Tag: agriculture

Crop Progress: Corn Holds Strong as Soybeans, Cotton and Pastures Continue to Struggle

In the latest Crop Progress report from USDA, the U.S. Corn Crop is rated 68% Good to Excellent this week, up 1 point from last week. Soybean crop conditions are 65% good to excellent this week up 1point from last week. The U.S. cotton crop is rated 44% good to excellent this week, down 2 …

Continue reading

Poultry Companies and State of Oklahoma Agree to Deal Ending 21 Year Litigation

Attorney General Gentner Drummond today announced a nearly $44 million settlement resolving the State’s 21-year lawsuit against six companies over poultry litter pollution in the Illinois River Watershed. Oklahoma sued Tyson Foods, Cargill, George’s, Peterson Farms, Cal-Maine and Simmons Foods in 2005. A federal judge found the companies liable in December 2025, then rejected a …

Continue reading

Cheryl DeVuyst Highlights Producer Oversight of Beef Checkoff Investments

In today’s Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Dr. Cheryl DeVuyst, chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion Board (CBB), about how cattle producers are overseeing investments of Beef Checkoff dollars during the Summer Cattle Industry Business Meeting in Denver. DeVuyst said the week began with training for the newest members …

Continue reading

AFT Hoping to Develop Beef Grazing Network That Allows Producers to Learn From One Another

In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays continues his conversation with Dr. Richard Watson, senior soil health and grazing specialist with American Farmland Trust. In Part One yesterday, Watson outlined the goals of the new Beef Producer Economic Resilience Initiative. Today, he explains how the Beef Grazing Network will rely on …

Continue reading

Weather Concerns and Geopolitics Drive Wheat and Soybean Markets Fluctuations

Oklahoma State University Extension Crop Marketing Specialist Dr. Todd Hubbs recently discussed the latest shifts in the wheat and soybean markets with Farm Director KC Sheperd. Following a major market run-up immediately after the holiday weekend, particularly with soybeans exploding higher, the markets have given back some of those gains. Despite these minor pullbacks, hard …

Continue reading

$42 Million Beef Grazing Network Aims to Boost Producer Profitability and Resilience

In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Dr. Richard Watson, Senior Soil Health and Grazing Specialist with American Farmland Trust, about a new $42 million initiative designed to help beef producers improve profitability through sustainable grazing management. The bulk of the program is being funded by a $30 million …

Continue reading

Offal Restrictions Impact May Pork Exports; Beef Export Value Above Year-Ago

Although May exports of U.S. pork were higher year-over-year, volumes were significantly diminished by Mexico’s restrictions on pork offal items, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). May beef exports were below last year’s volume but edged higher in value.     Pork exports totaled 245,874 metric tons …

Continue reading

Dr. Glynn Tonsor: June Meat Demand Monitor Shows Signs of Improving Consumer Confidence

In today’s Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays features comments from Kansas State University agricultural economist Glynn Tonsor about the June Meat Demand Monitor, a monthly survey funded by the beef and pork checkoffs that measures consumer attitudes toward meat purchases. After months of growing pessimism about household finances, the latest report …

Continue reading

High input-cost concerns continue to weigh on farmer sentiment

Farmer sentiment dropped again in June as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer (AEB) Index declined from 119 points in May to 113 points in June (see Figure 1). The Index of Current Conditions fell by 5 points, while the Index of Future Expectations fell by 7 points (see Figure 2). June’s Current Conditions Index was 26 points below its December 2025 …

Continue reading

USDA Undersecretary Richard Fordyce Announces Modernized Acreage Reporting to Streamline Operations for Farmers

In a recent interview with Farm Director KC Sheperd, USDA Undersecretary Richard Fordyce detailed significant advancements in agricultural administration, highlighting how the USDA’s modernized acreage reporting system is set to transform daily operations for producers. Following recent testimony before the House Agriculture Committee regarding the implementation of the farm bill, Fordyce explained that while various agencies …

Continue reading

Verified by MonsterInsights