Author: staff

Brazilian meatpacking giant JBS has secured approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange, overcoming vocal opposition from environmental advocates and congressional lawmakers who cite the company’s troubled track record on climate, corporate governance, and market competition. The SEC issued a declaration of effectiveness on Tuesday, clearing the way for JBS — the world’s largest meat producer — to proceed with a shareholder vote scheduled for May 23. The company plans to list through a new parent firm, JBS NV, based in the Netherlands, and also intends to seek a…

By Tom Polansek CHICAGO, April 24 (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is withdrawing a proposal aimed at reducing risks from Salmonella in poultry products, according to a notice published on Thursday that increased concerns about oversight of the food supply under President Donald Trump. The withdrawal represents the administration’s latest missed opportunity to protect public health, food safety experts said. The USDA last month eliminated two committees that advised it on food safety, while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently suspended a quality control program for testing of fluid milk and other dairy products. The proposal, which the Biden administration announced last summer,…

Herd mentality. We usually hear the term in reference to finance, politics, or even high school social circles. But rarely do we pause to recognize just how dangerous it can be when the herd turns on one of its own. It’s the thing that makes us click “share” before reading, and follow the loudest voices even when they’re wrong. Social media has made it easier than ever to join a movement, to add your voice to a chorus of outrage, or to throw a stone without ever seeing the target. In its most extreme form, this collective behavior becomes something…

A little past 8:30 a.m. CT, July corn was up less than a penny at $4.80 per bushel. July soybeans were up 3¢ at $10.53¼ per bushel. July wheat contracts were lower. CBOT wheat was down 1¼¢ at $5.42¼ per bushel. KC wheat was down 6¾¢ at $5.43½. Minneapolis wheat was down 4½¢ at $6.02½. “The recent selling pressure in the corn market is likely tied to the quick planting pace across the Midwest, combined with solid rainfall totals for April,” said Bob Linneman, commodities broker with Kluis Commodity Advisors. “The wet forecast was expected for April, but May and…

Through the first part of 2025, Black farmers have found themselves continuing to grapple with the long-standing effects of discrimination while also facing ongoing disruptions caused by recent decisions within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA budget cuts, now amounting to $1.2 million promised money to minorities in agriculture, have left Black farmers scrambling to adapt. These financial setbacks have disrupted operations and forced nonprofit organizations and support systems to reduce services or shut down entirely. This all comes at a time when institutional support is more necessary than ever. The situation is further aggravated by increasing tariffs and trade…

When you think of a farmer, you probably don’t imagine someone driving a school bus, teaching in a classroom, or managing a bank. But for most U.S. farm households, off-farm jobs are the lifeline that keeps their farms afloat. According to Daniel Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, “In 2023, just 23 percent of farm household income came from farming itself — meaning a remarkable 77 percent came from other sources.” That other 77 percent — known as off-farm income — includes wages, salaries, pensions, investment returns, Social Security and other non-farming income. “At the median, farm…

By Maximilian Heath BUENOS AIRES, April 23 (Reuters) – Argentina’s main farm regions will see mostly dry weather over the next seven days, the Buenos Aires grains exchange said on Wednesday, which should help speed up the delayed 2024/25 soybean harvest that has been hampered by sodden fields. Heavy rains in March and early April delayed the soybean harvest to a level below the average of the last five years, according to exchange, putting grain yields at risk. “High atmospheric pressure conditions will prevail in the coming days, bringing mostly clear skies, causing most of the farming area to see little to no rainfall,” said the exchange, which estimates a soybean harvest of…

By Robin Opsahl Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 619 into law Tuesday, the bill providing funds for the state’s recovery efforts for 2024 floods and tornadoes as well as making changes to Iowa’s response system for future disasters. The bill provides $13.6 million from the Iowa Economic Emergency Fund retroactively for fiscal year 2025 for response efforts to severe flooding and tornadoes. Reynolds said in a statement the bill will help Iowans and communities recovering from the major disasters in the past year that impacted more than 5,000 homes across the state. “The tenacity of Iowans has been tested over the past year,” Reynolds said in…

By Makenzie Huber Summit Carbon Solutions’ pipeline route as proposed in its permit application is “not viable,” South Dakota regulators determined Tuesday in Pierre. The Public Utilities Commission voted 2-1 to deny the company’s application, but Summit immediately pledged to reapply with a “reduced scope.” It was the second South Dakota denial for Summit, which has been seeking a permit to build a portion of its proposed $9 billion pipeline through South Dakota since 2022. The commission denied the company’s first application in 2023, after which the company modified its route and reapplied. The pipeline would carry carbon dioxide emissions captured from…

Cooperation in manufacturing between companies is fairly common in the farm machinery industry. So when B.F. Avery (an implement-only maker) approached Cleveland Tractor (a crawler-only manufacturer) to build a rubber-tired tractor, the arrangement was acceptable business. What was eventful about that arrangement was that the tractor the companies created, the General GG, ended up: Being sold under five different brands (B.F. Avery, Cletrac, Massey-Harris, Farmer Co-op, and Wards).Helping to launch B.F. Avery in the tractor industry.Eventually providing the foundation for a much-needed small tractor line for Minneapolis-Moline. Yet, The General wasn’t particularly technologically advanced or uniquely designed to have such…