Author: staff

Dozens of FFA chapters around the United States are getting a new classroom resource for the 2024-25 school year as part of a Microsoft grant. The grant will help FFA members and advisors launch a new version of FarmBeats for Students, a hands-on education program built around precision agriculture that Microsoft developed in collaboration with the National FFA Organization. This summer, FFA advisors will attend a training session hosted by Microsoft in select states where digital agriculture is ripe for growth. This technology will allow students to experience cutting-edge technology and participate in hands-on lessons, fostering a new generation of…

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Agricultural Research Service scientists have documented the absence of Trichinella infection in the commercial pork supply. This parasite once posed a significant food safety risk, but a comprehensive national survey conducted in collaboration with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service found zero infections among 3.2 million pigs raised under the U.S. Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA+) program. These findings align with international food safety guidelines, establishing that Trichinella in U.S. commercial pork is now considered a negligible risk to public health. The U.S. does not perform post-slaughter testing for Trichinella in…

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $400 million in at least 18 irrigation districts to help farmers continue commodity production while conserving water across the West. This funding — which will support irrigation districts and producers in using innovative water-saving technologies and farming practices while producing water-saving commodities in the face of continued drought — is expected to conserve up to 50,000 acre-feet in water use across 250,000 acres of irrigated land in production while expanding and creating new, sustainable market opportunities. The current administration says that the new funding will help work…

The annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration is a national event honoring the role of farmers markets around the country. The 16th edition of the contest, run by American Farmland Trust, took place from June 1 to July 31 and included entries from 1,500 markets nationwide. After more than 97,000 votes, the Top 5 farmers markets have been selected, with the Mount Washington Farmers Market in Kentucky taking the highest honors. “America’s farmers markets serve as anchors of communities from coast to coast, providing access to fresh, healthy food and helping communities develop relationships directly with farmers,” said John Piotti, American…

The U.S. Men’s Gymnastics team kept viewers on the edge of their seats on the way to the team’s historic bronze medal finish in the team finals at the Olympics. Asher Hong (Tomball, Texas), Paul Juda (Deerfield, Illinois), Brody Malone (Aragon, Georgia), Stephen Nedoroscik (Worcester, Massachusetts), and Frederick Richard (Stoughton, Massachusetts) made history by taking home the first U.S. men’s team Olympic medal since 2008. The team jumped out to the lead after two rotations on rings and vault. The U.S. continued to hit set after set to score 257.793 and earn their place on the medal podium. Meanwhile, Japan…

Delaware’s commitment to preserving its agricultural heritage is showcased through a unique and impactful initiative: the Farmland Preservation License Plate. Featuring a colorful farm sunset with “Save Our Farmers & Farmland” emblazoned across it, this special plate is more than just a decorative item, it is a symbol of the state’s dedication to protecting its agricultural lands and supporting local farmers. The Farmland Preservation License Plate can be displayed on a variety of vehicles, including cars, trailers, and trucks with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 26,000 pounds or less. For a one-time purchase price of $50, Delaware residents can…

For the first time since 2016, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service did not publish the July Cattle Inventory report due to budget constraints. This report is crucial for producers and analysts to gauge cattle inventory trends and plan accordingly. Its absence makes it challenging to understand current inventory levels and future market conditions, creating a significant information gap in the industry. However, the American Farm Bureau Federation economists have prepared a market update for the second half of 2024 that includes cattle, hogs, and poultry.  Cattle inventories The January report estimated the total U.S. cattle and calves population at 87.2…

AGDAILY Reporters · August 1, 2024 The Butter Cow, a signature attraction at the Iowa State Fair, which runs from August 8 to 18, involves significant effort each year. Each Butter Cow sculpture uses between 400 and 600 pounds of butter and requires three people working 40-hour weeks to complete. The process begins with forming the general shape and muscle structure over the first three days, followed by detailed work on veins and texture. Sarah Pratt, the lead butter sculptor, describes the project to WHO13 as a cherished family tradition that she shares with her two daughters. “If you’re going…

In 2023, the Kansas Legislature allocated $35 million to preserve the Ogallala Aquifer, marking the largest investment in the state’s water resources to date. This appropriation, supported by agricultural groups like the Kansas Farm Bureau, far exceeds the previous annual funding goal of $8 million, which was often unmet. Kansas hopes to use the funding to address the dwindling groundwater supplies and reduced surface water storage. These issues threaten Kansas’ agricultural sector and many communities facing costly water treatment needs due to deteriorating water quality and increased regulation. Legislators also imposed new reporting requirements on Kansas’ five groundwater management districts,…

Farmland values have stabilized in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming, the five states served by Farm Credit Services of America and Frontier Farm Credit. As a whole, benchmark values ticked up an average of 0.07 percent, according to the latest Benchmark Farm Value Trends Report jointly issued by the two associations. Since January 2024, land values made modest gains in eastern Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. In Iowa, which generally is on the leading edge of market trends, values declined for the first time in five years. Despite the pullback, Iowa’s real estate values are up nearly…