Top Agriculture News

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) — Tuesday was the eighth annual “World Bee Day.” Bees and other pollinators have been on the decline for years. Experts blame a combination of factors. They include insecticides, parasites, disease, climate change and lack of a diverse food supply. A significant part of the human diet comes from plants pollinated by bees. And not just honeybees but hundreds of species of lesser-known wild bees. Many of them are endangered. The U.N. General Assembly sponsored the first “World Bee Day” in 2018 to bring attention to the bees’ plight. Steps as small as planting a pollinator garden or buying raw honey from local farmers were encouraged.

I hear you were in Summerville recently to check out a new concept. Tell us about it, Commissioner. I visited Carnes Crossroads in Summerville. This new development features a small farm at its center. Residents can participate in monthly shares of produce and local goods. There will also be a monthly farmers market and farm […]

The NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently announced 31 recipients of the N.C. State Fair Junior Livestock Scholarships to help fund higher education for youth who participate in State Fair Junior Livestock Shows. Funding comes from the annual Junior Livestock Sale of Champions.

This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at [email protected] or 843-540-4540. We had a much quieter Monday this week compared to last week. Both the corn and bean balance sheets are tight enough that we cannot afford any weather hiccup, but with the fast planting pace and a […]

The push to stop a dangerous livestock pest is gaining traction in Congress. The “STOP Screwworms Act” was introduced by Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales and Texas Senator John Cornyn. It has bipartisan backing as more lawmakers line up behind the plan to keep the New World screwworm from reaching the U.S.  Ethan Lane, Senior Vice […]

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein made another request of state lawmakers to commit hundreds of millions more dollars to western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene last year. Stein’s proposal announced Monday totals $891 million. The governor says the money will go to addressing critical needs such as revitalizing local economies, repairing town infrastructure and providing housing assistance. The state legislature has already appropriated or made available more than $1 billion for Helene recovery since the storm ravaged the western part of the state in September. Stein also emphasized the need for state funds instead of waiting for “uncertain federal assistance.”

Cotton planting is underway across the country, and alongside the tried-and-true are a selection of test varieties with new and exciting traits that Deltapine test growers from coast to coast will be evaluating for the class of 2026. Deltapine Product Manager Eric Best says the New Product Evaluation program is pretty special. “I think this […]

Cattle has been in a bull market for quite a while. But how long can the rally last? USDA chief economist Seth Meyer told farm broadcasters that has yet to be determined. “You talk to some of the cow-calf folks, and yes, those feeders are worth a lot of money. But the decision is, do […]

Talking with Assistant State Climatologist Corey Davis from the State Climate Office of North Carolina, and Corey we could wrap up the past week in one word, rain. “Yeah, I think rain, wet, torrential, any of those would be some pretty good adjectives for this past week, we previewed this in the forecast. Last week, […]

This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at [email protected] or 843-540-4540. The progress on trade with China and the May USDA report were bullish on Monday. The fast planting progress reported on Monday afternoon weighed on the corn market. Weekly ethanol production report out on Wednesday was not […]