Author: staff

Groups pushing for more help from the federal government to address the country’s shortage of rural veterinarians are cheering a USDA plan to help pay off veterinary school debt and engage the Economic Research Service to analyze where shortages are most acute. The Rural Veterinary Action Plan will increase the amount available under the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program from $10 million to $25 million, enabling more applicants to get awards, and streamline the application process for that program and the Veterinary Services Grant Program, which had $3.8 million available in its last funding pool. USDA also will look at ways to boost employment of federal veterinarians, who are…

Managing machinery costs and investment can go a long way toward increasing your bottom line and lowering break-even prices for crops. It comes down to putting every machinery purchase under the microscope. “Each farm is unique,” said Michael Langemeier, an Extension agricultural economist and the director of the Center for Commercial Agriculture at Purdue University. “Farmers have to ask themselves, ‘What can I do in terms of maintaining a line of machinery? Should I focus on a mixture of used and newer machinery?’  “Regardless of farm size, overinvesting in machinery can lead to high machinery costs per acre. That can…

Farm groups and other USDA stakeholders are raising concerns about the impact the Trump administration’s reorganization plan will have on agencies and personnel. The planned closure of a major research center in suburban Maryland and the department’s plan to consolidate staff in five regional hubs also are drawing some opposition. The department originally set a deadline of Aug. 26 for comments on the plan but has since extended that to Sept. 30. USDA isn’t posting the comments it has received, but some groups have released their comments or have made them available on request. In a recent appearance at the…

Tractor Supply Co. has raised $1 million for the Tractor Supply 2026 FFA Future Leaders Scholarship fund. The fund supports scholarships for FFA students pursuing studies in the skilled trades and agriculture-related majors. Since its inception, the annual fundraiser has generated a total of more than $4 million over four years. The FFA Future Leaders scholarship is the largest ag-related scholarship of its kind and is underwritten by a five-year, $5 million commitment from the Tractor Supply Foundation. It was established to help students in rural areas overcome the prohibitive cost of a postsecondary education, which can significantly improve one’s…

By Jeff Beach Avian flu has hit turkey farms in North Dakota and South Dakota, the first cases in commercial flocks in the United States since early July.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Aug. 28 confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Faulk County in northeast South Dakota. The outbreak meant 55,400 birds were killed to prevent the spread of the disease. It is the first case in a U.S. commercial flock since July 2, when the avian flu was confirmed at a game bird facility in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  The North…

AGDAILY Reporters · September 4, 2025 The American Quarter Horse Association is celebrating its 85th anniversary by spotlighting the ranching heritage that “continues to leave an immeasurable impact on the American Quarter Horse industry.” Central to that legacy is the Best Remuda Award, which honors ranches producing outstanding Quarter Horses. Past recipients include historic names like Babbitt Ranches, Four Sixes Ranch, and Haythorn Land & Cattle Company, alongside modern operations such as Silver Spur Operating Company and Singleton Ranches. As the video highlights, “There is perhaps no clearer or more compelling example of the American Quarter Horse’s versatility and power…

The Agriculture Department is lowering its forecast for farm earnings in 2025 as declines in the crop sector more than offset soaring incomes for cattle producers.  Net cash farm income, a measure of producers’ cash flow, is forecast at $180.7 billion for 2025, an increase of $36.5 billion, or 25.3%, over last year when adjusted for inflation, according to the forecast issued by the Economic Research Service on Wednesday. In February, USDA had forecast net cash farm income for 2025 at $193.7 billion. Net farm income, a broader measure of profits, is forecast at $179.8 billion for 2025, an increase of $48.8…

I wish I could remember the last time I was able to scroll through my social media feeds and not roll my eyes and sigh at some ridiculous anti-science statement. My blood pressure starts to rise each time I read a scientifically unsound, excessively absurd opinion about farming, ranching, or our food supply. And unfortunately, too often, it’s not from an animal-rights extremist. The calls are coming from inside the house, y’all. Recently, a close friend — who is a fabulous writer — was criticized for an article that featured unbiased producer sources and was backed by credible data on…

Kubota has announced the 10 nonprofits selected as 2025 Kubota Hometown Proud grant recipients. Each organization will receive $25,000 in cash and $25,000 in Kubota equipment to help drive meaningful progress in their local communities. Now, in its fifth year, the program has invested more than $2.4 million in community projects nationwide, and this year’s program drew more than 1,000 applications. This year’s winning projects showcase the power of local action, from advancing equestrian therapy and urban farming to revitalizing parks and supporting hands-on youth programs. With the support of their local Kubota dealers, these organizations are set to create…

Many rural Coloradans, especially in agricultural communities, feel looked down on by their urban counterparts. One cattle rancher I spoke to put it plainly. “It’s an attitude … we are the idiots … we are the dumb farmers … we don’t really matter.” The sentiment is also portrayed in popular culture such as the hit TV show Yellowstone. “It’s the one constant in life. You build something worth having, someone’s gonna try to take it,” says patriarch John Dutton. He was facing repeated threats by developers from “the city” to annex his land for a luxury hotel and resort development.…