Farm News & Views

Amid rising input costs, trade tensions, and extreme weather, U.S. farmers—especially older producers—are facing mounting debt, mental health strain, and record-low incomes.

This week: alarming honeybee losses, weak farm income forecasts, ag export declines, wolf deterrent efforts in Colorado, and sweeping USDA budget cuts under scrutiny.

This week's Farm News & Views highlights veteran and female leadership in agriculture, the impact of a new federal health report on pesticide use, and growing concerns from farmers.

Tensions over U.S. ag exports continue as the UK rejects hormone-treated beef, trade disputes threaten soybean markets, and wolf management stirs debate in rural California.

USDA halts livestock imports from Mexico due to screwworm outbreak, while U.S.-China tariff adjustments spark hope for U.S. agriculture amid trade tensions.

Over 15,000 USDA employees left after financial incentives, affecting farming agencies. U.S. farm income declines, and economists warn of a recession. Meanwhile, Farm Bureau celebrates dogs with a contest.

U.S. farmers face uncertainty as tariffs disrupt agricultural markets. With global competition growing, experts warn that trade policies may harm the U.S. ag economy.

Farmers face uncertainty amid rising tariffs and the U.S.-China trade war. Issues with agricultural workers, avian flu outbreaks, and solar grazing add to the pressure on the industry.

Trade wars and tariffs put pressure on U.S. farmers and ranchers, affecting both exports and imports. Global market uncertainty leaves producers vulnerable, raising costs and impacting the food system.

This week's Farm News & Views Report covers market declines, budget cuts to agricultural research, and tips for farm business management. Also, time for soil testing in April.

U.S. agricultural economists agree that the trade war's impacts are troubling, while rising challenges in farming, fertilizer, and water allocation add to economic stress.

National Ag Day highlights farming's role in the U.S. amidst challenges like tariffs, workforce changes, and resource management in agriculture.

Farmers face a tough year as tariffs, fertilizer shortages, and trade wars impact crops, livestock, and costs, with some wary of political interference and government policies.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins pushes for a 2025 farm bill, while facing challenges like trade deficits, regulations, and financial squeezes impacting farmers and ranchers.

The USDA faces criticism for cuts and delays affecting farmers, including staff reductions and frozen funds. The bird flu crisis also raises concerns over vaccination plans for poultry.

USDA reports show a decline in farm numbers, especially in beef and sheep sectors. Equipment dealers face challenges due to tariffs, while bird flu impacts poultry farming.

The January Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor predicts strong beef and pork production for 2025 but rising prices for consumers. Concerns over trade, tariffs, and immigrant labor continue.

This week's Farm News & Views report examines how Trump's tariffs on Canadian, Mexican & Chinese goods shake U.S. ag trade—from fertilizer impacts to export revenue.

Colorado's snowpack is a mixed bag as January ends, with some river basins below normal levels. Meanwhile, tariffs on agricultural goods threaten U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade.

This week, Farm News & Views explores state boundary proposals, rising bird flu cases, and farmers scaling back on equipment and inputs amid economic challenges.

As trade concerns grow ahead of the Presidential Inauguration, farm leaders worry about potential tariffs on imports, while beef cattle producers enjoyed a strong 2024.

The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index offers insights into the 2025 agricultural economy, highlighting concerns over farmland prices, farm equipment sales, and trade issues.

This week on Farm News and Views: Remembering farmer-president Jimmy Carter, the tough 2025 ag outlook, better news for cattle and hog producers, and key issues to watch.

On this week's Farm News & Views: Congress passed a short-term budget with $10B for farmers, $21B in disaster aid, and a Farm Bill extension, but a March 2024 shutdown looms. Plus, reindeer facts!

Arizona's Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against a Saudi-owned farm over excessive groundwater use, Colorado's wolf depredation costs rise, and a new USDA report highlights family farm contributions.

This week on Farm News & Views: Mexican cattle imports paused over screwworm concerns, Ukraine's agriculture faces wartime devastation, and USDA launches milk testing for H5N1.

President-elect Trump's tariff threats raise concerns among ag groups about trade retaliation, risking U.S. farm exports and food supply reliance on Mexico and Canada.

Congress is negotiating a farm bill extension as a mass deportation of undocumented workers looms, threatening agriculture. Plus, Thanksgiving meal prices drop 5% this year.

As trade shifts, Mexico becomes the U.S.'s top agricultural export market, surpassing China. Meanwhile, farm bill debates and immigration concerns remain unresolved.

