Top Agriculture News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to move thousands of employees out of Washington, D.C., aiming to save money and bring them closer to farmers and ranchers. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Thursday that around 2,600 workers will relocate to five hubs from North Carolina to Utah. The plan is part of President Donald Trump’s effort to make the federal government more efficient. Critics worry about losing connections to Congress and potential disruptions. The union representing federal workers criticized the move as a ploy to cut jobs. The union also pointed out that some 95% of the department’s employees already work outside Washington.

Mahindra is back with its 12th annual Mahindra Military Salute Giveaway just for military members and veterans. The giveaway launch commemorated Flag Day and the US Army’s 250th birthday. Matt Glendon is Mahindra Senior Director of Marketing, and says this year’s contest has a twist. “We care deeply about our military here in the US, […]

Sometimes growers need a helping hand on the farm at harvest time, with a repair, or on a building project, and sometimes they just need someone to listen. The North Carolina Agromedicine Institute Farm Stress Counseling Program connects agricultural producers, workers, and families to local mental health services. Dr. Alyssa Spence is the institute’s interim […]

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 23, 2025 — Pat Hord, Ohio pork producer and vice president of the National Pork Producers Council, and Holly Cook, NPPC economist, testified before the full House Agriculture Committee on the implications of California’s Proposition 12 for farmers and food prices. On behalf of the industry, they called for Congress to support Committee Chairman […]

Pork and egg producers across the country will be watching Wednesday as the House Agriculture Committee holds a hearing on California’s Proposition 12. California voters passed Prop 12 in 2018 essentially banning the sale of conventionally raised pork and eggs in the state, forcing producers from coast to coast to modify their operations at considerable […]

Taking place now, sign up for a new USDA Disaster Assistance Program. “Producers who experience losses covered by crop insurance or by Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program or nap can sign up for Supplemental Disaster Relief Program.” Farm Service Agency Administrator Bill Beam says eligible crop losses due to natural disasters apply to the 2023 […]

This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at [email protected] or 843-540-4540. We did not see a lot of new news last week to move the needle. The weather was trending more threatening with a prolonged heatwave with unusually warm nights forecast for much of the central US. Most […]

In July 2024, the former DHEC was dissolved and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture took on some important new duties related to food safety. Let’s take a look at how that’s going. We now inspect restaurants under the Retail Food Safety program. We also took on Milk Safety and the Milk Lab. Additional duties […]

North Carolina agriculture continues to invest in ag research to advance agricultural production in the state. A number of upcoming Field Days will showcase some of the work being done with tobacco, turfgrass, horticulture crops, corn and soybeans.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Anyone firing up the grill this summer already knows hamburgers and steaks are expensive, but the latest numbers show prices have climbed to record highs. And experts say consumers shouldn’t expect much relief soon either. According to U.S. government data, the average price of a pound of ground beef rose to $6.12 in June, up nearly 12% from a year ago. The average price of all uncooked beef steaks rose 8% to $11.49 per pound. But this is not a recent phenomenon. Beef prices have been steadily rising over the past 20 years because the supply of cattle remains tight while beef remains popular. That’s not likely to change.