Author: staff

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., perhaps the most contentious Cabinet-level nomination for the second Trump administration, was the center of combative and tense testimony today before the Senate Finance Committee in his bid to become the next Secretary of Health and Human Services. It took mere minutes into the hearing for Kennedy to feel the heat from aggressive and pointed criticism about his track record and to be told that “he should not be entrusted with the health and well-being of the American people.” RFK Jr. has long stood against mainstream nutrition research and been combative against vaccine science, and he…

Corn ethanol has been the standard for biofuels in the United States for nearly 20 years since the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was introduced in 2005.  Carbon pipelines have been positioned as the next step the ethanol industry needs to sequester carbon, receive tax credits, and be poised for growth, including in new areas such as sustainable aviation fuel. In our series on carbon pipelines, we have covered how companies are working to establish pipelines across the Midwest. We also looked at how farmers can navigate eminent domain use when pipeline construction comes closer to reality.  For this story, we…

By Nick Paulson, Gary Schnitkey, and Ryan Batts On December 21, 2024, the U.S. Congress passed, and President Biden signed into law, the American Relief Act of 2025. That Act extended the 2018 Farm Bill into 2025, resulting in another year of farmers facing the decision between Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) for commodity program support. Farmers have until April 15 to make or change decisions, a month longer than in recent years. The farmdoc 2025 Farm Bill What-if Tool — a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet — has been revised to analyze the 2025 decisions. Overall, ARC at the county level…

Farmers are the backbone of our food system, yet public perception of agriculture is often shaped by powerful voices in pop culture. Celebrities can play a significant role in amplifying support for farmers or, conversely, perpetuating harmful narratives. Here’s a look at some of the most prominent pro-farmer celebrities shaping the conversation around agriculture today. Pro-Farmer Celebrities: Advocates for Agriculture 1. Luke Bryan Image by Luke Bryan The country music star has deep agricultural roots, growing up on a peanut farm in Georgia. Bryan actively supports farmers through initiatives like his annual “Farm Tour,” which brings music to rural America…

A packed house filled the auction arena for the 2025 Auction of Junior Livestock Champions, hosted by BOK Financial. The event showcased the bright future of the livestock industry, with this year’s Grand and Reserve Champions stealing the spotlight. The energy in the room was electric as bidding for the 2025 Grand Champion Steer reached a record-breaking $210,000, surpassing the previous $200,000 record set in 2023. Five of the top eight animals shattered records, including the Reserve Grand Champion Steer, which sold for $125,000, topping its previous high of $100,000. Madilyn Norvell from Oklahoma exhibited the Grand Champion Steer, Thunder,…

The 11th annual Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge crowned Indiana-based Gripp as the 2025 winner during the American Farm Bureau Convention in San Antonio. This competition, a partnership between the American Farm Bureau Federation and Farm Credit, showcases business innovations that address pressing challenges in agriculture. Gripp, led by Indiana Farm Bureau member Tracey Wiedmeyer, took home the grand prize of $100,000. The company’s operator-centric platform integrates asset tracking with communication tools, streamlining farm management and connectivity. Labby, a New York-based startup led by Julia Somerdin, was named runner-up and received $25,000. Labby develops advanced, real-time milk testing solutions powered…

By Allison Kite Aquifer levels in parts of western Kansas that rely on groundwater for everything from drinking to irrigation fell more than a foot last year, Kansas Geological Survey scientists said Tuesday.  The Kansas Geological Survey earlier this month completed its annual campaign to measure the Ogallala Aquifer, which supplies the western one-third of the state with water. The Ogallala, the largest underground store of freshwater in the nation, has been declining for decades because of overuse to irrigate crops in otherwise arid parts of the state.  According to preliminary data presented to the Kansas House Water Committee, aquifer…

With National Reading Month taking place in March and Read Across America Day quickly approaching on March 3, Discover Dairy has a new book available, titled Curious Clover, to help bring dairy farming to life for elementary and middle school students. The book is available in both English and Spanish and includes accompanying interactive resources to encourage literacy, creativity, and farm-to-table connections. The Discover Dairy program is managed through the Dairy Excellence Foundation. With a $15 donation to the foundation, individuals can receive a printed copy of the book to share with students and families. “Every time someone turns the…

Todd Western III’s ancestors were born into slavery in Virginia, bought their freedom, then settled on a farm in Mahaska County, Iowa. His father expanded the operation, buying another farm near Waterloo, Iowa. Today, Western farms with his family and is the co-founder of Iowa Farmers of Color. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to 15 Minutes With a Farmer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please rate and review us! Meet Todd Western III Western splits his time between his home in Minnesota and the family farm in Iowa, and also actively volunteers with many non-profits,…

FMC has introduced two new herbicides, Keenali Complete and Keenali GR herbicide powered by Dodylex active, pending EPA decision. They are scheduled to launch for rice growers in 2027 and 2028, respectively. This is the first new herbicide mode of action in the industry for nearly 40 years.  Dodhylex active is the FMC product for the active ingredient tetflupyrolimet, which has been classified as a Group 28 herbicide by the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee and the Weed Science Society of America.  “It’s been more than 35 years since a new mode of action came into the marketplace,” said Lawson Priess, a…