The USDA is forecasting the agricultural trade deficit to increase sharply to a record $42.5 billion in the coming fiscal year. That compares to $30.5 billion this fiscal year, which ends September 30th. The widening trade gap, a source of frustration for many farmers and lawmakers, reflects an expected $8 billion increase in agricultural imports…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Proposed Reservoir May Get a Big Boost
California Farm Bureau is reporting that plans to build the state’s first new major reservoir in decades is moving ahead, as the state considers whether to issue a water-right permit for the proposed Sites Reservoir. If built, this north of Sacramento off-stream water project is envisioned to store up to 1.5 million acre-feet water. The…… MORE
California Grape Season Heats Up
The California table grape season is heating up just in time for the end of summer. Nearly two thirds of the crop is shipped after September first. In fact, the California Table Grape Commission says September through December will see nearly 80 different varieties being harvested, along with expanding promotional activities. Kathleen Nave, President of…… MORE
Company Brings Virtual Fencing for Livestock
Halter, a New Zealand company, has brought its virtual fencing technology for livestock to the U.S. “Halter technology is a powerful system that helps users precisely manage pasture to lift the performance of your grazing animals,” says Craig Piggot, founder and CEO of Halter. The Halter app allows users to establish virtual fences anywhere on…… MORE
North American Cattle Leaders Hold Joint Meeting
The Canadian Cattle Association hosted the third 2024 meeting with its North American counterparts, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and CNOG, their Mexican counterparts. The groups met on the sideline of the Canadian Beef Industry Conference and discussed the challenges and opportunities facing beef producers across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Topics this year…… MORE
Clean Fuels is Disappointed in the CARB Proposal
Clean Fuels Alliance America expressed disappointment in the California Air Resource Board’s proposed amendments to its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). If adopted, these changes would impose caps on credits for soy and canola-based biodiesel without sufficient scientific evidence to support such limitations. By restricting credit generation for these low-carbon alternatives, CARB risks unfairly disadvantaging…… MORE
U.S. Beef Herd Rebuild Could Take Years
The U.S. beef cow inventory has fallen to its lowest level in more than 60 years. With no significant changes on the horizon that would quickly reverse the trend, rebuilding the U.S. beef cow herd to historical norms is shaping up to be a years-long undertaking. According to a new research brief from CoBank’s Knowledge…… MORE
Many Farmers Still Without Internet Access
Census of Agriculture data says American producers saw some improvement in internet access from 2017 to 2022. Across rural America, the percentage of farm operations or operator residences with internet access increased from 75.4% in 2017 to 78.7% in 2022. While many of the southeastern states still lag behind the U.S. average, most of them…… MORE
California Proposes Credit Cap on Renewable Diesel
Farm Policy News says the California Air Resources Board is proposing to cap the amount of renewable diesel made from soybean or canola oil that would qualify for the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Some of the proposed changes for California’s LCFS would also require feedstocks like soybeans to be certified as meeting sustainability criteria.…… MORE
USDA to Expand Beef Testing for Bird Flu
The USDA will expand slaughterhouse testing for H5N1 in beef entering the food supply as a part of its response plan to combat the ongoing outbreak in dairy cattle. Officials say the tests will begin mid-September and urge livestock workers to remain vigilant. The Print says almost 200 herds in 13 states have contracted the…… MORE
