Top Agriculture News

Minnesota pork producer Lori Stevermer, the former president of the National Pork Producers Council, saw firsthand how challenging things are in U.S. agriculture and the pork industry. She said there is no doubt that things are rough in the U.S. farm economy. “I would say these are some interesting and challenging times for our farm […]

At a press conference on Tuesday, Democrats decried President Trump’s tariff war, saying it’s costing American farmers crucial markets they are unlikely to get back anytime soon. Minnesota governor Tim Walz pointed out that in 2024, China bought 27 million metric tons of soybeans, but this year, they have bought none. “Donald Trump didn’t create […]

U.S. dairy markets can be a challenge to completely understand. Mick Homb, the general manager for the Farm First Dairy Cooperative in Wisconsin, said even he’s not sure why the milk markets are doing what they’re doing. “I wish I were smart enough to explain the milk markets. It seems like milk, right now, is […]

Profitability in the ethanol segment is there, thanks to a slight rise in the profit margins in the third quarter through the first half of September. Dan O’Brien, an agricultural economist with Kansas State University Extension, talked about the profitability of the U.S. ethanol sector that uses roughly 35 percent of a corn crop in […]

We are seeing today’s technological advancements everywhere, even in agriculture where AI and automation are becoming increasingly common. Keith Veselka, CEO and Co-founder of NWFM, Northwest Farm Management, says it’s not slowing down. “I think with the emergence of AI and then the advancement of robotics, autonomy, and drones, a lot of the scanning capabilities […]

Older adults sometimes leave billions of dollars in government assistance on the table each year and don’t realize it. It’s money that could help cover utilities, rent, health care, and prescription drugs. Sean Voskuhl, Oklahoma State Director for the AARP, talks about those federally funded programs that go unused every year. “First, let’s talk about […]

Ag employers took a big sigh of relief after the Department of Labor revised the methodology for determining the H-2A program’s Adverse Effect Wage Rate. Northwest Horticultural Council’s Senior Vice President, Kate Tynan, says it’s great news because tree fruit growers are spending nearly every dollar they make on labor costs. “We did conduct a […]

This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at [email protected] or 843-540-4540. It looked like it was going to be a quiet week last week until China released new restrictions on rare earth minerals and related mining equipment on Thursday. Trump reached an agreement with President Xi in May […]

With the U.S.–Mexico–Canada trade deal facing a 2026 review, ag leaders say farmers must have a strong voice.  Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith recently hosted USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg to hear from Nebraska producers. Top of mind for corn growers is the dispute they’ve had with Mexico, which had rejected […]

There is growing awareness of the threat New World screw-worm can pose to our nation’s livestock, particularly beef cattle, as this invasive pest, once decades removed from our country, travels closer to the U.S.-Mexican border. “This one’s particularly problematic because the maggot will infest living tissues and consume those on a living animal. It’ll get […]