Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by USDA Invites Input
USDA: Weekly National Posted Prices for Peanuts
Photo: Clemson University The following prices are effective from Wednesday 06/21/2023 at 12:01 am Eastern Time until midnight Tuesday 06/27/2023. The next announcement is scheduled for Tuesday 06/27/2023 at 3:00 pm Eastern Time. $424.68 per ton for Runner peanuts $413.41 per ton for Spanish peanuts $428.31 per ton for Valencia peanuts $428.31 per ton for Virginia peanuts These NPP are based on the loan rates for 2022-crop peanuts announced on July 6, 2022.
Bayer Announces New Initiatives, Products To Double Its Ag Market Potential
New York – Bayer today announced its Crop Science Division will capitalize on opportunities presented by the shift to regenerative agriculture to grow in adjacent markets in addition to its core business of seeds, traits, crop protection and digital.
U.S. and China Relationship Status: It’s Still Complicated
The U.S. and China have reportedly made “progress” and agreed to stabilize their relationship, but no major breakthroughs or a path to resolve ongoing issues were outlined at the end of the meeting between Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two met to try to repair deteriorating ties between Washington and Beijing and maintain open lines of communication.
More Than 25 Farming Robot Manufacturers Already Signed Up For FIRA USA 2023
SALINAS, Calif.–Weeding, harvesting, picking, carrying,… Robots are today’s answer to the main challenges facing agriculture. And they will show up next fall in Salinas for the second edition of FIRA USA. September 19 to 21, the Salinas Sports Complex, home of the famous California Rodeo Salinas, will be the place to discover the autonomous farming solutions in action. During three days, expo, demos, pitch sessions and even a robot parade will take place in the Salad Bowl of the World.
This Is National Pollinator Week!
Photo by Kat Smith WASHINGTON, During the week of June 19 – 25, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is recognizing National Pollinator Week through the continued commitment and support for pollinator health and research. Pollinator species, such as bees, other insects, birds and bats play a critical role in producing more than 100 crops grown in the United States. Honey bee pollination alone adds more than $18 billion in value to agricultural crops annually.
USDA: Weekly Cotton Market Review
Spot quotations averaged 265 points lower than the previous week, according to the USDA, Agricultural Marketing Serviceís Cotton and Tobacco Program. Quotations for the base quality of cotton (color 41, leaf 4, staple 34, mike 35-36 and 43-49, strength 27.0-28.9, and uniformity 81.0-81.9) in the seven designated markets averaged 78.07 cents per pound for the week ending Thursday, June 15, 2023.
Farm Bill 2023: Trying to Reason with Expectations for Farm Policy
The debt limit barrier to a farm bill has been removed, which may increase the odds that Congress can reauthorize a farm bill this year but certainly doesn’t guarantee it. A collision between expectations for farm program payments and the rules governing a farm bill budget could be among the most significant barriers remaining. This article reviews some of what may be driving expectations for farm program payments and the challenges that result.
John Deere And Al Roker Release Documentary On Black Farmers’ Land Ownership Challenges
MOLINE, Illinois – Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) and Al Roker Entertainment today announced a new documentary focused on the legacy of Black farming in America and the devastating impact of heirs’ property – property passed to family members by inheritance, usually without a will or proper estate planning. Without a clear title, Black farmers are unable to qualify for government assistance, equipment financing or agricultural programs designed to optimize their land.
Geospatial Company Forecasts Yields, Announces Irrigation Software Acquisition
While the technology is up in space, Hydrosat is on a roll back on Earth. Hydrosat is a geospatial technology company that uses satellite based thermal imagery and its own proprietary machine learning and analytics to forecast yields across the world. Earlier this year, the company announced it’s a $20 million fundraising round and a grant from the U.S. Air Force, and then in June the company announced the acquisition of IrriWatch, a Netherlands-based irrigation software company.
International Grains Council Grapples with Volatile World Markets
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – The International Grains Council (IGC) met here earlier this week and Eszter Somogyi, USA Rice director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, was a featured speaker on a panel reporting on global medium grain rice production. “This was a great opportunity to share information on the expected crop situation for the 2023/24 marketing year for both California and southern medium grain rice,” said Somogyi.
