A large portion of the nation’s winter wheat crop lacks a protective layer of snow cover and meteorologists are saying the recent deep freeze is doing some damage. Snow cover …
USDA Wants More Done to Combat Crop Insurance Fraud
The Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the Risk Management Agency hasn’t done enough to combat crop insurance fraud. Since 2001, the RMA has contracted with the …
Eleven States Support Injunction Against California’s Prop 65 Regulation
Attorneys General in 11 states have filed a brief in support of a preliminary injunction that multiple Ag organizations are seeking against California’s Prop 65. Additionally, the U.S. Chamber of …
CDFA Awards Funding to Support Ag Education Through California Agriculture License Plate Program
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has awarded $260,000 for six projects that enhance agricultural education and leadership opportunities for students, teachers and youth under the 2017 California Special …
Almond Board: 2018 Research Funding
The Almond Board of California announced funding for 2018 research projects. Director of Sustainability and Environmental Affairs Gabriele Ludwig says the research will focus on using everything that’s produced from …
Report: Vertical Farming Happening Now
Vertical farming won’t replace conventional farming, but researchers say vertical farming is happening now, and growing. Research by Stanford University shows vertical farming is growing and will likely be needed …
No Link Between Small Wild Birds and Rodents to 2014-15 HPAI Outbreak
A study by Iowa State University found no evidence that small wild birds and rodents were possible sources of the avian influenza virus that decimated Iowa poultry flocks in 2015. …
Demand Supporting Hog Prices
U.S. hog prices are being supported by strong demand, according to Purdue University economist Chris Hurt. He says pork production is expected to rise by three percent in the first-half …
NAFTA Withdraw Threats Put Transportation Jobs in Jeopardy
Withdraw threats by President Donald Trump regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are putting transportation jobs at risk. Politico says that thousands of transportation jobs up and down …
Farm Groups Launch ‘Farm Town Strong’ Campaign to Address Rural Opioid Epidemic
As farming communities face mounting challenges with the nation’s opioid epidemic, the nation’s two largest general farm organizations are teaming up to confront the issue. The American Farm Bureau Federation …
Marijuana Operation Seeks Farm Status in Washington State
A Washington State marijuana grower argues his farm should be exempt from the state’s Clean Air Act because it is an agricultural activity. An appeals panel will tour the operation …
Report Shows 2014-15 HPAI Impact
A new report by the Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service found the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the United States was not as big an effect …
USDA Survey Shows Millennials Prefer Fruits, Vegetables
A recent Department of Agriculture report shows that millennials prefer fruits and vegetables over grains and meats. The USDA report analyzed food-buying data by generation. Agri-Pulse reports that millennials spend …
Index Shows Farmer Optimism Increasing
A survey of farmers shows optimism is increasing in the Midwest farm country, despite continued low prices. The latest DTN/The Progressive Farmer Agricultural Confidence Index found increasing optimism, posting an …