Further Details on Effort to SPUR Beef Processing
Some further details about USDA's recently announced Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers (SPUR) program. "Processors that fall under the classification of small- or medium-sized processors. And with the price of beef and the price of fed cattle today, what it costs for those small- and medium-sized processo...
Rain Brings Mixed Results Across North Carolina
Well, the rain has left for the moment, and now we're really starting to see what impacts that has had on the farms and the drought maps here in the Carolinas. And who better to let us know what's going on with all of the rain impacts is State Assistant Climatologist Corey Davis. Corey, let's talk about the rain impact...
PRO FARMER 2026 CROP TOUR; Day Three in Illinois and Western Iowa
Expectations were high among scouts as they headed out on Day Three of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour Wednesday in Illinois and Western Iowa. Doug Miller from Northeast Iowa is in his 21st year of scouting on the Eastern Leg of Tour. "Ear counts have been, I would say, probably a little on the low side. I mean, normally...
Ag Equipment Sales Continue to Slide
New data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers shows U.S. sales of agricultural tractors fell nearly 11 percent in July compared to a year ago, while combine sales dropped more than 5 percent. AEM Senior Vice President Curt Blades says the slowdown reflects broader challenges facing agriculture today. "W...
NWS and the U.S. Pork Industry
New World Screwworm gets a lot of attention in the cattle industry, but that's not the only animal agriculture sector that needs to stay vigilant. Dr. Justin Talley of Oklahoma State University's Entomology Department talked about NWS and pork production. "So, when we think about the New World Screwworm, it's not ...
CoBank: Fertilizer Prices to Stay Elevated Through 2028
A new report from CoBank says fertilizer prices are likely to stay elevated through 2028. Jacquie Fatka, the lead economist for farm supply and biofuels at CoBank, talked about what they found. "Everyone is feeling those tight margins, and fertilizer is a big chunk of that. You know, I guess in some ways, it's goo...
School Nutrition Association Highlights Dairy at National Conference
The Dairy Checkoff has been partnering with the School Nutrition Association for several years. Audrey Donahoe, a New York Dairy farmer, talked about the Association and what the partnership is working on. "It's a not-for-profit organization. It represents nearly 50,000 members. It has a national board as well as ...
USDA acts to remove roadless rule restrictions that exacerbate rising wildfire risk
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced Tuesday that the U.S. Forest Service has filed a proposed rule to rescind in its entirety the national 2001 Roadless Area Conversation Rule, a one-size-fits-all restriction that has frustrated land managers and served as a barrier to wildfire risk reduction work acro...
Brooks Schaffer Market Report for Tuesday, August 18th
This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at brooks@palmettograin.com or 843-540-4540. Last week, we got the August WASDE report to trade. This week, we will all be watching the Pro Farmer Crop Tour as they move across the Midwest. Monday's trade got the week started off with a bul...
Tyson Shutters Illinois Beef Plant
Tyson Foods is closing its Joslin, Illinois, beef packing plant as tight cattle supplies continue to reshape the packing industry. Oklahoma State Livestock Marketing Specialist Derrell Peel says Tyson is concentrating its operations on its largest plants, but the adjustments may not be over. "So, Tyson indicated t...