Author: staff

Smithfield Foods, in partnership with the Oklahoma Pork Council, capped off Hunger Action Month by donating 33,000 pounds of pork to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. The donation will provide an estimated 132,000 servings of protein to families in need throughout 53 counties across central and western Oklahoma. Cathy Vaughan, safety manager at Smithfield and board member of the Oklahoma Pork Council, highlighted the importance of their community contributions. “We take the honor of feeding our neighbors very seriously,” she said. “With hog production operations in Laverne, Oklahoma, we continually look for ways to give back locally, and it’s…

U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.), Co-Chairs of the Senate 4-H Caucus, recently celebrated the adoption of their resolution designating October 7 through October 12 as National 4-H Week. This annual celebration highlights the vital role 4-H plays in youth development across the country. Boozman, a longtime supporter of 4-H, emphasized the personal impact the organization had on his family, noting that all three of his daughters were active participants and state record book winners. He stated, “4-H has been a positive influence on generations of young people, which is why I am proud to join Chairwoman…

As the holiday season approaches, 4-H will continue its partnership with Tractor Supply Company, with several key initiatives lined up for the end of 2024. Starting October 7 (which is the kickoff of National 4-H Wee), limited-edition collectible 4-H holiday ornaments will be available in Tractor Supply stores nationwide. All proceeds from the ornament sales will directly benefit 4-H, supporting its programs and youth development efforts across the country. The limited-edition 4-H holiday ornaments for 2024 will feature three charming designs: a Highlander, a Yorkshire pig, and a goat. Each of these adorable animals is dressed for the season with…

The September 1, 2024, Grain Stocks report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service revealed substantial year-over-year increases in old crop grain stocks across the board. Corn stocks reached 1.76 billion bushels, a 29 percent rise from September 2023, reflecting significant on-farm and off-farm storage increases. Of the total corn stocks, 780 million bushels were stored on farms, up 29 percent from last year, while off-farm stocks grew by 30 percent to 980 million bushels. In August 2024, corn disappearance was 3.24 billion bushels, compared to 2.74 billion bushels during the same period last year. Similarly, old-crop…

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-2024-09-30_.mp3 The post Markets in Minutes: Top Third looks ahead for week of Sept. 30, 2024 appeared first on AGDAILY.

Syngenta announced today the inclusion of a cutting-edge Generative AI system to Cropwise, its premium integrated digital services and solutions platform for crop management. Leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms and data analytics, Cropwise AI is intended to empower growers with deep insights and enhanced decision-making capabilities to optimize crop yields, improve sustainability, and drive profitability. The announcement took place at the World AgriTech Innovation Summit in London. Syngenta said that Cropwise AI taps into the deep library of agronomic models housed within Cropwise Insight Engine, including over 20 years of weather history, soil conditions, more than 80,000 observations on crop growth…

It’s funny to see how we’re so capable, but we have to go the extra mile and prove ourselves to whomever. And I think it’s admirable, what everyone is doing, and I think it’s really amazing. And it speaks out to the resiliency of women, because it’d be much easier to quit. But what’s the fun in that?” – Susannea VT aAll the quotes in this document are presented using pseudonyms. Women have always been vital contributors to the success of family farms, but their work has often gone unnoticed.1 Since the U.S. Department of Agriculture started tracking data on…

John Deere has recalled approximately 164,700 compact utility tractors across the U.S. and Canada due to a potential safety issue. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that the recall involves the front bell crank in the brake linkage, which could fail and cause a crash hazard. So far, there have been three reported incidents linked to this defect, including two injuries and minor property damage. The recall covers John Deere’s 1023E, 1025R, and 2025R compact utility tractors sold between November 2017 and July 2024 for prices ranging from $12,700 to $21,000. Image by CPSC In the midst of this…

California has become an emerging front for the ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in dairy cattle, with 41 herds infected in the past month and new cases appearing regularly. While the H5N1 virus has heavily impacted poultry since 2022, California’s Central Valley saw its first dairy infections in late August. Since then, the disease has spread quickly, with seven cases confirmed between September 23 and 26, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. According to the CDFA, farmers are employing stringent biosecurity measures, including restricting visitors, enforcing off-site barriers, and using personal protective equipment. Dairies under quarantine…

The state’s aggressive approach includes declaring an animal health emergency and paying farmers who help researchers. In June, the Detroit Free Press described Michigan as ground zero for the spread of avian influenza among dairy cattle. At the time, the state had tallied more outbreaks than any other, but this wasn’t entirely bad news. Experts suggested that the high infection rate likely stemmed from an early and aggressive approach to testing. That approach grew out of the state’s history of dealing with chemical contamination and infectious disease outbreaks, such as bovine tuberculosis, that threaten both animal and public health, said…