Author: staff

Gavin Newsom, California’s Democratic governor, declared October 25, 2024, as Larry Itliong Day for all Californians. Who is Larry Itliong? Many of us agriculturalists, unless you directly worked with Itliong or frequented the Central Valley Community, wouldn’t know of him from names glance. It’s unfortunate, but direct blame for that has come from the lack of representation Filipinos have had in our history texts and the problematic occupation of the Philippines by the U.S. (from 1898 to 1946),  essentially shunning Filipinos’ stories from the American fabric. In 2009, the United States declared Filipino American Heritage Month (FAHM), a national month…

After evaluating the bids to have a pickup painted, Blanchard, North Dakota, farmer Jordan Waldner created his own paint booth he could use for multiple projects.  To save precious shop space, Waldner manufactured drop-down walls from the ceiling that could roll up when not in use. The booth measures 14.5 feet high x 16 feet wide x 34 feet long. A local tarp shop built the roof and sidewalls, incorporating zippers on the sidewall corners, and eyelets for ¼-inch support cables at 2-foot intervals, and installed pipe roll tubes. The booth was aligned with an outside roll-up door for easy…

By Cami Koons Iowa corn harvest reached 84% this week, up from 68% last week, and soybean harvest is nearly complete, at 96%, as the state nears the end of one of its driest Octobers.  The crop progress and condition report for Oct. 21 through Oct. 27 showed a continued decline in soil moisture conditions. Topsoil rated 75% short to very short, and subsoil moisture condition rated 80% short to very short. The state climatologist Justin Glisan reported precipitation totals for the week were higher than the past four weeks combined, yet still below the state’s average for this time…

Agriculture Undersecretary Jenny Moffitt announced a $15 million program to expand sales of organic dairy products to schools and youth programs on Monday. “Expanding access to a variety of organic dairy products in schools and community programs promotes healthy consumption habits and strengthens local dairy markets,” said Moffitt during a trip to southeastern Vermont. As part of the new Organic Dairy Product Promotion program, the Agricultural Marketing Service will enter cooperative agreements with four organizations, the University of Tennessee, the University of Wisconsin, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets, and the University of California-Fresno, to develop regional project…

By Ryan Hanrahan Politico’s Grace Yarrow reported Monday that “former President Donald Trump confirmed to Joe Rogan in a podcast episode released Friday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former presidential candidate and current MAHA (“Make America Healthy Again”) crusader, would have a place in his administration to focus on health and food policy.” “‘I’m gonna let him go wild on health. I’m gonna let him go wild on the food. I’m gonna let him go wild on medicines,’ Trump said of Kennedy,” according to one report. The Hill’s Ashleigh Fields reported about two weeks ago that “Robert F. Kennedy…

A farmer’s “citizen’s arrest” of two suspected trespassers in Lancashire, England, has led to his own arrest — and sparked an intense online debate about the limits of self-defense and land protection. Neil Greenwood, 52, from Trawden, detained two men — ages 17 and 20 — who he claimed had trespassed on his land in the United Kingdom by riding an electric bike across it the day prior. According to Lancashire Police, Greenwood’s actions included physically restraining the men, tying their hands and feet, and transporting them on his quad bike to the local police station in Colne. The incident…

According to the USDA Crop Progress report released Monday, 81% of the corn crop across the nation’s top growing states had been harvested as of Oct. 27. The corn harvest progress in the majority of the individual states falls either above or within a few percentage points below that overall percentage.  However, for four of the 18 top corn growing states, just 65% or less of their corn crop was harvested as of the latest USDA report. Here’s a closer look at those four states, along with how many acres of corn need to be harvested in each state for…

What Happened in the Market Soybean harvest is wrapping up and corn harvest is moving at a fever pace with a lack of rain this fall. Producers have had little time to rest and have been able to forge on with harvest. Yields have been coming in good for the most part and as expected. With a pick-up in recent demand, prices have held $4 support in corn and $9.80 in soybeans.  As rain began to fall in South America, soybean traders removed about $1 of the weather premium, taking November soybeans back below $10. But with harvest nearly complete,…

The National FFA Organization has announced the winners of its 2024 top achievement awards: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement, and American Star in Agriscience. Winners were announced on the stage of Lucas Oil Stadium during the sixth General Session of the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis late last week. The American Star Awards represent the best of the best among thousands of American FFA Degree recipients. The award recognizes FFA members who have developed outstanding agricultural skills and competencies by completing a supervised agricultural experience program. A required activity in…

Halloween enthusiasts have been flooding social media with myriad costumes, ranging from witches and cats to minions, Godzilla, and more. But what hadn’t made the list until now was an homage to Karis Dadson, the viral pig showman known for her unwavering focus in the show ring. Over the weekend, an Arizona couple perfectly captured Dadson’s likeness and mannerisms in their costume, complete with an impressively intense stare and an equally compelling pig by their side. Haley Hanson explained that a coworker had come up to her asking about her plans for a Halloween costume, encouraging Hanson to dress as…