in the saga of dicamba herbicides began on Monday, March 11, as Bayer once again initiated the registration process with EPA for its product, XtendiMax, for use in dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton in 2025.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest about $138 million of financial assistance from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in history—in 138 new climate-smart conservation easements, through which farmers and ranchers are conserving wetlands, grasslands and prime farmlands.

The record use of lower-cost E85 in California saved the state’s drivers $99 million in 2023, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 370,000 metric tons, a new analysis from the Renewable Fuels Association shows.

Following a large storm system from last week that produced widespread precipitation across the country, this week will feature another big storm. Widespread precipitation, severe weather, and some snow -- all common in spring storms -- will occur with this one as well.

National Farmers Union delegates this week debated a wide variety of policy reforms, including whether or not eligibility for commodity programs, crop and livestock insurance should be limited to small and mid-size farming operations.

Tyson Foods has announced it’s permanently closing its pork packing plant in Perry, Iowa and an ag economist says he was surprised by the move.

Effective January 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a new annual adjustment to the Farm Labor Survey (FLS) Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) for the employment of temporary or seasonal nonimmigrant foreign workers (H–2A workers). According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the national average AEWR will be $17.55 this year, an 5.6% increase from last year. This marks the third year in a row the AEWR has increased more than 5%.

U.S. pork exports raced to a great start in 2024, according to January data released by USDA and compiled by USMEF. While January beef exports were slightly below last year’s volume, export value trended significantly higher. Lamb exports were also strong in January, posting the highest value in more than four years.

Brazil’s equivalent of the USDA has lowered its soybean production projection for the fourth month in a row.

USDA is finalizing a new rule on "Product of USA," labeling for meat, poultry and eggs that will limit the voluntary retail label only to products from animals "born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the U.S.

President Joe Biden’s budget request for fiscal 2025 proposes new loan flexibilities for farmers and makes another stab at getting Congress to make permanent a $5-an-acre subsidy for cover crops while also boosting ag research and other climate-related spending.

There hasn’t been much movement on a new farm bill and National Farmers Union President Rob Larew says it’s not what’s in the bill that’s holding things up.

On Saturday, President Biden signed Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations legislation into law that provides funding for several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of the Interior. NACD appreciates that the enactment of final federal spending legislation prevents a government shutdown and ends temporary funding measures but is disappointed that it reduces funding for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and several programs and accounts that are critical to conservation.

South Dakota Republican Senator Mike Rounds says appropriations language giving USDA more money to track agricultural land purchases by overseas interests is a good start, but more needs to be done to address the issue’s national and food security concerns.

The clock is ticking on several important risk management decisions.

The USDA has lowered its outlook for Brazil’s soybean crop slightly.

In a letter submitted to the House Natural Resources Committee, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) urged members of Congress to support the recently introduced America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act (H.R. 7408).

U.S. pork producers approved a resolution to enhance the country’s live swine traceability system during the 2024 National Pork Industry Forum hosted by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).

In a State of the Union speech Thursday night, amounting to the opening of the 2024 presidential election campaign, which analysts described as forceful and feisty, President Joe Biden addressed several issues of interest to the agriculture and food industries.

Agri-Pulse is pleased to announce Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Ranking Member John Boozman, R-Ark., are all confirmed to appear at the Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit.

The first quarter of 2024 has seen a slight rebound for the pork industry.

The House Committee on Agriculture Thursday laid out a roadmap to relieve labor shortages that have seriously impacted America’s farmers and ranchers. The Agriculture Labor Working Group (ALWG) released its final report on how to improve the H-2A guest worker program.

The record warm winter has been raising questions about early spring fertilizer applications. With soils not frozen, yet fit enough for fieldwork, what are the risks of early fertilizer application?