November's Farm Journal survey shows optimism for U.S. agriculture, with rising corn exports and anticipated beef herd growth by 2026. Wolf reintroduction and high deer populations continue to concern Colorado ranchers, as wildlife can impact both land and livestock.

A pig in Oregon has tested positive for H5N1 bird flu, raising concerns about human infection risk. Meanwhile, droughts hit Mississippi River shipping, and OSU explores seaweed to reduce cattle methane.

Farm income is projected to drop sharply in 2024, raising concerns among producers, while McDonald's lawsuit against beef giants over alleged price-fixing could bring changes to the industry.

On this week's episode of Farm News and Views: Consumer attitudes toward food production are changing, with increased support for animal welfare laws like California's Proposition 12, leading to a surge in cage-free egg production.

This edition of Farm News & Views covers the USDA's plan to lower food prices, and some lawmakers calling for members of Congress to come back to Washington to provide funding for farmers who have been affected by Hurricane Helene.

This week's Farm News and Views covers the latest Ag Economy Barometer, where farmers express mixed feelings about commodity prices, trade, and the 2024 elections, as well as a heartwarming story of a goat joining a half marathon in Canada.

This week's Farm News & Views with Bob Bragg covers record heat in the West, the impact of Hurricane Helene on southeastern agriculture, and rising egg prices due to bird flu.

Rising food prices spark political debate, but production costs have surged by 28% since 2019. Low water levels hinder grain transport, while drones may soon herd cattle.

This week: U.S. ag trade deficit revised to $212B amid rising import demand and falling exports, with lower projections for major crops. Despite this, horticulture exports rise.

USDA revises ag outlook: profits may not drop as feared due to lower production costs and rising livestock prices, despite headwinds for crop producers. State fairs adapt to H5N1 impacts, and legal battles over animal welfare and alternative meats continue. California's walnut crop forecast drops significantly.

The USDA's recent updates include the expansion of the grasslands Conservation Reserve, a pioneering bird flu vaccine trial, rising oxtail popularity, and a record agricultural trade deficit.

Rising land prices and investment firms' dominance make it harder for young farmers to enter the industry. With U.S. beef cow numbers at a historic low and range conditions mixed, the future of farming faces challenges.

Midwest farmers face lower crop prices and California's grape growers deal with a surplus, while the EPA bans a harmful herbicide. Good news: $2 billion in aid for affected farmers and new Colorado laws to protect pollinators.

In 2023, U.S. farm bankruptcies hit a record low, thanks to high commodity prices and farm incomes. However, with rising costs and decreased revenues, 2024 may see a rise in filings. Meanwhile, farm bill discussions stall in Congress, and potential deportations of undocumented farmworkers could severely impact the agriculture sector.

Political wrangling stalls the new farm bill in Congress, with a proposed bill potentially increasing deficit spending by $33 billion. Amid a weakening farm economy, Amish farms in Lancaster County, PA, offer insights into surviving and thriving on a small scale.

The Rural Mainstreet Index declines for the 11th month amid concerns about weak commodity prices and high interest rates. PepsiCo's Planting Pathways Initiative aims to boost opportunities for young farmers. Research highlights the benefits of regenerative agriculture for soil health, and virtual fencing is aiding in Great Salt Lake wetlands conservation.

Agrivoltaics, combining solar panels with crops or grazing, is gaining traction. The USDA is investing in research, while farmers face economic challenges and await a new Farm Bill.

Over the past few months, the agricultural economy faces challenges with predicted drops in crop receipts and government payments. However, net farm income projections for 2024 have increased by $3 billion. Tractor sales are down, and economists are concerned about retreating crop prices. Meanwhile, demand for beef remains strong, and lower grain prices benefit livestock producers. A Farm Progress Magazine survey shows high demand for graduates in various agricultural majors due to their practical, hands-on education.

On this week's episode of Farm News & Views, Bob Bragg talks about dry weather affecting parts of the U.S. and a report concerning what people in a study think about higher food prices at grocery stores and restaurants.

Cow calf producers saw a significant price increase at the Corn Belt Classic sale, with steers trading up to $35/hundredweight more than in 2023, driven by past drought-induced herd culling.

Farmers and ranchers are concerned about passing a new farm bill this summer, a complex process involving eight legislative steps with only one completed so far. Meanwhile, H5N1 bird flu has spread to poultry and dairy herds, prompting efforts to develop an avian flu vaccine. A recent poll shows that American farmers strongly support conservation funding to address climate change impacts.

Virtual fencing systems for livestock use GPS-enabled collars to define grazing areas without physical fences, transforming how ranchers manage pastures.