Author: staff

According to the latest Crop Protection Network map, positive cases of tar spot have been reported in 19 Nebraska counties so far this year. First reported in the Corn Belt in 2015, the disease has been confirmed in eastern portions of the state since 2021. This season tar spot has also been confirmed in neighboring Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York have reported positive cases as well. Weather Frequent rainfall through June and July has favored disease development and spread of plant pathogens, explained a CropWatch article published by Tamra Jackson-Ziems, Extension plant pathologist…

The Animal Agriculture Alliance is bringing back the College Aggies Online scholarship program for 2025. The program is set to begin on September 8 and will connect college students from across the country who are passionate about sharing agriculture’s story. Over the course of nine weeks, participants will gain the tools, training, and experience needed to become confident communicators about agriculture online and on campus. Collegiate students, clubs, and classes are invited to sign up. Last year, students were awarded $20,000 in scholarships and prizes for demonstrating exceptional creativity and impactful communication. This year, similar scholarship opportunities are available. The…

The 2025 New Century Farmer Conference is taking place July 20 to 24 in Indianapolis, bringing together 50 elite FFA alumni from 22 states to advance their leadership and career skills while learning about working in the industry of agriculture from several different experts. Nearly a third of the participants are first-generation producers, with the majority of them being interested in farm ownership or entrepreneurship as potential career paths. “There’s something powerful that happens when our New Century Farmers from across the country come together to learn about agriculture from people who live and breathe it every day,” said Emma…

As a heartfelt tribute to the dedicated farmers who help feed the nation, Culver’s has announced its 2025 To Farmers With Love Contest — a annual nationwide initiative running now through August 1. The restaurant chain is inviting guests to nominate a farmer making a meaningful impact in their community for a chance to win a trip to attend a Tim McGraw concert at the Field of Dreams Movie Site on Aug. 30, 2025, or the Velocity Music Festival on Aug. 31, 2025, both held in Dyersville, Iowa. To nominate a farmer, guests can visit the contest page and respond…

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a new plan to strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s response to foodborne illness during the opening of the department’s updated Midwestern Food Safety Laboratory. The department says that the plan aims to improve the effectiveness of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, which oversees the safety and labeling of meat, poultry, and egg products. FSIS will continue coordinating with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support a safer food supply chain. “President Trump is committed to ensuring American consumers have the safest, most…

USDA published the latest Crop Progress report on Monday, July 14. Here’s a closer look at recent weather and the status of Kansas’s most important crops in mid-July. Weather Kansas State Extension agronomist Logan Simon, in a recent Agriculture Today – Kansas State University podcast, said that South Central Kansas had significant storm damage recently that wiped out a good amount of clean-till cotton in the area.  In Monday’s Crop Progress report, USDA said farmers had 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork the week that ended July 13, compared to 6.3 days this time last year. USDA rated Kansas topsoil moisture…

Goat fans united in New York this past Saturday for an event that combined small ruminants, competition, and environmental conservation: The Great Goat Graze-Off. The unusual event took place at Riverside Park in Manhattan, and was the start of the sixth summer of the parks seasonal goat-grazing contest.  Five goats  named Romeo, Mallomar, Butterball, Kash, and Rufus faced off in what organizers called a “professional eating event,” each attempting to chow down the most mugwort, an invasive weed that regularly overwhelms parts of the park. According to ABC7/WABC, the animals were positioned north of the Ten Mile Playground along the…

Topcon Agriculture has launched the new UC7 Plus boom height control technology, designed for compatibility with most self-propelled and pull-type sprayers, to reduce inputs and improve spraying performance.  The UC7 Plus features a new dynamic chassis sensor to increase stability and response of the boom control system. Ultrasonic technology is also included for improved performance in more challenging terrain. To increase wear-life, each sensor is housed in corrosion-resistant nylon housing, a protective transducer screen, and multi-axis vents. Combined, this technology is designed to improve sustainability efforts by applying only the needed amount of spray, where it is needed. The sprayer…

By Ryan Hanrahan The USDA Economic Research Service’s Jennifer Bond, Steven Ramsey, Seth Wechsler, and Joshua Huang reported that “U.S. corn export sales have continued at a blistering pace and support a 100-million-bushel month-to-month increase for the 2024/25 marketing year, raising the forecast to a record-high 2,750 million bushels.” “If realized, 2024/25 corn exports will exceed the 2023/24 estimate by nearly 500 million bushels (22%),” Bond, Ramsey, Wechsler and Huang reported. “Through 300 days of the marketing year, exports sales are nearly on pace to match the previously record-setting level realized for the 2020/21 marketing year. Commitments—outstanding sales and shipments—as…

Jess D’Souza had hoped to finally turn a profit this year, aided by a federal program to bolster local food systems. The Trump administration canceled the initiative, upending her plans. Two piglets jostled in the barnyard as Jess D’Souza stepped outside. Neither youngster seemed to be winning their morning game of tug-of-war over an empty feed bag. Jess approached the chicken coop. She swung open the weathered door. The flood of fowl scampered up a hill to a cluster of empty food bowls. Groans resembling bassoons and didgeridoos leaked from the hog house as groggy pigs stirred. Jess often greets…