Webinar Explores How to Use Land-Based Income to Increase Profits
Lenexa, Kan. (June 14, 2023) — The outdoor recreation boom is paying dividends — as much as $20,000 per year — for farmers and ranchers using alternative passive income strategies by listing their land for hunting, fishing and other activities. In this free webinar, set for Tuesday, June 20, at 12 p.m. CDT, landowners will share how they have added income to their operations.
Highlights From Farm Bureau’s Washington Fly-In, Comments From Ag Committee Leaders
WASHINGTON, – More than 150 farmers and ranchers from across the country traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet directly with lawmakers and discuss priorities for the 2023 farm bill. The American Farm Bureau Federation Advocacy Fly-In included remarks from Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Penn.) and Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.).
Fed Leaves Interest Rates Unchanged for Now, Farmers Deal with Interest Costs That Have Doubled in a Year
The Federal Reserve announced its decision to keep interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, while also signaling two more rate hikes are likely yet this year. As the U.S. central bank continues to adjust its plan to fight inflation, U.S. farmers are looking at interest costs that have doubled year-over-year. Wednesday’s interest rate decision broke a streak of 10 straight meetings where the Fed announced an interest rate hike.
USDA Hosts Commodity Groups in Western Hemisphere
SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA — USA Rice participated in Cooperator Day, which took place on the final day of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Western Hemisphere Regional Conference here last week. USA Rice and representatives from thirteen other commodity groups, along with FAS staff from the Western Hemisphere, gathered to discuss resources and programs with the goal of enhancing relationships between cooperators and their supporting posts.
USDA Accepts One Million More Acres Into Its Conservation Reserve Program
WASHINGTON, – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting more than 1 million acres in this year’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup. This is one of several signups that USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is holding for the program.
5 Reasons to Take a Hard Look at Your Balance Sheet
The 2023 crop is in the ground and growing steady, just like ag’s financial risks this year, according to Alan Rosendahl, farmer and senior vice president at Iowa State Bank in Kesley, Iowa. “Over the last three years, wider margins, government payments, fantastic yields and marketing opportunities we could never dream up have created a lot of working capital in farm country.
The Importance of Insurance Unit in Crop Insurance Policy Debates
This article explores the important role of the choice of crop insurance unit in the US crop insurance program. Farmers can choose from 4 insurance units: basic, optional, enterprise, and whole farm. Production risk and premium subsidy vary by unit type. Farmers can lower their premiums by choosing enterprise or whole farm units.
USDA: Weekly National Posted Prices for Peanuts
The following prices are effective from Wednesday 06/14/2023 at 12:01 am Eastern Time until midnight Tuesday 06/20/2023. The next announcement is scheduled for Tuesday 06/20/2023 at 3:00 pm Eastern Time. $424.68 per ton for Runner peanuts $413.41 per ton for Spanish peanuts $428.31 per ton for Valencia peanuts $428.31 per ton for Virginia peanuts These NPP are based on the loan rates for 2022-crop peanuts announced on July 6, 2022.
USDA Announces $714 Million To Connect People In Rural Areas To High-Speed Internet
WASHINGTON, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced $714 million in grants and loans to connect thousands of rural residents, farmers and business owners in 19 states to reliable, affordable high-speed internet.
USA Rice Joins Cotton Warehousers’ Meeting to Talk Farm Bill, Other Industry Priorities
NAPLES, FL — Last week, the Cotton Warehouse Association of America (CWAA) convened here for its 86th annual meeting. The CWAA is a national trade association representing cotton warehouse operators from the Carolinas to California with membership including independent, gin, merchant, and transit warehouses.
Here’s How USDA Will Collect Data From Its Climate Smart Ag Projects
The USDA’s Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities program represents an investment of over $3.1 billion into US agriculture. The statistics for the program huge: USDA selected 141 proposals from corporations, non-profits, and universities to study ways to increase climate-smart production practices for US farmers and livestock producers. USDA estimates that over the next 5 years more than 60 million tons of carbon dioxide will be sequestered as a result of the program.
