Top Agriculture News

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship (ACRE) awarded $200,000 in grants to 12 local businesses as part of its Advanced Entrepreneurship program. The finalists pitched to a panel of judges on May 15 and were scored based on their business plans, a five-minute video presentation, and their demonstrated history of business success. […]

As we move out of May and into June, farmers need to scout their fields for insect pests. The primary concern at the moment, says University of Illinois Extension field crops entomologist Nick Seiter, is the black cutworm. The larvae are now large enough to do more than the simple pinhole damage you might find […]

Continued contraction in the nation’s cattle feed lots. The numbers from USDA’s May Cattle on Feed Report show cattle inventory for May 1… “An estimated 11.55 million head of cattle were in feedlots with over 1000 head capacity. That’s 1% less than a year ago. During the month of April, 1.66 million head of cattle […]

There is an expected clash change over the US during the summer months, as USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey explains. “Back in late April, we were talking about the imminent demise of El Nino, and we’re seeing a transition that has begun already to the opposite condition known as La Nina.” Or to explain these respective […]

The recent detections of H5N1 in dairy herds highlight the need for robust biosecurity measures for all species. Dr. Marisa Rotolo, National Pork Board’s Director of Swine Health emphasizes the importance of on-farm measures to keep it that way. “The source of infection is believed to be wild birds for these cattle. However, at this […]

The South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture, Hugh Weathers just back from a big trip, and it was not all fun and games. There was some work involved. Commissioner, tell us where you went and what you did? “I was asked by the US Department of Agriculture, along with four or five colleagues from around the […]

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services operates four regional farmers markets that offer residents and farmers a place to buy and sell local produce and food products. Each market has served communities for 29 or more years. The Charlotte Regional Market celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.    Assistant Commissioner Dr. Joe French Tells […]

Dr. Craig Yencho is an NC State University professor whose research has influenced sweet potato cultivation across the world. He’s now been named the recipient of the 2024 Oliver Max Gardner Award, which recognizes faculty who have made the greatest contribution to the welfare of the human race in 2005 Yencho introduced the Covington sweet […]

The avian influenza outbreak in dairy cows has revealed a critical vulnerability at the intersection of animal health and public safety. Todd Gleason reports on how a set of North Dakota State University scientists have assessed the federal response to the latest outbreak and what else they believe might help contain it. H5N1, known as […]

The House Agriculture Committee has passed their version of the next five-year farm bill. Former House Agriculture Committee Chair and current member of the Committee Frank Lucas commented on the farm bill process recently. Lucas stated there is no need to rewrite the entire farm bill. “We did that in ’14 when I was Chairman. […]