The Agribusiness Update

Advocacy groups urge FAA to reject a proposal that would allow large livestock operations and slaughterhouses to restrict drone flights over their facilities, and Senate Ag Democrats warn a proposed reorganization of USDA's Rural Development area could limit access to critical programs.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture warns ag community after receiving multiple reports of sophisticated online scams targeting farmers searching for farm equipment, and cattle groups support reopening of the southern border to live cattle from Mexico.

Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a low-cost, semi-automated, AI-driven method that uses remote cameras to survey bumblebees and other insects, and cattle groups support reopening of the southern border to live cattle from Mexico.

A new study says growing health disparities are contributing to workforce challenges across rural America, and USDA will begin reopening the southern border to cattle imports from Mexico next month.

An electrochemical sensor developed at Oregon State University holds promise for food quality testing, and a Republican-backed ag labor bill is drawing mixed reactions as lawmakers debate changes to the H-2A farmworker program.

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins and the State of Georgia have finalized a Cooperative Interstate Shipment agreement, and a Republican-backed ag labor bill is drawing mixed reactions as lawmakers debate changes to the H-2A farmworker program.

Strong global demand continues to boost U.S. pork exports, with both value and volume running ahead of last year, and U.S. dairy groups applaud the White House decision to impose 50% tariffs on dairy imports from Canada.

AgWest Farm Credit is awarding over $3 million to 48 organizations in communities throughout the West, and China sharply reduced soybean imports from the U.S. in June, while purchases from Brazil continued to climb.

Georgia Ag Commissioner Tyler Harper calls for the U.S. Trade Representative to prioritize protections for American specialty crop producers, and China sharply reduced soybean imports from the U.S. in June, while purchases from Brazil continued to climb.

Mexico's ambassador to the U.S. says the review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement should be completed before the end of the year, and global corn consumption is projected to exceed production during the 2026-27 marketing year, raising concerns.

The California Avocado Commission Board of Directors is seeking candidates for its alternate public member position, and the Trump administration announced new 25% tariffs on a range of Brazilian imports.

The Georgia Peanut Commission is hosting a photo contest featuring peanut farms from across the state to fill the pages of the 2027 Georgia Peanut Calendar, and the Trump administration announced new 25% tariffs on a range of Brazilian imports.

Higher food prices continue to change the way Americans shop, according to a new report from CoBank's Knowledge Exchange, and regenerative agriculture continues to gain momentum across the country.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek requests Federal Disaster Designation for pear growers in the Columbia River Gorge, and America's farmland continues to face pressure from development and ownership changes.

North Carolina enacts new law barring certain foreign entities from purchasing agricultural land and property near military installations, and America's farmland continues to face pressure from development and ownership changes.

John Deere is committing to giving farmers diagnostic tools to help them and independent service technicians repair equipment, and China is once again placing U.S. soybean orders after a trade agreement ended the country's purchasing freeze.

Land O'Lakes is investing in its Tulare, California, dairy processing facility to enable production of ultra-filtered milk, and U.S. ethanol exports rebounded in May, up 11% from April to 189.7 million gallons as demand grew in key international markets.

Georgia Ag Commissioner Harper signs proclamation declaring July 2026 as “Georgia Grown Watermelon Month,” and U.S. ethanol exports rebounded in May, up 11% from April to 189.7 million gallons as demand grew in key international markets.

Mexico remains the top market for U.S. food and agricultural exports at 18% of total U.S. food and ag exports, and USDA and Small Business Administration sign new agreement aimed at helping farmers, ranchers, and small rural businesses challenge unfair federal regulatory and enforcement actions.

As the New World screwworm expands into the U.S. from Mexico, California's pest exclusion leaders already have developed a response plan, and an agreement announced by John Deere and the FTC ensures farmers and ranchers will have access to the diagnostic and repair tools to help maintain and repair equipment.

The National Peanut Board spent an energizing week with industry leaders in June at the 30th annual USA Peanut Congress, and an agreement announced by John Deere and the FTC ensures farmers and ranchers will have access to the diagnostic and repair tools to help maintain and repair equipment.

This year's first U.S.-grown pears are shipping to retailers and canneries as the season kicks off in California, and USDA is launching a pilot program designed to modernize crop acreage reporting by replacing paper maps with electronic reporting.

