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Farms and ranches that employ workers under the H2-A program now have their federally mandated minimum wage under the new Adverse Effect Wage Rate.
Farmers and ranchers are bracing for the impact of President Trump's plan to allow beef imports to increase by 660-million pounds over a 90-day period.
The U.S. and Canada announced dueling tariffs on imports going back and forth between the neighboring countries after U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement negotiations broke off.
The American Farm Bureau Federation continues to push federal legislation that will allow for year-round sales of E15 fuel President Donald Trump also addressed the beef packing industry's market dominance, expressing his intention to empower more farmers and ranchers to process their own meat.
The Trump administration has announced a new plan aimed at lowering beef prices for consumers, but will the plan negatively impact the farm economy?
The U.S. livestock industry is concerned following President Trump's decision to remove import tariffs on beef, which could lower grocery prices but negatively impact domestic cattle producers. The AFBF, along with other associations, is communicating with the White House and Congress to oppose this move. Meanwhile, a new phosphate fertilizer plant in Wagaman, Louisiana, is set to reduce U.S. dependency on imported phosphate by up to 60%, producing 1.3 million metric tons annually. This developm
During the past ten years, U.S. imports of fruits and vegetables have climbed significantly.
More than 700 Alabama farmers wandered on down to Mobile Bay for the Alabama Farmers Federation Farm & Land Conference, and U.S. fruit production has declined 32% and vegetable have fallen 10%, while fresh fruit and vegetable IMPORTS have each increased about 70%.
The U.S. and Canada are rapidly approaching a deadline at midnight tonight for negotiations to avoid a 50% tariff on several Canadian imports into the U.S.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says lawmakers must stop with the farm bill delays and deliver some certainty to rural America.
American farmers and ranchers are closely watching the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement negotiations.
House Ag Chair GT Thompson's “Securing Agricultural Workforce Act” offers a cap on year-to-year increases in the wage rate.
The Senate Ag Committee's farm bill markup is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday.
The American Farm Bureau Federation welcomed the release of Senate farm bill text and a scheduled markup by the Senate Ag Committee, and a new study found U.S. farmers spent $1.4 billion MORE on diesel fuel during the 2025–26 planting season than they did last season.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says farming is not easy, but Congress has the tools to help ease the burden of a struggling farm economy.
A study from the American Farm Bureau Federation shows the economic situation in rural America will only get worse. Chad Smith has the story.
Farmers are taking significant steps to reduce their impact on the environment. Chad Smith has more on the stats behind regenerative agriculture.
A decades-long problem with ag labor is being addressed in some new legislation recently introduced in the House of Representatives.
The USDA's June Acreage Report shows minor shifts in plantings this year, with fewer corn acres, more soybeans planted, and fewer wheat acres planted.
Friday Free-for-all panelists Jim Wiesemeyer of Wiesemeyer's Perspectives podcast and Dr. John Newton, vice president of public policy and economic analysis at American Farm Bureau Federation, discuss trade with China, recent AFBF meetings and reports, Ukraine/Russia conflict, USA/Iran conflict, trade with Spain and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, negotiated during the first Trump administration, has officially entered its six-year renewal period.
America's farmers face a labor crisis. Chad Smith has more on a possible solution emerging in Washington, D.C., this week.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says there are many benefits in the Senate version of the Farm Bill, but some improvements are still needed.
How much will a Fourth of July cookout cost this year? American Farm Bureau economist Dr. Faith Parum joins to break down the 2026 Fourth of July Market Basket Survey, discuss Ohio-specific results and explain what's driving food prices from the farm to the grocery store.
Families celebrating the Fourth of July holiday with a cookout will pay slightly higher prices at the grocery store this year.
The USDA announced it has finalized the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program that was announced late last year.
As the summer grilling season kicks off, consumers are finding higher prices at the meat counter. As Chad Smith shares, those prices are not reducing demand.
Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan (www.eastleighfarm.com) shares the biggest news affecting smaller family farmers, starting with the Farm Bill. The House is working on another draft Farm Bill, continuing with the hold up. Additionally, the U.S. House passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 8467) on April 30, 2026, with a 224-200 bipartisan vote, advancing a new five-year farm bill that strengthens crop insurance, raises commodity reference prices, and reauthorizes USDA programs through 2031. The bill now faces a difficult path in the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. The Farm Bill also contains significant changes to SNAP (food assistance), which has been a major point of debate, with many questioning why this is even included on this bill at all. Moving along, a new study suggests people living in areas with heavy pesticide use face significantly higher risk of cancer. The research suggests that combinations of pesticides, even those considered safe individually, can act together to damage cells, suggesting environmental exposure is a major, previously underestimated factor in cancer rates. Regions with high agricultural activity, specifically the US Midwest, showed significantly higher cancer incidence, with some estimates suggesting risks comparable to or higher than smoking for certain cancers. The study found that "pesticide cocktails"—combinations of chemicals (like Glyphosate, Atrazine, and [Dicamba])—multiply cancer risk, rather than any single chemical acting alone. Even pesticides deemed "non-carcinogenic" individually by regulatory standards appear to contribute to cancer risk when combined in the environment. Researchers identified that these mixtures can disrupt liver cells—a primary detoxification organ—years before a cancer diagnosis. The study linked higher exposure to increased rates of leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and cancers of the bladder, colon, lung, and pancreas. In case you missed it, May is Mental Health Month. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Farm State of Mind campaign, supported by the Farm State of Mind Alliance formed in 2025, works to reduce mental health stigma and increase access to resources for farmers and ranchers. The initiative provides a national directory, free counseling, and training to support mental wellness in rural communities. Founded by AFBF, National Farmers Union, National 4-H Council, and Farm Foundation, the Alliance brings together trusted voices to make, “It's okay not to be okay,” a standard in agricultural communities. The campaign utilizes initiatives like farm-focused mental health articles in magazines and on TV. The campaign emphasizes May as Mental Health Awareness Month to reach out to neighbors in the agricultural community.For more on the American Family Farmer…Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.comSocial Media: @GoodDayNetworks
Farm Bureau is working to push the farm bill across the finish line in the House of Representatives. Chad Smith has more on why the time for passage is now.
The money set aside for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program has almost been entirely delivered, and Chad Smith has the details on where that money went.
Rusty Halvorson and Sarah Heinrich share some the week's top stories in agriculture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The American Farm Bureau Federation surveyed farmers regarding their long-term concerns about fertilizers. Chad Smith has more on the findings.
American Farm Bureau Federation's Executive Vice President, Joby Young says concerns have risen since border security was strengthened under the Trump Administration.
More than one month ago, the House Agriculture Committee passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act on a bipartisan basis. Brian Glenn, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said it’s time for Congress to continue its progress. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging Congress to continue work on a new farm bill. Chad Smith has more.
More than a month ago, the House Ag Committee passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act on a bipartisan basis, and now, Brian Glenn, American Farm Bureau's director of government affairs, says it's time for Congress to continue that progress.
Each year, the Feeding the Economy Report measures the downstream, off-the-farm economic impact of U.S. agriculture.
The proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Railroads is causing concern. Chad Smith tells us analysis from the American Farm Bureau Federation shows the merger could mean higher prices and fewer options for America's farmers.
The $85 billion merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railroads would create the first coast-to-coast railroad across 43 states. Danny Munch, economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the big concern is the loss of competitive pressure across the rail system. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Regenerative Ag in the MAHA era: An in-depth conversation about regenerative agriculture featuring: MOFB member Ryan Britt, Shelby Myers with Farm Credit, Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, President of Field to Market, and panel moderator Samantha Ayoub, Economist, AFBF. This week's Digging In Podcast is focused on regenerative agriculture. The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement is driving online conversation and influencing policy making. Regenerative agriculture, pesticides and other sustainability tools are some of the many themes associated with the MAHA movement. This workshop focused on sustainability on the farm, techniques farmers are using, potential federal program impacts and how agriculture is producing more with less. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to have Digging In sent directly to your smart device each time it's released! Host: Jacob King, Missouri Farm Bureau Video & Audio Media Specialist Guest: AFBF Anaheim Regenerative Ag in the MAHA era Panel Producer: Jacob King, Missouri Farm Bureau Video & Audio Media Specialist
Commodity groups are still on edge. They're grasping what tariffs mean globally and they're trying to find ways around the system to keep sales going. U.S. corn has remained competitive. That's the good news from Jed Bower, president of the National Corn Growers Association. Jill Welke does a deeper dive into global challenges as well as domestic obstacles that look to stall out corn growers profit potential.Improving temperatures help us enjoy our Wednesday, but Stu Muck says there's a slight chance of snow tomorrow morning.Sales activity remains robust for the Steffes Auction Group. Ashley Huhn from the Steffes Group tells Pam Jahnke about some new acreage that's coming up for auction in western Wisconsin this month. He also highlights the online information people can find to help guide sales on their website. Paid for by Steffes Group.The American Farm Bureau Federation's reminding consumers that very little of the money they spend on food this weekend(or any weekend) for the Super Bowl ends up back at the farm gate. Faith Parum, economist for AFBF says only 15.9 cents of every food dollar makes it back to a grower.Super Bowl weekend is big business for the food industry though. One staple that's found its way to the top of the menu - chicken wings. Kiley Allan finds out how the chicken industry prepares for their big day, and what the origin of wings even is! She speaks with Tom Super, Senior Vice President of Communications, National Chicken Council.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A new Market Intel illustrates that, despite recent assistance payments, the U.S. farm economy is still in trouble. Chad Smith has the story.
On this week's Digging In, it's the legislative panel from the AFBF Convention. AFBF President Zippy Duvall moderates the conversation featuring the ‘corner four' of the Senate & House Agriculture committees as they discuss the ag economy and their focus for the new year. One thing to note, this session was recorded prior to President Trump signing the Whole Milk for Healthy kids Act, which has since been signed. The panel includes Duvall, Senate Ag Committee Chair, John Boozeman (R-AR), Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson (R-PA) and Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN) Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to have Digging In sent directly to your smart device each time it's released! Host: Jacob King, Missouri Farm Bureau Video & Audio Media Specialist Guest: AFBF Anaheim Legislative Panel Producer: Jacob King, Missouri Farm Bureau Video & Audio Media Specialist
On today's AgCast News, we will visit with Alabama Farmers Federation members and staff who recently returned from the American Farm Bureau annual convention in Anaheim, California. As a part of our coverage, we will get Drew Wendland's reaction to winning the national Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award, along with his wife Lauren. We will also check in with Morgan Desselle, of our External Affairs team, on what's going on at the Alabama Legislature. Plus, we are excited to start a new segment of the AgCast. Chris Prevatt, our in-house economist, will report on the commodity markets and what to look out for in the future.Sign up for Capitol Connection here.Get the latest on the markets here.Find out more about our sponsor, Alabama Ag Credit, and also about Alabama Farmers Federation.
The 107th American Farm Bureau Convention concluded in Anaheim, CA with the voting delegates voting on 2026 policy. AFBF President Zippy Duvall explains why this policy is still so important and why he has hope for 2026.
Today on the Digging in Podcast, we begin highlighting some of the speakers at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention. Starting with none other than USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. Here are her remarks from the general session earlier this week. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to have Digging In sent directly to your smart device each time it's released! Host: Jacob King, Missouri Farm Bureau Video & Audio Media Specialist Guest: Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture Producer: Jacob King, Missouri Farm Bureau Video & Audio Media Specialist
Alyssa Clements of Clay County finished second in the national American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture competition. Competing against contestants from all 50 states, Clements says it was an honor to represent her state and earn a second-place finish at the national level.
Today on the Digging in Podcast, MOFB President Garrett Hawkins joins the program. With the start of 2026, it's “New Year, New Opportunities.” We're highlighting the upcoming AFBF annual meeting in Anaheim. As well as breaking down MOFB's key priorities for the year ahead, from the federal level down to the ballot box. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to have Digging In sent directly to your smart device each time it's released! Host: Janet Adkison, Missouri Farm Bureau Director of Public Affairs Guest: Garrett Hawkins, Missouri Farm Bureau President Producer: Jacob King, Missouri Farm Bureau Video & Audio Media Specialist