Farmer outlook rebounded in the newest the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, as the numbers rose 17 points to a reading of 121. June’s sentiment, which are the latest results, left the index near the April reading of 123 after a one-month swoon in May. Producers report a more optimistic view of the future…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Combating Misinformation on Animal Agriculture
The Animal Agriculture Alliance and the National Institute for Animal Agriculture have partnered to combat misinformation about animal ag. The combination will maximize their areas of expertise to ensure sound scientific information about animal agriculture is getting communicated effectively to key audiences. As part of the relationship, NIAA will serve as a resource for scientific…… MORE
New Crop Rotation Mapping Tool
The Department of Agriculture just unveiled a geospatial product called Crop Sequence Boundaries that offers national-scale visual crop rotation data for the first time. Crop Sequence Boundaries, or CSB technology, is a cutting-edge map of agricultural fields that provides crop acreage estimates and historical planting decisions across the contiguous United States. The open-source product uses…… MORE
California Uses Nearly All U.S. Renewable Diesel
California accounts for nearly all renewable diesel consumption in the United States, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. California’s consumption of renewable diesel was more than eight times the amount produced in the state in 2021. Instead, most of California’s renewable diesel was produced in other states or was imported. California’s…… MORE
Senate Bill Would Bring Transparency to Foreign Land Purchases
Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase the transparency and oversight of foreign ownership in America’s agricultural industry. The “Farmland Security Act of 2023” builds on the “Farmland Security Act of 2022” by ensuring that all foreign investors, including “shell companies,” who buy American agricultural land report their holdings…… MORE
USDA Accepts New Round Of CRP Acres
The USDA is accepting offers for nearly 2.7 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners in this year’s Grassland Conservation Reserve Program signup. The program received a record-setting signup of 4.6 million acres in offers. The working lands program allows producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while protecting grasslands and furthering…… MORE
California Canning Peach Industry Research
California Farm Bureau says the rising cost of labor and a shortage of skilled workers to hand-pick fruit, has lead California canning peach growers to turn to science for help. Researchers are creating new varieties which are firm and flavorful, which could lead to widespread adoption of mechanical picking. A UC Davis geneticist says new…… MORE
Lawmakers Introduce Women in Agriculture Bill
The Women in Agriculture Act would establish a research priority for agriculture machinery and equipment designed to be used by women, and create a funding set aside for childcare facilities in rural areas. The bill also creates a Women Farmers and Ranchers Liaison position at the Department of Agriculture. Although the number of women in…… MORE
High Production Costs Continue Into Next Year
USDA’s first cost of production forecast for major field crops like corn, wheat, cotton, rice, and others shows that input costs are expected to remain elevated into the next growing season. The costs will likely be at the third-highest level of all time and only slightly lower than the record high in 2022. While some…… MORE
Growing California Dates With Less Water
California grows more than half of the nation’s dates, which mostly come from the Coachella Valley, according to California Farm Bureau. The crop is worth about $90 million dollars a year. But since that part of California is very dry and water is in tight supply from the Colorado River, University of California researchers are…… MORE