A new $42 million initiative from American Farmland Trust's Beef Grazing Network aims to help 700 beef producers improve profitability through better grazing, healthier soils and stronger marketing, and USDA is launching a pilot program designed to modernize crop acreage reporting by replacing paper maps with electronic reporting.

The California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife awarded California Farm Bureau $1.1 million for payments to ranchers who've lost livestock due to wolf attacks, and the NCGA released a new strategy outlining how the U.S. corn industry can build demand for new domestic and international markets.

The burgeoning East Coast broccoli industry is helping slightly lower costs and reduce reliance on drought-prone Western states like California, and the NCGA released a new strategy outlining how the U.S. corn industry can build demand for new domestic and international markets.

An unusually early California stone fruit harvest is expected to reduce supplies of organic peaches, nectarines and plums later this summer, and American ag groups reacted to the U.S., Mexico, and Canada launching the first joint review of the USMCA.

The International Trade Commission has voted to maintain the antidumping order on fresh tomatoes imported from Mexico, and American ag groups reacted to the U.S., Mexico, and Canada launching the first joint review of the USMCA.

Major livestock groups are applauding new legislation that would expand the H-2A guest worker program to year-round agriculture, and President signs executive order temporarily suspending countervailing duties applied to imported phosphate.

Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act of 2026 would broaden access to H-2A workers, and agricultural groups are urging the Senate Ag Committee to include language in their final bill to address the problems caused by California's Proposition 12.

The Renewable Fuels Association applauds President Trump's latest call for Congress to approve permanent, year-round sales of E15 gas nationwide, and American businesses searching for skilled workers may be overlooking one of the country's largest talent pools: the National FFA.

In 2017, as dozens of wildfires ravaged California's wine country, UC-Davis, researcher Natalia Pinzón witnessed the devastation firsthand, and the Honey Bee Health Coalition has released the ninth edition of its Tools for Varroa Management Guide.

Your 4th cookout will cost $73.82 for 10 guests this year, according to the American Farm Bureau annual marketbasket survey, and the Honey Bee Health Coalition has released the ninth edition of its Tools for Varroa Management Guide.

Over 100 ag groups urging Congress to provide additional funding and staffing support for local USDA Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service offices, and calling it the “Agricultural Act of 2026,” Senate Ag Chair John Boozman releases bill discussion text.

Governor Ron DeSantis is celebrating the opening of the Florida Pavilion at the Great American State Fair, and calling it the “Agricultural Act of 2026,” Senate Ag Chair John Boozman releases bill discussion text.

Labor shortages, rising costs and water access emerged as key concerns for farmers during discussions at the 2026 Agri-Pulse Food & Ag Issues Summit, and American farmers could gain a new export market if ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran lead to an agreement allowing unfrozen Iranian assets to be used for food purchases.

For the 15th year, Georgia Farm Bureau rewarded the 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors who showed the top animals at the Georgia Junior National Livestock Show, and American farmers could gain a new export market if ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran lead to an agreement allowing unfrozen Iranian assets to be used for food purchases.

USDA's new 2027 cost of production forecast reveals farmers may not see meaningful relief from elevated production costs anytime soon, and the fertilizer industry is welcoming the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Northwest cherry season has entered its peak shipping window, with volumes now at their highest levels of the year, and a new Senate farm bill proposal could face an uphill battle after reports indicated it does NOT include a delay in planned changes to SNAP funding.

Summer break can leave some Florida children without access to regular, healthy meals, and a new Senate farm bill proposal could face an uphill battle after reports indicated it does NOT include a delay in planned changes to SNAP funding.

The American Farm Bureau is now accepting applications for its 2027 Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence, and a new survey suggests artificial intelligence is gaining traction on America's farms and ranches, though many remain cautious.

A new online computer program helps producers determine whether irrigation systems are applying water uniformly and estimate waste costs, and forecasters are reminding farmers and ranchers that no two El Niño weather patterns are exactly alike.

A new initiative launched by the University of Georgia aims to improve roadway safety education for all-terrain and utility task vehicle operators, and forecasters are reminding farmers and ranchers that no two El Niño weather patterns are exactly alike.