What’s the Most Random Thing You’ve Found in Your Field? 5 Farmers Share Their Stories
Tornadoes and high wind weather phenomenons can leave fields littered with debris and family belongings. But other field finds deep within the soil profile can tell a bigger story. We recently asked farmers what’s the most random thing they’ve found in their fields. Here are a few of the responses. 1. Balloon with notes from a children’s classroom Fred West, a Delaware farmer, was plowing his field one evening when he stumbled upon a balloon with a note attached to it.
Hello, El Niño - What To Expect for the 2023 Crop
It’s been the talk of the coffee shop – scientists have been forecasting the development of El Niño for months and issued the first El Niño Watch on April 13. In the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s monthly outlook released on Thursday, forecasters issued an El Niño Advisory, meaning El Niño conditions are now present and expected to gradually strengthen into the winter. What is El Niño?
What Could the Ukraine Dam Explosion Mean for Global Ag Markets?
Farmers in Ukraine are assessing the damage after major dam explosion in the southeastern part of the country, which has been occupied by Russia. The critical Nova Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station sits on the Dnipro River. Ukraine accused Russian forces of blowing up the dam while Russian officials blame Ukrainian bombardment for it in the contested area.
USDA Trade Mission to Japan Capitalizes on Strong Trade Ties
USDA's Alexis Taylor in the lead in Japan (USA Rice) TOKYO & OSAKA, JAPAN – USA Rice participated in the USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission here this week, along with 11 state departments of agriculture, including California, and dozens of companies including USA Rice member American Commodity Company. The delegation met with various Japanese buyers seeking to import American products; importers and wholesalers using U.S. rice were pleased to hear about the rebound in California’s rice production.
Ag Commodity Groups Send Letter To Congress Opposing Anti-Checkoff Legislation Original
Dear Chairwoman Stabenow, Ranking Member Boozman, Chairman Thompson, and Ranking Member Scott: The undersigned organizations (collectively, “the Trade Associations”) write today in strong opposition to S. 557 and H.R. 1249, the deceptively titled Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act. If enacted, this legislation would substantially undermine our members’ ability to promote U.S. agriculture- and natural resource-based commodity products.
Georgia Growers Riding High on Cotton Boom During 2022 Season
Georgia cotton growers are starting the 2023 season with a boost from near-record-breaking yields last year. The United States Department of Agriculture released final yield data in late May, confirming the second-highest yields on record, as forecasted by University of Georgia cotton experts in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture Isn’t The Future; It’s Now
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Cengiz Koparan knows first-hand the need for agricultural technology. Koparan planted 1,000 apple trees in Ankara, Turkey, in 2004. The demanding work of planting, maintaining and harvesting the apples in his orchard helped inspire his mission to put advanced robotics in the hands of more farmers.
USDA: Weekly National Posted Prices for Peanuts
The following prices are effective from Wednesday 06/06/2023 at 12:01 am Eastern Time until midnight Tuesday 06/16/2023. The next announcement is scheduled for Tuesday 06/13/2023 at 3:00 pm Eastern Time. $424.68 per ton for Runner peanuts $413.41 per ton for Spanish peanuts $428.31 per ton for Valencia peanuts $428.31 per ton for Virginia peanuts These NPP are based on the loan rates for 2022-crop peanuts announced on July 6, 2022.
Ninth Annual Unconventional Ag Conference Announced
Topsfield, Mass. – This year’s Unconventional Ag conference, now in its ninth year, will be held in Dallas, Texas, on December 12-13 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. This highly anticipated annual event convenes top stakeholders and industry experts from across the entire ag value chain to bring awareness to the advances, developments, and value-added opportunities affecting the oilseed and grain sector.
Community College Ag Programs Could See $20 Million in New Funds
National enrollment in ag and related science majors at two-year institutions grew 41% in Fall 2021, according to estimates from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. To provide more opportunities for students enrolled in these majors, six U.S. Senators last week introduced the Community College Ag Advancement Act.
