Author: staff

Kubota Tractor Corp. unveiled the MX4900 at this year’s National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville. The MX4900 becomes a new, lower price point in the company’s MX series lineup while offering an array of features for farmers, ranchers, municipalities, and more.  “The main new feature of this machine is that it’s the lowest horsepower of the MX lineup, but the chassis remains the same so you get all the same features, such as loader capabilities and hydraulic flow,” said Tyler Weyenberg, Kubota product manager. “This will do everything the bigger machines will do except for heavy PTO work like brush cutting.”…

At the close, May corn was down ¾¢ at $4.93½¢ per bushel. May soybeans were 7½¢ lower at $10.41¼¢ per bushel. ” A general lack of fresh news and an unwillingness to establish new positions ahead of month end added to the negative tone of the market.” Karl Setzer, Partner with Consus Ag Consulting said, “A general lack of buying interest weighed on several markets [Wednesday], including the ag sector. The heaviest losses were in soybeans and wheat where funds were sellers. Corn futures showed more strength as funds are not willing to trim their long position any more than they already have.…

On Wednesday, Jamieson Greer was confirmed by the Senate to be the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for President Donald Trump’s second administration. It will be Greer’s second stint in a Trump administration, having served as chief of staff to Trump’s previous Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer. Between then and now, Greer was an international trade attorney at King & Spalding LLP. According to a bio on Greer from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Greer “worked very closely with Ambassador Lighthizer and senior White House officials on developing and implementing trade policy and advised the USTR on all aspects of…

U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) have introduced the Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at increasing transparency in dairy pricing. The legislation would require manufacturers to report dairy processing costs every two years, helping ensure that dairy farmers receive fair compensation for their milk. “New York dairy farmers deserve to be paid a fair price for their milk, and they need a milk pricing system that they can count on,” Gillibrand said. “Requiring manufacturers to report dairy processing costs on a biennial basis will give dairy producers, processors, and cooperatives the data…

Wednesday morning, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a new USDA strategy for tackling avian influenza — saying there was “no silver bullet” to eradicating the disease in poultry or cattle. Rollins was giving an address at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Winter Policy Conference in Washington, D.C.  USDA said it is investing $1 billion into a “five-pronged” bird flu approach.  USDA’s biggest investment will include working on increased biosecurity measures and audits for poultry producers. USDA said it will foot up to $500 million to put towards work on these measures. In addition, USDA will spend…

John Deere has announced its first lineup of electric-powered agriculture tractors.  The first three E-Power tractors are being tested in three sizes, designed for work in vineyards, orchards, and dairies. These tractors are comparable to Deere’s 5 Series tractors, and offer about 130 hp, compared to their diesel-powered equivalents.  Deere is building E-Power tractors from the ground up in the same way automotive companies design crossovers, according to Derek Muller, business manager for battery electric vehicle systems at John Deere. Creating a common platform for electric tractors allows the company to build models with different tire sizes, axle widths or…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it is rolling out a $1 billion initiative to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza, safeguard the poultry industry, and lower egg prices. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins outlined the comprehensive strategy, which supplements ongoing financial support for poultry growers affected by flock depopulations. The five-pronged approach includes $500 million dedicated to strengthening biosecurity, $400 million in financial relief for impacted farmers, and $100 million for vaccine research, regulatory adjustments, and potential temporary import measures. “The Biden administration did little to address the repeated outbreaks and high egg prices that followed. By contrast, the…

Picture a farmer. Planting a seed, nurturing it with care, ensuring it receives the right amount of water, sunlight, and nutrients. Over time, this seed grows into a vibrant plant. Its roots deepen and its branches reach for the sky, ready to bear fruit that will nourish the community for generations. The USDA’s 1890 Scholars Program has acted as that vital soil for students from underserved communities for decades, providing the support and resources needed to cultivate future leaders in agriculture. But, without warning, a storm strikes. A torch to the field, a fire rushes in from the lightning bolt…

By Leah Douglas WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) – The U.S. will invest up to $1 billion to combat the spread of bird flu, as well as increase imports of eggs, agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins said on Wednesday. A three-year bird flu outbreak in U.S. poultry has killed 166 million chickens since 2022, according to USDA data. The virus has also infected nearly 1,000 dairy herds and almost 70 people, including one who died, since early 2024. The USDA will spend up to $500 million to provide free biosecurity audits to farms and $400 million to increase payment rates to farmers…

The start of every growing season brings a familiar challenge for American farmers, finding enough workers to get the job done. It’s no secret that agriculture is one of the toughest industries when it comes to labor shortages. As fewer domestic workers take on farm jobs, many operations have turned to the H-2A visa program, a federal initiative allowing farms to hire seasonal migrant labor. For many in agriculture, this program isn’t just helpful, it’s essential for survival. Critics of the program often ask: Why don’t farmers just hire American workers? It’s a fair question, but as Shay Myers, a…