Author: staff

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) have reintroduced the Strengthening Local Processing Act, a bipartisan bill designed to support small meat and poultry processors in improving their operations. The legislation aims to expand access to food safety planning tools, allow more inspector-approved meat products to be sold across state lines, and provide funding for training, education, and technical assistance grants. “South Dakota’s producers work hard to raise high-quality livestock and play a critical role in our nation’s food supply,” Thune said. “It’s important that we invest in expanding local processing capabilities to help them meet consumer demand.…

By Scott Irwin In a recent farmdoc daily article (April 2, 2025), total crop acreage for the U.S. over 1998 through 2025 was estimated as the sum of principal crop, prevented plant, and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) area. We found that total acreage was relatively stable over 1998 through 2014, varying by roughly +/- 5 million acres from an average of 358.1 million acres. Total acreage declined from 356.7 million in 2014 to a low of 337.8 million in 2022, a decline of 18.9 million acres. This is a major contraction in the crop acreage base for the U.S. The CRP has three components—continuous, general, and…

By Joshua Haiar State and federal officeholders celebrated Wednesday in Washington, D.C., after prosecutors dropped criminal charges against a South Dakota ranch couple accused of using public land without permission or payment. Meanwhile, basic questions went unanswered. Will the couple continue to use the land? Will they have to start paying a fee? Or is it their land? State Rep. Liz May, R-Kyle, was not in D.C., but was given a shoutout by the ranch couple for her advocacy on their behalf. May isn’t ready to cheer yet. “We still don’t know if they can even use the land,” May…

By Leah Douglas and P.J. Huffstutter WASHINGTON, April 30 (Reuters) – Farm loan employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency will now need approval from billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to issue loans over $500,000, according to a memo seen by Reuters on Wednesday. DOGE has led President Donald Trump’s effort to slash the federal workforce and cut spending. Several programs for farmers, such as for local food purchasing and climate-smart farming, have been frozen or cut in the administration’s first 100 days. Farmers rely heavily on loans to pay for operational expenses including seeds, fertilizers and pesticides, or to buy land. The USDA typically offers loans to farmers who…

U.S. food and agricultural exports to Mexico have surged 65 percent over the past four years, making it the fastest growing export market for a host of American agricultural commodities and products. Mexico’s growth as a destination for U.S. exports has been spurred by the country’s booming post COVID-19 economy and a rapidly growing manufacturing sector. The economic upswing has allowed Mexican consumers to expand their traditional diet, and U.S. food and agricultural producers are helping meet the country’s growing demand for meat, poultry, dairy, processed foods and feed grains. In 2024, U.S. food and ag exports to Mexico climbed…

By Tom Polansek CHICAGO, April 30 (Reuters) – Bayer BAYGn.DE is exiting the seed treatment equipment business in the United States to help the company’s finances, according to an email sent to customers that was seen by Reuters on Wednesday. The German maker of drugs and farming pesticides has struggled recently with weak earnings, rising legal costs and a lagging share price. A spokesperson confirmed that Bayer was exiting the business, which manufactured equipment involved in the process of treating farm seeds with products like fungicides and insecticides before planting in efforts to protect crop yields. “This is a difficult decision, but necessary to help secure the financial…

Farm Service Agency staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture must now get approval from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, before issuing any farm loans exceeding $500,000, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters. DOGE is at the forefront of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce federal spending and streamline government operations. Within the administration’s first 100 days, several agriculture-related initiatives — including programs supporting local food systems and climate-smart agriculture — have been paused or eliminated. The memo, dated April 29 and signed by Houston Bruck, deputy administrator for FSA’s loan programs, explained…

Markets are heating up for soybean oil. Much like the ethanol boom of the early 2000s, the United States has seen a rapid expansion of soybean-crushing facilities and growing demand for soybean production.  By 2027, the U.S. soybean crush capacity is expected to increase by 23%, according to a report by CoBank. The expansion is largely driven by the growth of the food processing and biofuels industries.  “When you build these processing facilities, you create a local demand for the crop,” said Chad Hart, an economist with Iowa State Extension. “That boosts the local economy and creates an incentive to…

AGDAILY Staff · May 1, 2025 The 2025 Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom literacy project is bringing the story of Dr. John Matsushima to thousands of students through the book Cattle, Corn, and Courage, written by Rachel Gabel and illustrated by Liz Banman Munsterteiger. Matsushima, turned 104 in December, is a Japanese American agricultural pioneer whose innovations, such as steam-flaked corn and feed truck concepts, transformed cattle nutrition. His journey, from facing discrimination during World War II to earning advanced degrees and becoming a leader in animal science, exemplifies resilience and innovation. This year’s literacy project is set to reach…

Mexico has agreed to lift restrictions on U.S. Department of Agriculture aircraft and waive customs duties on eradication equipment used in the fight against the deadly New World Screwworm, following a request from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. The move comes after Rollins sent a letter over the weekend to Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture Julio Antonio Berdegue Sacristan, urging swift action. With this agreement in place, livestock imports from Mexico will continue — though the USDA has warned that port closures could be reconsidered if the terms aren’t upheld. “I am happy to share Mexico has continued to partner…