Author: staff

1. Wheat Futures Drop in Overnight Trading Wheat futures plunged in overnight trading as French farmers are planting at a historically rapid pace. About 90% of the French wheat crop was planted as of Nov. 18, topping the five-year average of 87%, data from FranceAgriMer show, according to a report from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).  Planting was delayed due to excessive rain in September and early October, but unusually dry weather since has allowed producers to accelerate sowing, AHDB said.  “The winter wheat planting campaign has now surpassed the five-year average for the first time,” the board…

By Jennifer Bamberg President-elect Donald Trump has promised to begin his second term with the largest mass deportation in history, making the jobs held by undocumented workers available to U.S. citizens. Undocumented immigrants make up only 5% of the total labor force, according to the most recent federal data from the U.S. Census Bureau and analysis from the Pew Research Center. However, the share of undocumented workers across the nation’s food supply chain is at least 16%. A significant portion of food- and agriculture-related jobs are filled by immigrants, which include naturalized citizens, green-card holders, permanent residents, people on long-term temporary work…

Public health officials in California’s Silicon Valley said tests found the bird flu virus in a container of raw milk purchased at a local store and warned consumers on Sunday not to consume the milk. The supplier, Raw Farm, of Fresno County, issued a recall of the batch of milk that was involved. No illnesses were reported. “Drinking or accidentally inhaling raw milk containing bird flu virus may lead to illness,” said the California Department of Public Health. “In addition, touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands after touching raw milk with bird flu virus may also lead…

Americans are consuming ever-larger amounts of imported fruits, vegetables, wine, alcohol, coffee, and beef, an appetite that will drive the food and ag trade deficit to a record $45.5 billion this fiscal year, estimated the Agriculture Department on Tuesday. Imports would be a sizzling $9.3 billion larger than in just-ended fiscal 2024, while food and ag exports decline for the third year in a row due to lower commodity prices. Mexico and Canada, the largest U.S. food trade partners, would account for $4 of every $10 in American ag exports and imports totaling $385.5 billion, said the USDA in a…

According to Mexican news sources, John Deere has announced plans to invest $55 million in a new manufacturing plant in Nuevo León, Mexico, despite threats from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to impose significant tariffs on companies moving production to Mexico. The facility, which will focus on producing construction machinery, is expected to begin operations in 2026. According to El Economista, Gecimar Morini, John Deere’s manager for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, confirmed the plans, emphasizing the company’s long-term commitment to the region. “The company seeks to continue to invest in the country and is committed to sustainability, urban development…

Teachers who have classrooms that are enrolled in the Discover Dairy or Adopt a Cow program are eligible to apply for one of 80 grants available to fund a field trip to a local dairy farm. Grants will be up to $500 based on the type of field trip planned. Funds from the grant can assist in covering the cost of busing, the farm tour itself, lunch, or a dairy treat. There are up to 40 grants designated specifically for Pennsylvania classrooms. Farm tour field trip grant applications must be submitted online by January 15, 2025. “There’s no better way…

No more than nine years after his creation of the famous Model T car, Henry Ford responded to the vehicle needs of farmers, tradespeople, and transporters with a small vehicle capable of carrying a 1 ton payload. In true farm boy fashion, Ford created the Model TT truck, a vehicle retaining the Model T cab and engine (to save cost) but riding to work on a heavier-duty frame capable of carrying a 1 ton payload. Introduced the same year as Ford’s first tractor, the Fordson, the Model TT followed the lead set by the tractor as being affordable to a…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the tech sector’s newest innovations and will likely impact every industry. Beyond just a buzzword, this technology may be on your farm soon. Artificial intelligence is loosely defined and can mean anything from machine learning to large language model (LLM) generative AI. Machine learning is already used in agriculture, such as on John Deere’s See and Spray system, using cameras to identify weeds to spray and obstacles to avoid.  Chances are, you have already heard of generative AI, and can already use it on multiple different web platforms and devices — Microsoft’s Copilot, Google’s…

AFBF and other industry coalition members achieved a crucial win yesterday that will help farmers across the country. In a case before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, several agricultural and business organizations challenged amendments to federal regulations intended to strengthen protections for migrant agricultural workers under the H-2A visa program. The amendments, implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor, prohibit employers from discriminating against workers engaged in organizing activities or refusing mandatory meetings and grant workers the right to have representation during certain investigatory interviews. The plaintiffs argued that the DOL exceeded its authority by…

Coming off an extremely fast-paced corn harvest that produced average to slightly above-average yields, Wisconsin now seems primed for a great winter wheat crop. Here’s what the USDA had to say for the last week of Crop Progress reporting, along with some final thoughts from a Wisconsin agronomist. ‘Tremendous Harvest Season’ The Badger State is reaching the end of corn harvest earlier than usual. Corn for grain was 97% harvested the week ending Nov. 24, the USDA said in its Wisconsin Crop Progress and Condition report. That’s significantly ahead of 83% last year and the five-year average of 82% but…