The commodity markets came under pressure to start the week as traders tried to shed risk over shipping concerns in China as COVID-19 concerns caused officials to shut down transportation amid a two-pronged lockdown.
USDA's cattle inventory report confirmed contraction is taking place in the U.S. As economists weigh in on what the latest numbers may mean, one veteran economist thinks cattle prices could remain strong through Q4.
AFBF President Zippy Duvall told members this week he will continue to press for policy that progresses agriculture, citing AFBF's work on changes to the White House's "America the Beautiful" plan as an example.
AFBF's in-person annual convention focused on everything from H-2A workers, drought, supply chain chaos and policy changes like the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed the group Monday.
As California farmers' try to battle back from extreme drought, hope is coming in the form of snow. The state's average snow water equivalent percentage of snowpack jumped from 19% on December 10 to 98% today.
Inflation levels are now at levels the U.S. hasn't seen in three decades. The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed a 6.2% spike over the past 12 months, the largest increase since 1990. Beef prices are up 20%.
As backlogs at U.S. ports and climbing shipping rates plague the supply chain, new data shows container shipping rates between the U.S and China are dropping by more than 50% in just a month.
Hurricane Ida, and possible aid to producers, was a big topic of the Farm Journal Farm Country Update with Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack Thursday. Vilsack highlighted when additional aid may be on the way.
All of California's national forests are now closed to the public due to raging wildfires. Wildfire threats and issues continue to grow as more than 6,800 wildfires have already burned 1.7 million acres in the state.
USDA is out with its new ag export forecast for both this year and next, and it's showing exports could hit $173.5 billion in 2021, $4 billion more than 2020, due to higher livestock, poultry and dairy exports.
Federal officials announced this week mandatory water cuts to the Colorado River, marking the first federal water cuts, and it's the first-ever water shortage for a river that serves 40 million people in the West.
U.S. CattleTrace is unveiling a new store for producers to buy RFID tags. CattleTrace says these types of tags can be difficult to find and buy in an online setting, which is why and it created the tag store.
Western wildfires continue to rage in the west, as California's biggest wildfire is leading to widespread evacuations of livestock. And now there are efforts underway to care for animals left behind.
CattleFax says beef prices are near record high, while consumer and wholesale beef demand hit 30-year highs. While drought remains a concern, strong demand combined with higher prices are signaling an optimistic future
North Dakota is one of those areas that has been dealing with drought for months, and now another concern, after anthrax was found in a cattle herd in Kidder County last week.
Heat and drought aren't the only issue farmers in drought-stricken areas are dealing with. Grasshoppers are also destroying pastures and crops. Producers say it's finishing off what's left of an already dire crop.
Competition in the meat sector was a focus on Capitol Hill Wednesday. The same day of the House Ag Committee's hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee put the meatpacking industry in the hot seat with calls for change.
U.S. and Chinese officials met face-to-face for high-level talks, and the meeting had a tense tone as the countries remain at odds over issues from cyber security to human rights.
As farmers in the West experience record-breaking heat, the continued extreme drought conditions are also taking a toll on growers, crops and livestock, with pasture and range conditions worsening.
If you're in the market for a new truck, you may be waiting a while longer. Major auto and truck manufacturers have announced extended shutdowns and it's the chip shortage still to blame.
An investment company with ties to the Mormon church has the high bid for land that belonged to the now bankrupt Easterday Farms and Easterday Ranches.
A plan to help farmers and ranchers reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while gaining more clarity on carbon markets, is moving through Congress. The Senate approved the "Growing Climate Solutions Act," with a 92-8 vote.
The Senate Ag Committee went looking for answers amid accusations of a lack of transparency and anti-competitive practices in the cattle industry on Wednesday. Testimonies varied with how to address growing concerns.
The meatpacking industry will take center stage on Capitol Hill as members of the Senate Ag Committee hold a hearing designed to take a deep dive into the cattle markets amid accusations of price imbalances.
Foodservice spending at restaurants and bars totaled a record $67 billion last month. That's up more than $1 billion from February despite analysts saying the issue of finding restaurant staff is holding back sales.
T.J. Atkin, a cattle rancher in Arizona and Utah, says the drought is worse than he's ever seen, as area ranchers cull or relocate cows from reservoirs running dry.
Calls from Congress to address issues within the cattle markets continue. The Senate Ag Committee announcing a June 23 hearing to examine markets, transparency and prices from cattle producers to consumers.
A big concern for dairy farmers is preventing foot and mouth disease (FMD) on farms. Thanks to new technology, there's now a real-time test that could get farmers answers quickly.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows nearly 10% of the contiguous U.S. is now under an "exceptional drought," which is the highest the rate has been since 2011.
A federal judge announced Friday a decision to halt payments in a USDA loan forgiveness program designed to help farmers of color. USDA has until Friday to respond to the court’s temporary restraining order.
As drought conditions in the West are continuing to expand, hotter temperatures aren't helping things. Heat that started building over the weekend is not good news for areas already dealing with that drought.
American Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter to the Biden administration saying the increase in undocumented immigration is severely impacting farm and ranch families, putting property and personal safety at risk.
The White House says President Joe Biden will address cyber attacks with Russia at a meeting later this month and won't take any options off the table when responding to the recent cyberattack on meat producer JBS.
The head of Tyson Foods, Dean Banks, is stepping down after less than a year on the job. The company announced Donnie King is the new CEO, which makes him the fifth CEO of Tyson in the last five years.
The United Nations issued a warning this week as world food prices are rising at their fastest pace in a decade. Global food prices have risen for 12 consecutive months and now sit at their highest level since 2011.
The cattle industry's unprecedented meeting was centered around meat packing margins and claims of market monopoly. The meeting among the six groups is now drawing a response from the meat packing industry.
An unprecedented meeting held early this month among major cattle industry representatives has now produced plans for change. It's happening while a group of U.S. lawmakers are also asking the DOJ for answers.
The latest U.S. Drought monitor indicates drought is gripping pastures, with 60% of the nation's cow herd is now in some level of drought or dryness, and it's causing cow slaughter numbers to climb.
The plan is now called "America the Beautiful," and is a 10 year, locally-led and voluntary nationwide effort to conserve, connect and restore 30% of the nation's lands and waters by the year 2030.
There is growing concern crops being harvested will make it to market. The problem stems from a lack of truck drivers as COVID-19 concerns and high unemployment benefits are impacting the available workforce.
The federal government is facing another lawsuit over The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. A group of farmers from five states claim they're ineligible for loan forgiveness program because they're white.
Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller has filed a personal lawsuit against the federal government claiming COVID relief plan discriminates against some white farmers and ranchers.
A new study from the University of California-Davis estimates 334,000 cases are attributable to packing plants. The study says that resulted in more than $11 billion in economic damage.
The restaurant industry appears to be on the rebound following the pandemic with more restaurants reporting a surge in demand, but trends also show more consumers may be moving out of urban areas.
“If you can work through some of these bigger weights, later on down the road, some of the replacement numbers we saw in there in the springtime and early summer timeframe would end up coming to pass,” says Bennett.