Author: staff

by Cami Koons Poultry producers who have previously had flocks infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza would have to pass a biosecurity audit to be eligible for future indemnity payments under a new rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service amended the conditions to ensure commercial poultry producers are making necessary biosecurity changes to minimize reinfection.  According to the rule, the current outbreak, starting in 2022, has cost $1.25 billion in indemnity and compensation payments to producers. A total of $227 million of those payments have gone to facilities that have had multiple…

On Jan. 24, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a verdict that AGCO did not infringe on John Deere U.S. patents 8,813,663 and 9,699,955, both for high-speed planting systems.  Deere alleged that Precision Planting’s SpeedTube and vSet2 products were similar to their ExactEmerge technology and therefore in violation of patent infringement. Precision Planting is a subsidiary of AGCO and part of PTx, AGCO’s precision technology company. However, the district court jury upheld an earlier ruling stating that no infringement was present.  “This means farmers will have an option when it comes to high speed planters,” said…

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N9 has been identified in U.S. poultry for the first time, following an outbreak at a commercial duck farm in Merced County, California, in November 2024. The World Organization for Animal Health confirmed the detection, stating, “Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N9, Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong clade 2.3.4.4b and HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b were confirmed in a commercial duck premises in Merced County, CA. This is the first confirmed case of HPAI H5N9 in poultry in the United States.” Tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the presence of both H5N9…

Insect droppings, commonly known as insect frass, may seem useless and downright disgusting, but scientists found that this waste can improve soil health when added as a fertilizer in farming. Insect frass is a mixture of excreta, feed, and molted skins. These droppings are a by-product of farming insects like yellow mealworms, banded crickets, and black soldier flies. Farmers raise and breed insects, also known as “mini-livestock,” to be an alternative protein source for animals and be a more sustainable practice in agriculture.  Insect frass may also be used as fertilizer. Previous studies by this team led by the United…

According to data compiled by the Successful Farming team, more than 4,800 acres of Iowa farmland are set to be auctioned in Feb. 2025. Listings range from single tracts of less than 40 acres to a multi-parcel auction that includes 1,350 acres. Here’s a closer look at the farmland expected to change hands across 18 Iowa counties. Hardin County Eight Hardin County tracts totaling 1,350 acres will be sold at public auction on Feb. 19, 2025. Online bidding will be available. All the tracts will be sold via buyers choice method. This means the winning bidder will have the option…

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., perhaps the most contentious Cabinet-level nomination for the second Trump administration, was the center of combative and tense testimony today before the Senate Finance Committee in his bid to become the next Secretary of Health and Human Services. It took mere minutes into the hearing for Kennedy to feel the heat from aggressive and pointed criticism about his track record and to be told that “he should not be entrusted with the health and well-being of the American people.” RFK Jr. has long stood against mainstream nutrition research and been combative against vaccine science, and he…

Corn ethanol has been the standard for biofuels in the United States for nearly 20 years since the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was introduced in 2005.  Carbon pipelines have been positioned as the next step the ethanol industry needs to sequester carbon, receive tax credits, and be poised for growth, including in new areas such as sustainable aviation fuel. In our series on carbon pipelines, we have covered how companies are working to establish pipelines across the Midwest. We also looked at how farmers can navigate eminent domain use when pipeline construction comes closer to reality.  For this story, we…

By Nick Paulson, Gary Schnitkey, and Ryan Batts On December 21, 2024, the U.S. Congress passed, and President Biden signed into law, the American Relief Act of 2025. That Act extended the 2018 Farm Bill into 2025, resulting in another year of farmers facing the decision between Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) for commodity program support. Farmers have until April 15 to make or change decisions, a month longer than in recent years. The farmdoc 2025 Farm Bill What-if Tool — a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet — has been revised to analyze the 2025 decisions. Overall, ARC at the county level…

Farmers are the backbone of our food system, yet public perception of agriculture is often shaped by powerful voices in pop culture. Celebrities can play a significant role in amplifying support for farmers or, conversely, perpetuating harmful narratives. Here’s a look at some of the most prominent pro-farmer celebrities shaping the conversation around agriculture today. Pro-Farmer Celebrities: Advocates for Agriculture 1. Luke Bryan Image by Luke Bryan The country music star has deep agricultural roots, growing up on a peanut farm in Georgia. Bryan actively supports farmers through initiatives like his annual “Farm Tour,” which brings music to rural America…

A packed house filled the auction arena for the 2025 Auction of Junior Livestock Champions, hosted by BOK Financial. The event showcased the bright future of the livestock industry, with this year’s Grand and Reserve Champions stealing the spotlight. The energy in the room was electric as bidding for the 2025 Grand Champion Steer reached a record-breaking $210,000, surpassing the previous $200,000 record set in 2023. Five of the top eight animals shattered records, including the Reserve Grand Champion Steer, which sold for $125,000, topping its previous high of $100,000. Madilyn Norvell from Oklahoma exhibited the Grand Champion Steer, Thunder,…