Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata or Medfly) Courtesy of USDA/APHIS USDA/APHIS Pest Man The USDA has designated April 2025 as Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month to highlight the…
China Announces 34% Retaliatory Tariff on U.S. Goods
China’s Finance Ministry has announced a new 34% tariff on all U.S. imports, effective April 10. The move is a direct response to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump,…
California Prune Board Promoting Sustainable Farming Practices
Image by Smith from Pixabay The California Prune Board (CPB) is promoting sustainable farming practices through an educational marketing campaign, highlighting the state’s role as a leading producer of premium…
Latest Crops and Commodities in Drought
Not much change was recorded in the U.S. Drought Monitor from the previous month, however, notable month-over-month differences appeared by region. Shrinking drought coverage for corn and soybean growing areas…
American Agriculture History Minute: Fertilizer Invented
Image by singkham/DepositPhotos image I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. American Agriculture History Minute: Fertilizer Invented When one thinks of inventions that change the face of American…
U.S. Beekeepers Report Record Colony Losses, Raising Alarm for Farmers
…could be significant. With fewer bees to pollinate crops like almonds, apples, and melons, farmers may see reduced yields and higher production costs. Economic losses for beekeepers are already estimated…
U.S. Grapefruit Production Forecast
The U.S. grapefruit production forecast for 2024-2025 is 299 tons, the lowest since 1922, with declines in California and Florida but an expected 4% increase in Texas, which will account…
USDA Informs Employees of Impending Staff Cuts, Office Closings
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has informed over 100,000 employees of impending staff cuts, with offices potentially closing and employees needing to relocate to keep their jobs. Employees have…
Bill Introduced to Limit Presidential Authority to Impose Tariffs
USA and China trade war caused by the US tariffs on agriculture goods, steel and aluminum. DepositPhotos image A bill has been introduced to limit the president’s authority to impose…
ARC – PLC Enrollment Deadlines Approaching
Producers wishing to enroll in either Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) from USDA have until April 15th to do so. Find Your Local Service Center Rod…
American Agriculture History Minute: Early Settlers Settle Appalachian Mountains
The Earnest Fort House (sometimes called the Mauris-Earnest Fort House after a later owner) in Greene County, in the U.S. state of Tennessee. This house, located just south of Chuckey…
Farmer Sentiment Declines Amid Policy and Trade Uncertainty
DepositPhotos image Farmer sentiment weakened in March as growing concerns over agricultural trade and farm policy dampened outlooks. The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped 12 points to 140,…
Meat Export Federation: Trump’s Port Fee Proposal Could Hurt U.S. Exports
DepositPhotos image The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) has joined more than 300 organizations opposing President Trump’s plan to impose steep port call fees on Chinese vessels, warning it would…
US Orange Crop Expected to Decline for Upcoming Season
Shutterstock image The US orange crop is expected to decline by over 30% to 11.5 million boxes for the 2024-2025 season, reflecting challenges like trade conflicts, climate change, and citrus…