Author: staff

U.S. farmers’ outlook improved in May as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index rose to 108, marking a 9-point increase from April, the lowest reading since June 2022. Both of the barometer’s subindices increased, with the Index of Future Expectations climbing 11 points to 117 and the Current Conditions Index rising 6 points. This month’s Ag Economy Barometer survey was conducted from May 13 to 17, 2024. The boost in the Index of Future Expectations reflects farmers’ expectation that conditions will improve, although it’s clear that 2024’s financial challenges are still a concern. A rise in crop prices from the April…

The free-roaming equine herd around Arizona’s Salt River has weighed on conversations about how much impact the land can sustain. Picture yourself drifting along the Salt River northeast of Mesa, Arizona — the towering flat-sided mountains seemingly from another world and the soothing sound of the water offering a much-needed respite from the chaos of everyday life. Rounding the final bend, you see the awe-inspiring sight of the free-roaming horses, with all their untamed beauty. Few things seem more magnificent than witnessing these horses in this kind of habitat. Yet despite feeling natural in this setting, there are questions about…

The Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) organization is offering several scholarships aimed at supporting the academic and professional development of its members, particularly those from underrepresented groups. MANRRS39 Gold Scholarship MANRRS39 Gold Scholarship, sponsored by American Farmland Trust, AGCO, Dairy Farmers of America, TEGMA, and Zinpro. This scholarship is available to 40 MANRRS students, providing them with a $500 award and financial support to attend the 39th Annual National Conference and Career Expo, which will take place from April 2 to 6, 2024, in Memphis, Tennessee. The scholarship covers a shared hotel room for three nights,…

It’s rare to hear anybody say they aren’t busy. No matter what season of the year, your occupation, number of kids, or whatever else may come into play, everybody is busy. We’re all running here, there, and everywhere. Americans are superb at the hustle. I’m married to Matt, the energizer bunny. On top of that, he’s living his dream, so he is excited to wake up everyday and get going. That’s not to say he enjoys everything he does, or doesn’t get tired. But for the large majority of the time, the man is in hog heaven. I, on the…

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and the state’s Department of Agriculture announced new initiatives aimed at protecting the state’s agriculture industry and consumers from lab-grown meat, highlighting the growing resistance to this emerging food technology. Speaking to a group of producers at Oak Barn Beef in West Point, the governor signed an executive order imposing strict guidelines on state agencies and contractors regarding the procurement of lab-grown meat. “Nebraska farmers and ranchers are dedicated to producing the highest quality food products,” Pillen said. “We feed the world and protect the planet more effectively than anyone else, and I am committed to…

Top Third Ag Marketing helps farmers become better agricultural marketers with the goal of marketing crops and livestock in the top third of prices. Mark Gold and his team provide AGDAILY.com with the latest information and a look ahead in their audio commentary. Listen here! https://www.agdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Top-Third-AgDaily-2024-09-03.mp3 The post Markets in Minutes: Top Third looks ahead for week of Sept. 3, 2024 appeared first on AGDAILY.

The Beutler and Son Rodeo Co., renowned for providing rodeo livestock for over 90 years, suffered the devastating loss of nearly 70 bucking horses within the past two weeks. The cause of this incident has been linked to contaminated feed delivered before Aug. 23, and the company responsible, Livestock Nutrition Center, has now acknowledged that the feed it delivered contained monensin, an antibiotic highly toxic to horses. Livestock Nutrition Center, the feed supplier, acknowledged that the batch delivered to Beutler and Son contained monensin, an antibiotic highly toxic to horses. Monensin is commonly used in feed for other livestock but…

Despite a recent study that blamed dozens of cocoa-based products for containing heavy metals, new research point to dark chocolate as being among a list of foods that may help lower the risks of diabetes and obesity. The research, published in the Food Bioscience journal, finds that a naturally occurring, bitter chemical in many plant-based products, known as polyphenols, could lead to significant health benefits. Polyphenols are compounds that are most concentrated in dark chocolate compared to milk chocolate and are also found in various other plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Polyphenols interact with bitter taste receptors…

The August Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped 13 points from July, landing at 100 — a level similar to the early stages of the U.S. farm economy downturn from fall 2015 to winter 2016. The Index of Current Conditions fell 17 points to 83, while the Index of Future Expectations decreased by 11 points to 108. This decline reflects growing concerns over weakening farm income prospects, as expectations for a strong fall harvest were overshadowed by falling crop prices. The drop in these indices indicates that farmers are increasingly worried about a prolonged period of weak farm incomes,…

For years, Chipotle has been a thorn in the side of the agricultural community. As an agricultural journalist and someone deeply connected to the farming world, I’ve watched with a critical eye as the fast-food chain has navigated its way through public relations, often at the expense of farmers. From their harsh anti-GMO stance (except in high-profit products like sodas and cheese) to their infamous Scarecrow and Farmed and Dangerous campaigns, Chipotle’s marketing strategy has historically been nothing short of disrespectful toward agriculture. Their messaging painted conventional farming in a negative light, alienating a community that works tirelessly to feed…