Top Agriculture News

This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at [email protected] or 843-540-4540. Late August is often called the doldrums in the grain market. The bulk of the growing season is now behind us, so weather forecasts are not as closely watched — but it will still be a while […]

It’s been about a week since Hurricane Erin came and went on the Carolina coast. I’ve got state assistant climatologist Corey Davis here. Corey, what has been some of the damage that Hurricane Erin gave to the Carolinas? “Well, you know, Kyle, we talked last week that Erin, for the most part, was just going […]

President Donald Trump has floated the idea of “getting rid of” the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which manages federal disaster response. But at a Thursday meeting, the 12-person review council he appointed to propose changes to FEMA seemed more focused on reforms than total dismantlement. The meeting in Oklahoma City offered hints of what types of reforms the council might present to Trump in its final report. Members mainly focused on conventional and oft-cited opportunities for change, such as getting money faster to states and survivors and enhancing the capacity of local emergency managers.

U.S. Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC) brought together business leaders, transportation professionals and government officials in Wilmington on Wednesday to rally support for a new federal surface transportation bill aimed at funding critical infrastructure projects over the next five years. Speaking at a roundtable and press conference outside of the Coastal Beverage Company — a local […]

A human case of New World screwworm was reported by the Centers for Disease Control after being discovered earlier this month. Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, says while it’s something the cattle industry needs to monitor, this isn’t a risk to the U.S. livestock industry. “From what we understand, it was […]

The National Weather Service has issued a La Niña watch, raising the possibility of the climate pattern developing later this year, according to USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. “Back on August 14, the National Weather Service issued a La Nina watch for the possibility, and we’re looking at about a 60% likelihood of this happening, of […]

The first wave of disaster relief checks has been mailed to North Carolina farmers who applied for assistance through the 2024 Agriculture Disaster Crop Loss Program, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced on Wednesday. According to the press release, farmers in Western North Carolina were the first to receive payments, with additional checks to be distributed […]

Some employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency who signed a public letter of dissent earlier this week were put on administrative leave Tuesday evening. That’s according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press. More than 180 current and former FEMA employees signed the letter sent to the FEMA Review Council and Congress on Monday critiquing recent cuts to agency staff and programs, and warning that FEMA’s capacity to respond to a major disaster was dangerously diminished. The AP has confirmed that at least two of the signatories received notices Tuesday evening informing them they would be placed on leave indefinitely. FEMA did not immediately respond to questions on how many staff were put on leave.

Several of us are not ready to see summer go. There are options for that — you know, chase the warmth and fun to some tropical destination, or enjoy a tropical fruit that requires just a trip to the supermarket. That appears to be what consumers are doing, as Americans are enjoying an increasing number […]

The farm bill was one of many topics of discussion this week at the 30th annual Dakotafest in Mitchell, South Dakota. With low commodity prices and a struggling farm economy overall, many producers are feeling stress and looking for more certainty about trade, farm programs, and more. And that’s beyond what was passed in the […]