Author: staff

The Agriculture Department will launch a testing program next week that looks for the bird flu virus in milk fresh from the farm to get a clearer picture of the prevalence of the H5N1 virus among U.S. dairy herds. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the tests would complement ongoing efforts to identify infected herds and stop the spread of bird flu. “Among many outcomes, this will give farmers and farmworkers better confidence in the safety of their animals and ability to protect themselves, and it puts us on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide,” said…

W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company (better known to most people simply as Case Knives) and the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative Foundation jointly presented a check for over $60,000 to the state’s FFA and 4-H programs, marking a 24-year partnership dedicated to supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders. This initiative, which involves the sale of special edition knives crafted by Case Knives, has generated over $750,000 since its inception. Proceeds from the program are equally divided between Tennessee 4-H and FFA, providing vital funding for programs that nurture leadership, personal growth, and agricultural education. Image by Case Knives Tennessee FFA…

Farm equipment sales are slowing alongside the downturn in farm income, creating a headwind to overall U.S. investment activity, said the Beige Book, a summary of economic conditions in Federal Reserve Bank districts. In discussing agriculture, the St. Louis Fed said some businesses were building inventory in anticipation of potential tariffs on imported goods. Lower commodity prices and high production costs were pulling down net farm income, a measure of profitability, for the second year in a row. Farm-state lawmakers pushed for congressional approval of billions of dollars in payments to farmers in economic relief. “Conditions in the farm economy remained…

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility at the Texas border seized 34,286 pounds of sweetened condensed milk in what they are calling a fraudulent entry attempt. “CBP is committed to the health and safety of the American agriculture resources, which is why our agriculture specialists scrutinize all documents for consumable goods entering the United States,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. CBP seized the milk after agriculture specialists uncovered what they said appears to be a fraudulent import attempt using a Zoosanitary Certificate that was determined not to be…

By Cami Koons The highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in a commercial turkey flock in Palo Alto County just days after the bird flu was detected in an egg-laying flock in Sioux County.  The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced the fifth detection of the H5N1 influenza virus this year on Sunday, and Gov. Kim Reynolds extended a disaster proclamation issued for Sioux County on Friday, to include Palo Alto County. IDALS announced Monday another case of HPAI was detected in Sioux County, also in a commercial egg-laying flock. Poultry producers are encouraged to exercise heightened biosecurity…

DAILY Bites The 2025 Dietary Guidelines recommend reducing red meat and promoting plant-based proteins for health and equity. Meat-related ag groups oppose this, highlighting beef’s nutritional benefits, especially for vulnerable groups. Public comments are open, with a January 2025 meeting before finalizing guidelines. DAILY Discussion The federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has recommended a reduction in red and processed meat consumption as part of its 2025 Scientific Report, a move that has sparked debate among nutrition experts and food producers. These guidelines, updated every five years, serve as a foundation for federal nutrition programs and policies, including school lunches and…

1. Soybean, Grain Futures Mixed in Overnight Trading Soybean futures were modestly higher overnight while grains fell as investors square positions ahead of what’s expected to be an uneventful supply and demand report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Only minor changes to USDA’s November projections are expected when the agency releases its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, scheduled for noon in Washington.  Soybean inventories at the end of the 2024/2025 marketing year on Aug. 31 likely will be forecast at 469 million bushels, according to a Reuters poll.  In November, USDA projected soybean ending stocks…

March corn is choppy this morning, bouncing between unchanged, up less than a penny, and down less than a penny. January soybeans are up 5¢. Near the open of the trading session, March KC and Minneapolis wheat were trading similar to corn. Now all three March contracts are in the green but up less than 2¢. CBOT wheat is up 1¾¢. KC wheat up 1½¢. Minneapolis wheat is up 1¼¢. Today at 11 a.m. CT, the December World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report is expected from USDA. Naomi Blohm, senior market advisor at Total Farm Marketing, said the…

Cassidy Walter joined Successful Farming in 2022 to cover commodity markets and agribusiness. Previously, she spent more than five years as the Communications Director for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, where her work supported Iowa biofuels producers and farmers.

Emotion was high as farmers gathered in Chicago over the weekend for the 110th Annual Meeting of the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB). President Brian Duncan and Vice President Evan Hultine expressed frustration with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) over the ongoing membership dispute. In September, Country Financial announced IFB membership will no longer be required of its non-farm customers. Country Financial is an affiliate company of IFB and the same people, including Duncan and Hultine, serve on the respective boards.  As a result of the membership decision, AFBF has said IFB’s membership to the national organization will be terminated.…