Author: staff
Kansas is currently experiencing the most severe outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the United States, with nearly 414,000 birds affected, according to recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The majority of losses stem from a single commercial poultry operation in Pottawatomie County, where approximately 380,000 birds were impacted. However, cases have been confirmed in other regions, bringing USDA reports to four infected commercial flocks and six backyard flocks across the state. HPAI is a broad classification of avian influenza viruses that includes highly contagious strains such as H5 and H7. The disease is considered nearly 100…
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing to extend federal support for broadband infrastructure aimed at improving internet access in rural America. U.S. Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., introduced the Middle Mile for Rural America Act, legislation that would reauthorize a U.S. Department of Agriculture program supporting middle-mile broadband projects for another five years. The bill proposes a reauthorization covering fiscal years 2026 through 2031, extending authority under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to fund middle-mile broadband infrastructure that connects rural communities to high-speed internet networks. “If we’re going to ensure reliable, high-speed broadband service to…
President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act into law, restoring whole and reduced-fat milk options to school lunch programs nationwide for the first time in more than a decade. The bipartisan legislation gives schools greater flexibility to offer a wider range of fluid milk choices, including whole, 2%, 1%, skim, flavored, unflavored, and lactose-free milk. Supporters of the bill say the change will improve student nutrition while better aligning school meals with what families consume at home. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ar.) called the signing “a milestone for the health and well-being…
Winners of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitive events were announced at the American Farm Bureau’s 107th Convention. Young farmers and ranchers from across the country competed for the awards by demonstrating knowledge, achievement and commitment to promoting agriculture. First-place award winners in each of the three competitive events receive $35,000 in credit toward a new Ford vehicle, as well as paid registration to the AFBF YF&R Conference, which will be held March 13 to 16 in Portland, Oregon. Both prizes are provided by Ford Motor Company. Runners-up who finish in second…
Ranchers say the real conflict is with the rules and whether agencies can keep up. Editor’s Note: This is the third in a three-part series exploring the impact that wolf reintroduction in the U.S. has had on livestock operations. Caution: This article includes graphic images of livestock carcasses. Wolves are no longer a hypothetical part of the Western United States. For ranchers that are operating in recovery, reintroduction, and even zones where wolves are crossing state lines, they’re a daily management reality. As apex predators, wolves bring a new layer of risk to operations that are often already stretched thin by drought,…
A Louisiana-based ag-tech startup focused on artificial intelligence took top honors this year at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Ag Innovation Challenge, earning $100,000 to expand its platform designed to help farmers manage operations more efficiently. FarmMind was named the winner of the 12th annual Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge during the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention. The competition, hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation in partnership with Farm Credit, highlights Farm Bureau member-led startups developing new tools and technologies for agriculture. FarmMind brings multiple agricultural workflows into a single platform, including field notes, GIS management, regulatory compliance, financial…
“This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.” Nearly 20 years ago, a Brazilian lobbying group for soy trading and processing companies signed onto a historic conservation deal known as the Amazon soy moratorium. The voluntary agreement prohibits members from buying soybeans grown on lands deforested after July 2008. Proponents of the deal say that it has been highly effective at protecting forest land without impeding soy production over the last two decades. Under the moratorium, growing soy on other lands — like those cleared before 2008, or pasture or savannah lands — is…
A marquee Western performance property in Weatherford, Texas, has officially changed hands. Icon Global says it has “marketed, sold and closed” the former Teton Ridge TR9 Ranch and Western equestrian sports training complex, a 618-acre professional horseman’s training and breeding facility for $45 million. The property was originally listed in Icon Global’s promotional materials for $33 million. Icon Global owner Bernard Uechtritz framed the transaction as a standout sale in a short window. “Icon is pleased to have represented Teton Ridge TR9 stakeholders in this unique, fast-paced, record-setting asset sale,” he said in a statement. The buyers are Jason and…
Nutrien Ltd. has announced the winners of the second Hometown Yield Challenge. This program was available to farmers in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. The community organizations of choice for the top two yielding farming operations have each received $20,000. The community organizations chosen by the three runners-up have also received $5,000. The winners spent the growing season competing for the prize money on behalf of their chosen organizations. As part of the Hometown Yield Challenge, farmers were required to: Map field boundaries in Nutrien’s Echelon platform Grow at least 80 acres of a Proven Seed hybrid of their choice Apply…
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, estimating that the United States will see an enormous 17-billion-bushel corn crop during the 2025-26 marketing year, raising alarms among the nation’s corn growers and triggering an immediate market reaction. If the projections prove accurate, this year’s crop will be the largest on record by far, beating the previous record achieved just two years ago. The surplus supply promises to keep corn prices low as farmers struggle to pay high input costs. “We need long-term market solutions, and we need them quickly, or…