Author: staff

A Chadron, Nebraska, rancher is facing a staggering list of felony charges after authorities discovered 56 dead cows and a deceased puppy on his property. The investigation, led by the Dawes County Sheriff’s Office, has drawn attention in rural Nebraska and beyond.  According to multiple news sources, including News Channel Nebraska, Dillon McGannon, 29, was first arrested on May 28 after being accused of shooting a woman’s red heeler puppy and sending her a photo of the animal along with threatening messages. He was charged with intentionally and knowingly torturing an animal resulting in death, disturbing the peace, and intimidation…

This week in Washington, D.C., Senate Republicans have been working round the clock to produce their “one big, beautiful” bill and deliver a final product to President Donald Trump before Independence Day. But they’ve run into a handful of objections from the Senate parliamentarian and the workaround could have a big impact on rural hospitals.  Meanwhile, Trump pulled the plug on trade negotiations with Canada and his team pledged to unveil new trade deals with several other countries next week. As the U.S. Supreme Court wraps up its terms for the year, justices delivered a key decision to support rural…

It goes without saying that farmers care about what happens in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Brooke Rollins had no problem getting the votes necessary to confirm her nomination as USDA secretary back in February. Since then, she’s worked to change the agency and align it with President Donald Trump’s vision. So what is she doing, and is it serving our family farms? Let’s discuss. Who is Brooke Rollins? “Wait, who?” was the general question raised when Rollins’ name was announced for the top spot at the USDA. Rollins was virtually unknown nationally before her nomination, though she does have…

Demanding higher wages and improved benefits, an overwhelming majority of unionized workers at Tyson Foods of Amarillo, Texas — the largest beef processing plant in the United States — have voted to go on strike.  Teamsters Local 577 has filed a number of unfair labor practice charges against Tyson, alleging violations of labor law. In the past month alone, the union says management has harassed union stewards, coerced injured employees into dropping claims, illegally interrogated union members, and falsely told workers at the facility that if they engaged in an unfair labor practice strike, they would lose their jobs. The…

This week’s U.S. Drought Monitor shows a sharply divided drought picture, with rainfall improving conditions across parts of the Midwest, while the Northwest continues to deteriorate under rapid drying. Side-by-side maps of the U.S. showing drought conditions for June 17 and June 24, 2025. Midwest Heavy rains brought improvement to drought or dryness conditions in areas of Iowa, northern Missouri, southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and northeast Minnesota. Rainfall totals locally exceeded 5 inches from northwest Missouri to southern Wisconsin. In Kansas City, Missouri, and Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, areas, abnormal dryness grew in coverage as soil moisture and streamflow dropped amid growing…

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt in Oklahoma City on Thursday to officially launch the Make Oklahoma Healthy Again campaign. The initiative is a state-level extension of the national Make America Healthy Again movement, championed by Kennedy and President Donald Trump. “For far too long, we have settled for food that has made us sicker as a nation,” said Stitt. “In Oklahoma, we’re choosing common sense, medical freedom, and personal responsibility. President Trump and Secretary Kennedy have led the charge nationally, I’m grateful for their support as we Make Oklahoma Healthy…

Just after 9:00 a.m. CT, September corn was up 5¢ at $4.09 per bushel. November soybeans were up 4¢ at $10.20½ per bushel. Karl Setzer, partner with Consus Ag Consulting said, “Pre-weekend short covering is giving the market some much needed support as we start the last session of the week. Long liquidation has impacted trade all week as weak positions were exited prior to next Monday.” Monday will have a new USDA acres and stocks report. Setzer said the June report can be volatile. The wheat markets were higher Friday morning. September CBOT wheat was up 3¾¢ at $5.40½…

1. Grain, Soybean Futures Higher in Overnight Trading Grain and soybean futures were higher in overnight trading on concerns about dry weather in the Canadian Prairies and hot weather in the U.S. Midwest.  Southern Canada is expected to turn warmer and drier, increasing stress on crops in early July, Commodity Weather Group said in a note to clients.  Dry weather in the U.S. northern Plains and Canadian Prairies may possibly curb yields, the forecaster said.  In Europe, meanwhile, hot and dry weather will lead to stress on 60% of the bloc’s corn crop, CWG said.  Heat advisories and warnings have…

Just days before USDA is expected to release its new estimates, the Kluis Commodity Advisors/Successful Farming Acreage Survey revealed American farmers planted over 1 million more corn acres for the 2025/2026 crop year than USDA previously forecast. Soybean and wheat acres were pegged lower.  According to the survey results, the acreage for corn and soybeans combined is 179.3 million versus 178.8 million in USDA’s March 2025 Prospective Plantings report. The survey attributes this increase to a 500,000-acre reduction in spring wheat.  USDA’s March report contained 2025/2026 acreage estimates based chiefly on surveys asking what U.S. farmers anticipated planting. Monday, June…

By Galen Bacharier North Carolina lawmakers are sending half a billion dollars to the western mountains for hurricane relief, reaching a long-sought compromise between the House and Senate just hours before they left Raleigh for weeks. Both chambers unanimously approved House Bill 1012 on Thursday. Gov. Josh Stein is expected to swiftly sign it into law. The final agreement puts $700 million total into the state’s Helene relief fund. And it appropriates $500 million of that money, leaving the other $200 million for future relief. “It addresses immediate needs,” said Rep. Karl Gillespie (R- Cherokee). “It does not address all needs. There will be…