USDA Releases Agricultural Exchange Rate Data Set Report
(USDA) The Agricultural Exchange Rate Data Set contains annual and monthly data for exchange rates important to U.S. agriculture. It includes both nominal and real exchange rates for 79 countries (plus the European Union) as well as real trade-weighted exchange rate indexes for many commodities and aggregations. To read the entire report, Click Here
New Rice Package Available For John Deere X9 1000
OLATHE, Kan. (June 5, 2023) – To meet the demands of today’s high-yielding rice varieties and tighter harvesting windows faced by farmers, John Deere offers a new rice package for model year 2024 X9 1000 combines that can harvest up to 3,200 bushels per hour. The rice package features enhanced wear parts of key components inside the combine. The tougher coatings and stainless-steel parts can better withstand the abrasiveness of hybrid rice varieties when compared to previous models.
USDA: Weekly National Rice Summary
In the south, long grain milled rice steady, instances 1.00 higher in Texas; medium grain milled rice steady. Parboiled prices steady. Second heads and Brewers steady to weak. Rice byproducts: Rice Bran, Millfeed and Rice Hulls mostly steady. In California, medium grain milled rice steady to firm. Second heads and Brewers steady to firm. Rice by-products: Rice Bran and rice hulls steady.
Federal Reserve: Observations on the Ag Economy- May 2023
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve Board released its May 2023 Beige Book update, a summary of commentary on current economic conditions by Federal Reserve District. The report included several observations pertaining to the U.S. agricultural economy. * Sixth District- Atlanta– “Agricultural conditions softened since the previous report. Demand for cotton remained weak, leading many farmers to plant less cotton than last year. Cattle demand was strong.
Congressional Staff Visit Rice Farmers in Mississippi Delta
Gathering information at the source (USA Rice) CLEVELAND, MS – Last week, a group of Congressional staffers visited with rice farmers Joe and Michael Aguzzi and Kirk Satterfield, along with Mississippi State University Rice Extension Specialist Dr. Hunter Bowman at the Aguzzis’ farm. The Aguzzis shared the history of their family’s rice farm and rice production in the Mississippi Delta, while Bowman talked about the agronomics of producing rice and the uniqueness of the crop.
Texas Farmers Pummeled by 20 Inches of Rain, Now It’s Too Wet to Plant
Farmers in the Southern Plains have a new battle on their hands. After fighting consecutive multiple years of devastating drought, rains have started to fall with some areas of the Texas Panhandle breaking records for the wettest May ever. The barrage of rainfall means farmers aren’t able to plant, and prevent plant discussions are starting to occur. Wesley Spurlock farms in Sherman County, Tex. He, and other area farmers, are experiencing a year of firsts.
USDA: Weekly Cotton Review
Spot quotations averaged 56 points higher than the previous week, according to the USDA, Agricultural Marketing Serviceís Cotton and Tobacco Program. Quotations for the base quality of cotton (color 41, leaf 4, staple 34, mike 35-36 and 43-49, strength 27.0-28.9, and uniformity 81.0-81.9) in the seven designated markets averaged 80.31 cents per pound for the week ending Thursday, June 1, 2023.
What Makes a Good Farm Manager?
Managing a farming operation is a balancing act on all levels. The role of farm manager can become more complex when working with family, especially in the busy seasons. To make the job easier, researchers at Purdue University find farm managers who prioritize growth in knowledge, experience and collaboration are best positioned to buffer relationships and increase output. Here is a rundown of how each of the three skills interact with one another for success on the farm. 1.
AgriCapture Receives First Carbon Credits In Texas History For Grasslands Conservation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — AgriCapture is issued the first-ever avoided grasslands conversion carbon credits in Texas through a partnership with the property’s landowner and the Texas Agricultural Land Trust to protect soil carbon and ensure that the property’s native grasslands will not be converted. The credits were issued by the Climate Action Reserve (CAR), a globally trusted carbon market offset registry, to a Bailey County ranch.
Reviewing the Debt Limit Deal
Closing out the month of May and rapidly approaching the default deadline, the House of Representatives passed legislation embodying a deal between House Speaker McCarthy and President Biden to suspend the debt limit and institute spending reductions; the vote was 314 to 117 (4 not voting), of which 149 Republicans and 165 Democrats voted for it and 71 Republicans and 46 Democrats voted against it (each caucus had 2 Representatives not voting) (Carney, May 31, 2023; Edmondson, May 31, 2023;...
