Author: staff

After a colder-than-expected January, milder weather is expected for much of the country as February continues, weather experts say.  This comes after the annual tradition of Groundhog Day on Sunday, Feb. 2 when Puxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, predicting an additional six weeks of winter for the 2024-2025 winter season.  Paul Pastelok, the lead long-range forecaster at AccuWeather, said that a long winter isn’t expected for some regions of the United States. In fact, he said “the transition to springlike weather and warmer air is happening earlier than the historical average from the southern Plains to the Gulf Coast.” While…

4-H members looking for a creative way to express themselves can now do so through pottery painting, thanks to the new 4-H Collection available at My Pottery Place studios starting in March 2025. This collection features a variety of pottery pieces designed to celebrate the values and traditions of 4-H, offering participants an engaging way to showcase their artistic talents while supporting the organization. Bisque has curated a 4-H Collection of pottery pieces that will be sold in Paint Your Own Pottery Studios across the country. The 4-H Collection includes pieces such as mugs, plates, and decorative items adorned with 4-H…

Minimal snowfall this winter has nearly 60% of South Dakota in a D1 moderate drought, while the remainder of the state’s drought conditions are D2 severe or greater, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor data. U.S. Drought Monitor Faulkton, South Dakota Although drought conditions continue to impact the state, Troy Hadrick, a fifth generation cow/calf producer in Faulkton, South Dakota, said he doesn’t complain much about drought in the winter months. A dry winter helps stretch feed supplies on his operation, Hadrick said. When it comes to feed supplies, Hadrick said he had two good cuttings of hay last…

On Thursday, U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that they say would strengthen the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives to help more American dairy farmers and processors add value to their businesses. This includes creating new products, expanding markets, and modernizing production facilities. To date, the Baldwin-backed program has supported over 250 dairy farmers and processors in the Midwest, including 109 in Wisconsin. “My Dairy Business Innovation Initiative has helped Wisconsin dairy farmers, producers, and cheesemakers grow their operations, tap into new markets, and innovate new products,” said…

For students who are looking to pursue a highly specialized course of study — or those who simply don’t want to pursue a long-term degree path — agriculture graduate certificates are a important option to consider. Many universities offer online graduate certificate programs in agriculture, which may be the perfect fit for someone eager to enter into the ag industry or build upon their current knowledge base. A graduate certificate can be awarded in as little as two semesters and is more affordable than a traditional degree. Certificates often teach highly specific skills or hone topics within larger fields —…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services is once again hosting the “I Protect Pigs” photo contest, inviting pig owners and farm enthusiasts to showcase their commitment to biosecurity practices. The contest aims to promote the importance of safeguarding against African swine fever, a devastating disease for pigs, by highlighting the proactive measures that can prevent its spread. ASF is a highly contagious disease that threatens the health and wellbeing of pigs, and prevention is the only cure. By participating in this photo contest, individuals can demonstrate their best biosecurity practices and encourage others to adopt…

This month, photography and pigs are a winning combination when it comes to preventing African swine fever (ASF). USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) is holding an “I Protect Pigs” photo contest to promote the importance of good biosecurity behaviors with the ultimate goal of continued prevention of ASF in the U.S. According to the APHIS website, although ASF has never been detected here in the U.S., international travel and trade, not to mention the disease’s easy transmission, means there is still a risk for the nation’s herds. For that reason, pig farmers should be actively practicing and…

Building upon a deep archive of enterprise reporting, engaging lifestyle pieces, and strategic social media content, AGDAILY is launching a one-of-a-kind farm and rural lifestyle video platform called AGDAILYTV. The new platform, which will be accessible both through a web portal and via a Roku app, is positioned as the premier hub for online video content. It includes interviews and profiles of Midwestern growers; expert reviews of machinery, gear, and clothing; dynamic series that pull back the curtain on what farming is really like; and regular snapshots of the hottest things happening today in agriculture. Among the shows featured are…

Nearly six years of herd liquidation paired with strong demand for high quality beef meant record high prices across the cattle industry in 2024. While elevated prices are likely to last several more years, signals are pointing to a shift in the market, according to CattleFax, an outlook firm that specializes in meat markets. They presented their latest industry outlook at CattleCon in Texas this week. Despite an anticipated tightening of beef supply in 2026 and 2027, price increases may hit their peak this year. “The futures market’s job is to anticipate and price things well ahead of time,” said…

Eggs have made a surprising — and somewhat humorous — entry as the unlikely star of the nearest holiday: Valentine’s Day. With the skyrocketing cost of eggs in recent months, social media users have embraced a blend of humor and satire, turning eggs into the latest “luxury” gift to give your loved one. Whether it’s the expensive price tag or the absurdity of the gesture, eggs have captured the internet’s attention in a way few other commodities have. Posts such as “He went to Krogers,” and “Hear me out … A bouquet of eggs for Valentine’s … Eggs in a…