Author: staff

The Make America Healthy Again Commission recommends continued research on the role pesticides and plastics play in development of chronic disease in children and also suggests easing some regulations on farms.  The final report released Tuesday appears to be almost indistinguishable from the draft that was leaked last month, avoiding any mention of specific pesticides. The first MAHA report, billed as an assessment of the health threats facing children, highlighted the potential health impacts of glyphosate and atrazine. That angered the ag community, which is worried about the loss of crop protection tools, and caused Health and Human Services Secretary…

By Maria Kalaitzandonakes, Jonathan Coppess, and Brenna Ellison Introduction The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, established via Executive Order in February of this year, has been tasked to advise President Donald Trump on how to best address childhood chronic disease (EO 14212, 2025). The Commission’s initial report, released in May 2025, highlighted four “potential drivers behind the rise in childhood chronic disease that present the clearest opportunities for progress” (MAHA Report, 2025). These were: poor diet, aggregation of environmental chemicals, lack of physical activity and chronic stress, and overmedicalization. The report was critical of some aspects of the food…

The second report to seep out of the Make America Healthy Again Commission has pulled way back on attacking pesticides such as atrazine and glyphosate, a major focus of the commission’s initial effort back in May. Pretty much in line with a leaked draft from a few weeks ago, the Robert F. Kennedy Jr.-led commission is now focused largely on “reducing” the use of crop protection chemicals rather than taking the hardline restrictive approach he did previously. This time, the 20-page MAHA Report — known as the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy — zeroed in largely on nutrition and…

The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) commission released its long-awaited “Make Our Children Healthy Again” strategy report on Tuesday, following May’s controversial “Make Our Children Healthy Again” assessment.  The strategy report, a draft of which was leaked last month, “notably stops short of recommending changes to U.S. agrochemical approval or regulatory processes, a key demand of some MAHA activists,” said Reuters’ Ahmed Aboulenein, Renee Hickman, and Leah Douglas. “Rather, the report says the Environmental Protection Agency will work to build public confidence in its pesticide review process and reform its agrochemical approval process to ensure their ‘timely availability’ to farmers,”…

What Happened November soybean futures, currently trading near $10.35, are in a particularly vulnerable spot. They have recently rallied off contract lows near $9.80, and failed to hold above $10.50. The vulnerability comes from a projected carryout at 290 million bushels, as estimated on the Aug. 12 USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. While down by a modest 20 million bushels from the previous month, many were expecting an increase. If the record yield forecast of 53.6 bushels per acre (bpa) does not materialize, carryout could fall further and put upward pressure on prices. On the flip…

Perdue Farms has confirmed plans to eliminate the second shift at its Washington, Indiana, turkey processing facility, a move that will result in the permanent layoff of 293 employees beginning October 10. The company filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification with federal officials and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, formally notifying workers of their last work date and separation date. According to the filings, affected employees will continue to receive pay and benefits through November 2, provided they are not terminated for cause or leave voluntarily prior to that date. While the WARN notice did not cite specific…

Three students from Pennsylvania and Massachusetts were recently awarded scholarships through the Dairy Excellence Foundation’s Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow Program. Evan Espenshade of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Madison Mowrer of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, and Jordyn O’Brien of Hampshire County, Massachusetts were recognized with the scholarships after completing and passing at least one of the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow certification exams and associated coursework during their high school careers. As college freshmen for the 2025-26 school year, all three students received a $3,000 scholarship to support their academic studies in dairy-related fields. “These students all have unique experiences in the dairy industry,…

By Jarrett Renshaw Sept. 9 (Reuters) – Oil refinery-state lawmakers led by Senator Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, will introduce legislation on Tuesday to block President Donald Trump from shifting renewable fuel blending obligations from small refineries to larger ones, according to draft legislation seen by Reuters. The bill reflects the politically-divisive nature of the U.S. biofuels policy, which pits the country’s oil industry against the farm interests that underpin U.S. production of biofuels like corn-based ethanol. At the heart of the current fight is whether larger refineries should be forced to make up for the biofuel blending requirements that small refineries avoid through federal exemptions. The…

By Ryan Hanrahan Bloomberg’s Gerson Freitas Jr. reported that “the U.S. agricultural trade deficit widened further in July, highlighting the challenge facing President Donald Trump as he vows to reverse the trend.” “Agricultural exports lagged imports by $4.97 billion in July, a gap 9% wider than a year earlier and the largest on record for the month,” Freitas Jr. reported. “That pushed the sector’s deficit to an unprecedented $33.6 billion for the first seven months of the year, according to data released Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.” “The widening farm trade gap this year has been mostly driven…

Agritourism is so much more than a fun day on the farm. It’s a chance to connect with consumers, show off your farm (and way of life), and generate some income. Making your agritourism event or location a success depends on a few things, including your ability to make your event worth people’s time, memorable, engaging, and safe. Whether it’s a corn maze, farm to table dinners, pick your own produce, a chance to pet/meet animals, or whatever else you can dream up, here’s some ways to make sure your event is a success: First up, know your audience. This…