Author: staff

The United States has confirmed its first human case of the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite that has alarmed public health and livestock officials as it advances northward through Central America and Mexico. The case, confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maryland Department of Health on August 4, involved a Maryland resident who had recently traveled to El Salvador. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, Andrew Nixon, told NPR that “this is the first human case of travel-associated New World screwworm myiasis (parasitic infestation of fly larvae) from an outbreak-affected country…

This past school year, the Dairy Excellence Foundation and Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow program partnered with the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary team to host multiple “Exploration Experiences” for high school students. The goal of these day-long events was to give high school students a firsthand look at careers in veterinary medicine by helping them meet veterinarians, assigning them hands-on labs, exposing them to technology, and allowing them to tour progressive dairy operations and veterinary clinics. These Exploration Experiences are hosted on an annual basis through Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow, a program designed specifically to prepare high school students to work…

On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued decisions involving 175 petitions for small refinery exemptions (SREs) from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2016-2024.  EPA granted full exemptions to 63 petitions and partial exemptions to 77 petitions. The rest were denied or deemed ineligible. Farm and biofuel groups were quick to react to this step by the agency. Most were pleased by the move and all called for further action. Here’s a closer look. American Farm Bureau Federation The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is the nation’s largest farmer-run organization and serves farmers in all 50 states. On Friday,…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is rolling out an initiative it says will help strengthen national swine disease traceability by providing no-cost radio frequency identification eartags for sow and exhibition swine producers. Beginning in fall 2025, eligible producers and State animal health officials will be able to order the tags through Merck Animal Health’s website at a link that has not been launched yet.  In July 2025, APHIS awarded Merck Animal Health a contract to supply up to $20 million worth of RFID tags over the next five years. The program is modeled after…

By Carl Zulauf Since 1980, South America’s increasing excess of its production over its consumption of grains and oilseeds has almost completely offset China’s growing excess of its consumption over its production of grains and oilseeds when expressed as a share of consumption. In short, the combined South America — China grain-oilseed demand-supply balance has changed little since 1980. Data and Procedures This study compares production and domestic consumption of grains and oilseeds by South America and China since 1980 as reported in the Production, Supply, and Distribution Online (PSD) database (USDA, Foreign Agriculture Service). Domestic consumption is the quantity consumed by a country…

BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Reuters) – U.S. protectionism is undermining agricultural cooperation with China, Beijing’s ambassador to Washington said, warning that farmers should not bear the price of the trade war between the world’s two largest economies. “It goes without saying that protectionism is rampant, casting a shadow over China-U.S. agricultural cooperation,” said Xie Feng, according to the transcript of a speech published by the Chinese embassy on Saturday. Agriculture has emerged as a major point of contention between China and the U.S. as the superpowers are locked in a tariff war launched by President Donald Trump. China in March slapped levies of up to 15% on…

By Bradley Zwilling Based on Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association (FBFM) records, average farm operator returns for labor and management on 2,009 Illinois farms were lower for all geographic areas in the state in 2024 compared to 2023 and below the average for the last five years. Even with higher yields and lower costs, lower grain prices were the main reasons for the lower incomes. Livestock farmers experienced higher returns due to lower feed prices and higher prices for livestock and livestock products. Farm earnings were highest in the central and western areas of the state. Earnings were lowest in the northeastern…

When a 110-acre farm just outside Dublin, Ohio, went up for auction July 17, the broker handling the sale expected strong interest but nothing like the results he got. “I figured the land might go for around $20,000 an acre, maybe a little more,” said Brandon Wilson, vice president of Wilson National Real Estate and Auction Group, a family-run business based in Hillsboro, Ohio, that’s been in operation since 1958. The auction far exceeded his expectations — selling for a staggering $36,988 per acre average, bringing in a total of $4,068,710. “I was shocked,” Wilson admitted. “There was strong bidding…

USDA published the latest Crop Progress report on Monday, Aug. 18. Here’s a closer look at recent weather and the status of South Dakota’s most important crops in mid-August. Weather South Dakota has gotten much more moisture than normal lately, according to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet, but the central part of the state is still in moderate to severe drought.  Map of South Dakota showing recent precipitation departure. Iowa Environmental Mesonet In Monday’s Crop Progress report, USDA said farmers had 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork the week that ended Aug. 17, compared to 5.3 days this time last year. Central…

1. Wheat Futures Down Narrowly Overnight Wheat futures were modestly lower in overnight trading after a government report indicated signs of weak demand for U.S. supplies.  Sales of U.S. wheat to overseas buyers dropped 28% to 519,800 metric tons, the Department of Agriculture said in a report. That’s also down 25% from the prior four-week average.  Mexico bought 119,500 tons, South Korea was in for 90,500 tons, an unnamed buyer took 80,400 tons, Thailand purchased 66,000 tons and South Africa bought 51,600 tons. Exports for the week, however, rose 6% to 360,600 tons.  Still, losses were mitigated as USDA data…