Author: staff

Federal and state officials are rolling out what they say will be the most aggressive response in U.S. history to stop the New World screwworm from reaching Texas, warning that the flesh-eating parasite could devastate the nation’s livestock industry and drive up food prices if left unchecked. “This can result in billions of dollars of losses a year,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at a press conference today in Austin. “It could truly crush the cattle industry as well as other livestock sectors in Texas — and in doing so, lead to a dramatic spike in grocery prices.” The screwworm,…

After losing nearly 16¢ Thursday, November soybeans regained almost every penny Friday, ending up 14¢ at $10.42½ per bushel. Week-over-week, the contract closed up 55¢. December corn ended the day up 8¢ at $4.05¼ per bushel. For the week, the contract closed down less than a penny. December CBOT wheat ended the day up 2½¢ at $5.27 per bushel. December KC wheat also closed up 2½¢ at $5.28½ per bushel. December Minneapolis wheat was down 2¾¢ at $5.89¼. All three contracts closed lower week-over-week. October live cattle ended the day up $3.83 at $230.65 per hundredweight (cwt). September feeder cattle closed…

Graduate students pursuing careers in meat science and animal science are encouraged to apply for the annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program. Established in 2007 by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation, the scholarship recognizes outstanding graduate students committed to advancing the beef industry. Two $15,000 grants are awarded to graduate students who demonstrate superior achievement in academics and leadership. Previous scholarship recipients recognize that the program not only benefits their work but also the entire industry. “Receiving the W.D. Farr Scholarship enhanced my ability to share my research with veterinarians and producers in the field, as well as direct future research initiatives…

On Tuesday, the USDA predicted U.S. farmers will produce a record 16.7 billion bushels of corn this fall.  The World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) and Crop Production reports released by USDA on Tuesday were a shock to the ag industry, and several groups jumped at the opportunity to call on Congress and the Trump administration to take steps to increase demand for the U.S. corn crop. Here’s what they had to say.  National Corn Growers Association Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) represents more than 36,000 dues-paying corn growers in 48 states, and the interests…

Celebrating American cowgirls nationwide, Durango Boots, in partnership with the Dude Ranch Foundation, awards its second annual National Day of the Cowgirl $30,000 scholarship to University of Tennessee Knoxville student, Laurel Cox. The National Day of the Cowgirl holiday, celebrated each year on September 15th, honors the spirit, strength and contributions of cowgirls across the country. Applications for the 2026 scholarship will be open September 15 through December 31, 2025. Eligible undergraduate students pursuing degrees in the Western industry are encouraged to apply. “The Western industry is rooted in traditions such as faith, hard work, and community, and these principles…

On July 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released several documents outlining its Proposed Registration Decision for low-volatility dicamba herbicides used over-the-top on dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton. This release is an important step forward in the agency’s Herbicide Strategy and addresses a critical weed-control need for U.S. farmers. As part of the registration process, the EPA is inviting public comments on its proposed risk assessment for these products. The comment period has been extended until September 6, 2025, giving growers and industry stakeholders additional time to provide feedback. Once the comment period closes, the EPA will review all submissions before…

According to the latest Crop Protection Network (CPN) map, positive cases of southern rust have been reported in 49 Iowa counties this growing season. Southern rust has been confirmed in neighboring Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Cases also have been reported in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Weather Across Iowa, July’s unusually wet weather has continued into the first half of August. During the first full week of the month, localized flooding challenged parts of the state, especially eastern Iowa, state Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig reported…

By Cami Koons Across the country, farmers and small entrepreneurs are adding drones to their fleet of tools for tasks such as spraying agricultural chemicals or spreading seeds for a cover crop.  Today, the majority of the ag-drone market is made up of Chinese manufactured machinery, which some federal laws seek to outlaw, asserting national security fears.  Those in the industry, however, wonder if the budding American ag-drone market is ready to fill the gaps in the event of a U.S. ban on Chinese drones — which could begin at the end of the year.  How and Why Drones? Drones…

Recognized as the oldest continuously family-owned ranch in Oklahoma, Stuart Ranch traces its Quarter Horse bloodlines back more than 70 years. Most mornings on the Stuart Ranch begin in stillness, but not in sleep. By 3:30 a.m., Terry Stuart Forst is up, the Oklahoma night still stretching its darkness across the skies. The early mornings give her time for Bible study and to crack open one of a stack of journals she has kept since 2011, the year the drought was so bad, water tanks went dry and grass crisped to powder. Those journals are more than a record of…

By Ryan Hanrahan The New York Times’ Dani Blum, Benjamin Mueller, and Alice Callahan reported that “a highly anticipated White House report on the health of American children would stop short of proposing direct restrictions on ultraprocessed foods and pesticides that the health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has called major threats, according to a draft of the document that was reviewed by The New York Times.” “The report, if adopted, would be good news for the food and agriculture industries, which feared far more restrictive proposals than the ones outlined in the draft,” Blum, Mueller and Callahan reported. “Through…