Seizing Opportunity During the Great Depression The Great Depression challenged countless rural American families, yet it also offered opportunities for those in the right place at the right time. In …
Rise, Fall, and Comeback of Chickens in American Agriculture
Chickens: The Early Livestock Staple of Pioneer Farms Cattle and hogs are widely recognized today as major livestock staples on American farms and ranches. However, during the mid-1800s, it was …
USDA Pays Millions to California Dairies Amid Bird Flu Milk Losses
Bird Flu Devastates California Dairy Sector A widespread outbreak of H5N1 bird flu has devastated California’s dairy industry, prompting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to distribute over $230 million …
Five-Point Food Safety Plan for Meat and Poultry Unveiled
In a major policy announcement, USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins unveiled a new five-point food safety plan designed to enhance the safety of meat and poultry products in the …
USDA Lab Opens with Food Safety Focus
USDA Launches Bold Food Safety Initiative At the grand opening of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) newly modernized Midwestern Food Safety Laboratory, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a …
Senators Resist Effort to Override Prop 12
Democratic Senators Oppose Preemption of State Animal Welfare Laws A coalition of 32 Democratic U.S. Senators has sent a formal letter to the leadership of the Senate Agriculture Committee, voicing …
Canada’s Trade Moves Raise Concerns for U.S. Meat Exporters
Canada Rescinds Digital Services Tax, but Deeper Trade Frictions Remain The Canadian Department of Finance recently announced it will rescind its proposed digital services tax, a move welcomed by U.S. …
Agricultural Prices Rise 1.7% in May Amid Climbing Farm Costs
May Sees Modest Agricultural Price Increases Despite Rising Farm Costs In May, the United States experienced a modest but notable increase in agricultural output, with both crop and livestock production …
Darren Hill Explains Why Chicken and Pork Beat Beef on Price
JD Food Sales Manager Breaks Down Protein Market Differences Nick Papagni, “The Ag Meter,” sat down with Darren Hill, sales manager for JD Food in Fresno, to talk about the …
California’s Meat Industry Faces Historic Supply Crunch
Darren Hill of JD Food Discusses Beef Shortages, Rising Costs, and the Future of Meat in California In a candid conversation with “The Ag Meter,” Darren Hill, sales manager at …
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins Highlights Trade Wins, Disaster Aid, and Regulatory Cuts in House Testimony
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins appeared before the House Agriculture Committee this week, presenting an assertive outline of the USDA’s priorities and accomplishments during her first 118 days in …
Bipartisan Bill Aims to Strengthen Local Meat Processing Infrastructure
A reintroduced bill aims to help small meat processors around the nation. Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Tina Smith (D-MN) reintroduced the Strengthening Local Processing Act, a bipartisan initiative designed …
U.S. Egg Production Falls in March
U.S. egg production totaled 8.63 billion in March 2025, down 7% from the same month last year, according to new government data. The total included 7.35 billion table eggs and …
U.S. Egg Production Falls in March
U.S. egg production totaled 8.63 billion in March 2025, a 7% drop from the same month last year. That figure includes 7.35 billion table eggs and 1.28 billion hatching eggs …