Author: staff

By Jeff Beach Summit Carbon Solutions is asking North Dakota judges to dismiss appeals in different legal challenges to its five-state carbon capture and storage project. Attorneys for Summit and North Dakota landowners argued a Summit request for dismissal in a Burleigh County Court on Tuesday. Landowners have appealed the legality of the North Dakota Industrial Commission’s order granting Summit permission to pump carbon dioxide into underground sequestration sites in Mercer, Oliver, and Morton counties. Summit also has filed motions to dismiss appeals related to the North Dakota Public Service Commission’s pipeline route permit. Summit is attempting to move carbon captured at ethanol…

By Joshua Haiar A carbon dioxide pipeline company has asked courts to pause or dismiss its pending legal fights against landowners and a state regulator in South Dakota after the state’s adoption of a law that prevents the company from using eminent domain. Eminent domain is a legal process for acquiring access to land for projects that have a public benefit, with compensation for landowners determined by a court. It’s commonly used for projects such as electrical power lines, water pipelines, oil pipelines and highways. Some South Dakota landowners who oppose the Summit Carbon Solutions project sued to stop the company from…

By Cami Koons The Iowa House approved a bill Wednesday that would stop pipelines carrying liquified carbon dioxide from using eminent domain.  Six other bills related to carbon sequestration pipelines, eminent domain, and the Iowa Utilities Commission were combined into one bill, which also advanced.  The bills were directed at an ongoing fight between landowners and the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline, which would stretch more than 1,000 miles in Iowa connecting to biofuel refineries and transporting the sequestered carbon dioxide to underground storage in North Dakota.  House File 943 is similar to a law recently passed in South Dakota, another state crossed by…

Farm ownership is a demanding profession with significant mental health challenges. The unique pressures of the role, combined with severe mental health care barriers, affect farmers across the country. Recent research from the University of Georgia College of Public Health sheds light on the stressors female farm owners and managers face — challenges that can be overlooked in broader studies of agricultural well-being. Through a series of interviews, researchers identified key stressors for this population, including animal mortality, succession planning for farms, and the impact of gender roles and stereotypes. “Physically, you’re worried about injuries and illnesses, all those traditional…

By Cami Koons Iowa senators narrowly passed a bill Wednesday that would protect pesticide companies from “failure to warn” lawsuits.  Similar bills have been introduced across the country, after failing in Iowa, Missouri, and Idaho last year. Legislators in Georgia advanced their version of the bill, but it has not yet been signed into law by its governor.  Senate File 394 would rule that pesticide labels issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “shall be sufficient” in satisfying any requirement to warn users of the product’s health and safety. The bill passed the Senate 26-21. Sen. Mike Bousselot, the bill’s floor manager, said…

American Farmland Trust provides technical support and financial resources to underserved farming communities in California California’s agricultural landscape is as diverse as its population, yet many underserved farming communities — including women, LGBTQIA+, Native American, Hmong, Latino, and Punjabi farmers — face significant barriers to success. American Farmland Trust is working hard to address these challenges by providing technical support and financial resources tailored to their needs. This approach throughout key areas in the San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast shows a commitment to engaging directly with farmers in meaningful and impactful ways. It also is rooted in understanding the…

It’s clear that individual states have different concerns and priorities about the U.S. imposing tariffs and the potential reciprocal actions by the affected nations. Nestled adjacent to the nation’s Capitol and boasting the Port of Hampton Roads, the 10th largest port in the U.S., Virginia is bracing to feel the impact. One expert suggests that Virginia farms could face both immediate and long-term economic consequences because of the tariff battles with Canada, Mexico, and China. “U.S.-imposed tariffs on key agricultural imports, such as potash from Canada, increase costs and disrupt deliveries for agribusiness firms. These firms, especially those relying on…

For the fifth year in a row, Farmers Business Network (FBN) has published its Planting Intentions Report for major crops including corn, soybeans, and wheat. FBN’s estimates were derived from a survey of almost 1,000 U.S. farmers that represent 2 million acres of total production. These survey results were published less than a week before USDA is set to release its latest projections in the Prospective Plantings report scheduled for March 31, 2025. Grain and commodity markets are known to swing dramatically based on this report. “With the tremendous uncertainty in the farm economy today, we’re proud to provide insights…

Change has become a constant in agriculture: market fluctuations, artificial intelligence, regulations, and tariffs, just to name a few. Some change is easier to accept, some is painful — but change happens at an increasingly rapid pace. Stress often accompanies change because we aren’t naturally adept at it. But rest assured — change is the norm. Instead of dreading it, why not identify how you can control your reaction to it? Life changes “Life is going to change, and it’s not always going to change for the better. You figure how to change with it,” says Katie Coyne, former Progressive…

As climate change fuels increasingly severe weather, hailstorms are becoming a major threat to global food production, and experts are warning that the agricultural sector isn’t prepared. According to the latest figures from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. saw 5,373 significant hail events in 2024, a 43 percent rise compared to 2021.  Image courtesy of KISTERS States such as Texas (878), Kansas (437), and Nebraska (372) are among the hardest hit.  With hail damage now costing upwards of $15 billion a year across homes, vehicles, and crops, farmers are being urged to adapt. One organization tracking these shifts closely is…