USDA Invites Input On Crop Insurance Coverage For Prevented Planting
Strip-till planted peanuts. Photo: C. Jordan, USDA-NRCS The USDA is inviting agricultural producers to participate in a special virtual listening session on Thursday, June 8, 1:00 -3:00 CDT, to provide comments on the Prevented Planting Request for Information published in the Federal Register on May 23.
Chemical Safety: Every Breath You Take, Every Step You Take …
Residual chemicals from sprayers can not only contaminate operators but also their families — even when gloves, goggles and aprons are worn. Operators often crawl into cabs wearing chemically-contaminated gloves to briefly reposition machines. Chemicals on the gloves easily transfer to the steering wheel, hydrostatic control handle and control switches, and then from those surfaces to bare hands.
Mister Mangum’s Monkey Hoax: Farming’s First Viral Prank Still Echoes
A lie repeated 1,000 times becomes truth—at least in the eyes of the gullible. Agriculture history is filled with red herrings and snake oil, but the oft-told, outrageous claim of trained monkeys working on American farms is a hoax for the ages. Arguably, no recurring agriculture deception has been as successful as the farm monkey prank. Swallowed by the mainstream media and disseminated as fake news, it is a tale with the barest toehold of truth. Welcome, literally, to monkeys in the middles.
World’s Largest Soil Archive Brings History to Life
In 2018, a barn on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) main campus was set to be demolished. On demo day, Andrew Margenot, associate professor of soil sciences, walked into the dusty, dilapidated barn to size up the job at hand. That’s when he stumbled upon a once-in-a-lifetime discovery. Nestled within the confines of the decaying barn walls sat 8,000 mason jars filled with Illinois soil dating back to 1862.
Comparing Crop Insurance Net Farm Indemnities and Crop Production Profits
We compare net crop insurance indemnities paid to farmers with private market net returns from producing barley, corn, cotton, oats, peanuts, rice, sorghum, soybeans, and wheat over the 2009-2022 crop years. Collectively for the 9 crops, net indemnities paid to farmers nearly equal the net returns earned from producing these crops. Distribution of net indemnities across the crops differs nontrivially from the distribution of private market production incentives (i.e. net returns) across the crops.
USDA: Weekly National Posted Prices for Peanuts
The following prices are effective from Wednesday 05/31/2023 at 12:01 am Eastern Time until midnight Tuesday 06/06/2023. The next announcement is scheduled for Tuesday 06/06/2023 at 3:00 pm Eastern Time. $424.68 per ton for Runner peanuts $413.41 per ton for Spanish peanuts $428.31 per ton for Valencia peanuts $428.31 per ton for Virginia peanuts These NPP are based on the loan rates for 2022-crop peanuts announced on July 6, 2022.
USDA: Weekly National Rice Summary
In the south, long and medium grain milled rice steady. Parboiled prices steady. Second heads and Brewers steady. Rice by-products: Rice Bran, Millfeed and Rice Hulls mostly steady. In California, medium grain milled rice steady to firm. Second heads and Brewers steady to firm. Rice by-products: Rice Bran and rice hulls steady. Full Report
What We Know About Anuvia Shutting Down
Mid season cotton. Photo: Jerry Goodson, OSU Via social media late last week, former Anuvia leaders have confirmed the company is suspending operations and liquidating assets. Farm Journal has confirmed this news, but the company does not have a statement or any further details to share. In 2020, Anuvia had built out its production at a former Mosaic site in Plant City, Fla., after ramping up its technology and business for five years.
Flash Flooding Hits Texas Panhandle, Several Feedyards Now Face Massive Cleanup and Cattle Losses
From drought to now major flooding, historic rainfall fell in the Texas Panhandle over the weekend and prompted flooding. Hereford, Texas, is an area that was hit especially hard by the historic rains, with feedyards flooded and cattle trapped. Now, work is underway to pump a massive amount of water out. According to the National Weather Service in Amarillo, the Hereford, Texas, area unofficially received 8 inches of rain in the past month.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with USDA Invites
Contact USDA Invites, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack