Author: staff

The American Farm Bureau Federation has opened voting for its People’s Choice Pup, which is part of the larger Farm Dog of the Year contest that celebrates farm dogs and the many ways they support farmers and ranchers in producing nutritious food for families and their pets across America.  The People’s Choice Pup will win bragging rights and a $1,000 cash prize from Purina. Members of the public are invited to vote online for their favorite dog. The grand prize winner — Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year — will win a year’s worth of Purina Pro-Plan dog food…

The United States’ ability to sustainably produce food, steward natural resources, and support rural economies depends on ensuring greater access to land for the next generation of farmers and ranchers. Working in partnership with public and private land protection leaders throughout the country, American Farmland Trust has announced a new Land Transfer Navigators program in partnership with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services that will help exiting farmers and landowners retire with confidence and help new, beginning and underserved farmers gain secure, equitable land access. Nearly 300 million acres of American farmland are expected to change hands in…

A year-long celebration of Farmall’s 100th anniversary concluded with naming Steve Wilson of Rochester, Minnesota, the winner of a new Farmall utility 75C tractor. Wilson was one of 8,446 participants in a Case IH-led contest that encouraged fans of the Farmall brand to submit their stories, share their passions, and demonstrate how they see using a new Farmall in the future. Wilson, a three-time cancer survivor, submitted a heart-warming video demonstrating how the brand had a significant impact on his life and how it fits in his current homesteading projects. “The Farmall brand is all about heritage. This contest gave…

I grew up in Spokane, Washington, which has a population of more than 200,000 people. All of my food came from the store. I didn’t know that I could purchase food directly from a farmer until well into adulthood. Farmers markets were a revolutionary discovery for me. When I decided to pursue farming as a side hustle, I had no idea where start. But I’m a big believer in the pursuit of knowledge, so that is what I did. I pursued knowledge. I found seminars, webinars, conferences, and classes through various agricultural enterprises in my area — and I went…

The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee insisted on a broad-scale reprogramming of agricultural funding as the price for agreement on the new farm bill on Wednesday. Chairman Glenn Thompson suggested $50 billion in cuts, mostly to climate change and public nutrition programs, earlier this fall to pay for larger spending on crop subsidies. “These ideas have been applauded and demonized but I will not relent,” said the Pennsylvania Republican at a “member day” hearing held by the Agriculture Committee. Democrats on the committee have rejected Thompson’s suggestions to divert $20 billion given to USDA conservation programs for climate mitigation by the 2022 climate,…

By Rachel Mipro TOPEKA — Kansas State University researchers have been given millions in funding to study ways to increase crop yields as national reports warn of worsening agricultural conditions in the Midwest.  Kansas State University researchers will collaborate with other U.S. Corn Belt universities on research meant to bolster understanding of how agricultural practice impacts local environmental conditions. K-State researchers Dorivar Ruiz Diaz, professor of soil fertility and nutrient management, and Brian Olson, professor and head of Western Kansas Research-Extension Centers, are heading the study alongside Sotirios Archontoulis, professor of Integrated Cropping Systems Lab at Iowa State University. “The…

On the heels of the recent farm bill extension, 112 organizations have come together to work on issues spanning hunger and food access, farming, workers’ issues, rural communities, and the environment.  A mash-up of unlikely bedfellows though helmed by environmental organizations, organic proponents, and anti-large-farm groups called on Congress to craft a food and farm bill that they say will finally reject historical inequities, tackle the climate crisis, provide nutritious food to communities, fight corporate consolidation, and protects food and farm workers.  The letter, sent to House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership today, identifies 34 “marker bills” that the group…

Bipartisan legislation aimed at suspending beef imports from Paraguay has received unanimous support from three major beef-representing organizations — an unusual show of unity from groups that often find themselves at odds with one another.  The new bill comes on the heels of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s publication of a final rule that will allow the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from Paraguay.  Beef from Paraguay was initially restricted over concerns about foot-and-mouth disease and other other animal diseases. After conducting a risk analysis on the importation of Paraguay’s beef products, the Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health…

Each year, the Ashland and Wayne County Young Ag Professionals in Ohio and the Medina County Young Farmers team up to host the Annual Ag Toy Drive and give the gift of agriculture to eager recipients during the holiday season.  Over $12,500 in agriculture-related toys were donated to the Associated Charities of Ashland County, Medina Toys for Tots, and Wayne County Toys for Tots this holiday season during the seventh annual drive on Nov. 28.  The Ag Toy Drive Committee made the “nice list” this year as they pose for a picture with Santa holding some of the agricultural toys…

Just in time for holiday cheer, farmer sentiment appears to be on the rise for the second month in a row. At least, that’s according to the latest Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, which climbed five points to an index value of 115, 12 percent higher than a year earlier. The Current Conditions Index’s rise to a reading of 113 was primarily responsible for this month’s sentiment improvement, as the Index of Future Expectations only improved by 2 points. Both sub-indices exceeded their year-ago levels in November. Image by Purdue/CME Group Ag “Farmers’ expectations regarding financial performance have improved, with…