Author: staff

In recently released budget documents, the Trump administration has proposed a nearly $7 billion reduction in USDA funding for 2026. Almost $1.2 billion would come from the department’s primary farmer-facing agencies. USDA has described its Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area as the “focal point for the nation’s farmers and ranchers and other stewards of private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest lands.” FPAC houses Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Risk Management Agency (RMA).  These agencies “implement programs designed to mitigate the significant risks of farming through crop insurance, conservation programs and technical assistance, and…

In a recent article, I examined USDA’s Swampbuster Act, which sets out conservation practice requirements for farmers who participate in USDA programs. It included different situations where farmers may run afoul of the act and the penalties that can be imposed for violations. In this article, I will discuss options that exist for farmers facing a violation under the act. I cannot stress enough the importance of seeking professional help should a violation occur.  What’s the Penalty? If you are found to be in violation of the Swampbuster Act not only will you lose eligibility for USDA program benefits, you…

By Cami Koons A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld lower court decisions barring counties from imposing safety standards on a pipeline subject to federal safety standards.  The cases involved Summit Carbon Solutions, the company proposing to build a carbon sequestration pipeline through the state, and county supervisors from both Story and Shelby Counties.  Summit sued the counties in 2022 for enacting ordinances that required county-specific setback requirements and other regulations the company argued were preempted by federal pipeline safety laws.  A federal judge ruled in favor of Summit in Dec. 2023 and issued permanent injunctions, stopping the counties from enforcing the regulations, which…

The pork industry suffered one of the worst economic years on record in 2023. As producers now grapple with the uncertainty of tariffs, Agri-Pulse Newsmakers spoke with Kevin Stuckey, sow unit manager at Cooper Farms in Ohio; Chris Ford, VP corporate swine lender at Farm Credit Services of America; and Oklahoma Pork Council Executive Director Kylee Deniz to get a pulse on the animal health, labor, and economic challenges facing the industry.Plus, National Pork Producers Council CEO Bryan Humphreys discussed the budget reconciliation bill and the lack of producer input in the Make America Healthy Again Commission report. Watch the…

By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS, June 6 (Reuters) – The European Union is open to lowering tariffs on U.S. fertiliser imports as an offer in trade talks with the Trump administration, but will not weaken its food safety standards in pursuit of a deal, EU agriculture commissioner Christophe Hansen told Reuters. “That is definitely an option,” Hansen said, of reducing U.S. fertiliser tariffs. “That will be on the table. And I think that would be a huge way forward, and an offer as well to the U.S.,” he said in an interview with Reuters on Thursday, adding that whether that would mean zero tariffs, or…

By Ana Mano SAO PAULO, June 5 (Reuters) – After selling a 50% stake to meatpacker JBS JBSS3.SA in April, Brazilian egg producer Mantiqueira Brasil is starting greenfield projects in the U.S., the company’s president said on Thursday during an industry event in Sao Paulo. Leandro Pinto said his son is in the U.S. overseeing the projects in Colorado. Outbreaks of avian flu, known as bird flu, which caused the death of millions of birds in the U.S. and Europe, gave Brazilian eggs suppliers the chance to increase market share in global markets. Brazilian companies can both produce eggs locally and export, as well as set up production facilities in other continents, Pinto said. “We have plans to go to the world,”…

1. Soybean, Grain Futures Decline in Overnight Trading Soybean and grain futures were lower in overnight trading on favorable weather in the U.S. and South America.  Rain fell this week in southeastern areas of the U.S. Midwest, giving recently planted crops a boost, and more is expected throughout the weekend into early next week, said Don Keeney, an agricultural meteorologist with Maxar.  Precipitation is forecast for northwestern and southeastern parts of the Midwest throughout the weekend, though some dryness is expected in west-central areas of the region, he said.  In Argentina, dry weather will allow farmers to continue to harvest…

The corn and soybean planting season is wrapping up across many of the top-growing states, according to USDA’s first June Crop Progress report. Find out what agronomists in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Indiana, and Wisconsin have to say about how crops in their territories are progressing. Iowa Corn “Planting is nearly complete across the state and most of the corn and soybeans have emerged. Many farmers are now turning their attention to applying crop protection products and baling hay,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig following the release of the Crop Progress report. “While haze from Canadian wildfires has…

The month of May was a mixed bag for corn crop progress across Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska, and, at times, within the same state. While some growers were stuck waiting for the rain to stop, others looked forward to its relief.  By the end of the month, most farmers had wrapped up planting or were getting close. Agronomists across the region shared what they were seeing in the fields — from rotary hoes breaking crust in Iowa to irrigation running in Nebraska. Here’s a week-by-week look at how planting and emergence shaped up in the heart of the Corn Belt.…

Youth for the Quality Care of Animals is committed to empowering youth in the livestock industry and giving back to the next generation. It is this dedication that led to the establishment of the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals Scholarship Program and allowed the organization to honor its inaugural recipients. With over 200 applicants in 2025, YQCA has awarded seven students with $30,000 in scholarships. “Investing in youth is key to the future of the livestock industry,” said Dinah Peebles, Youth for the Quality Care of Animals Executive Board President. “The YQCA scholarship reflects our commitment to supporting…