Industry News

Apeel Sciences Sues ‘Green Smoothie Girl’

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 14:06:51 GMT

Food technology company Apeel Sciences says it’s been under attack since 2023 by a widespread disinformation campaign aimed against the company and its primary technology — a plant based, edible coating that extends freshness and reduces spoilage of produce. On Sept. 3, the Goleta, Calif.-based company said it had filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida against one of those alleged disseminators of disinformation: wellness influencer Robyn Openshaw and her company, GreenSmoothieGirl.com Inc.

In the lawsuit, Apeel accuses Openshaw and her company of waging a yearslong disinformation campaign intended to harm Apeel’s business and reputation.

Apeel says the lawsuit asserts claims for false advertising under the Lanham Act; defamation; trade libel; disparagement of perishable agricultural products; tortious interference with business relationships; and unfair and deceptive trade practices.

According to the complaint, Openshaw — known online as the “Green Smoothie Girl” — began posting false claims about Apeel in July 2023. Between then and May 2025, she published at least 60 posts across Instagram, YouTube, X, Rumble, her own website and elsewhere online falsely stating Apeel’s plant-based coating is toxic and that Apeel’s products are made with solvents and heavy metals, the company said in a news release.

Luis Beling is CEO of Apeel Sciences, a food technology company that produces a plant-based, edible coating that extends freshness and reduces spoilage of produce.

(Photo courtesy of Apeel Sciences)

“Beginning in 2023, a coordinated disinformation campaign weaponized countless falsehoods to undermine the verified safety of Apeel’s products, stifle innovation, and profit from deception,” Apeel Sciences CEO Luiz Beling told The Packer in an email. “But bad actors cannot act maliciously without accountability. We have therefore taken legal action to protect our reputation, our products, and the countless Apeel teammates who work each day to make the world a better place.”

Among the “malicious” actions alleged in the lawsuit are that Openshaw used false claims to rally her “Green Smoothie Girl Army” of followers to boycott Apeel, urging them to pressure retailers such as Costco, suppliers such as Limoneira and Driscoll’s, and others to abandon Apeel-protected produce.

Apeel says she also published the personal contact information of executives at grocery chains, encouraged phone, email and in-store campaigns, and sold a downloadable “wallet card” listing stores that did not sell Apeel-treated produce.

In some posts, Openshaw falsely claimed Apeel used a chemical found in “gasoline” in its process, and in others, she said the company’s products contained “palladium, arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury,” the release said.

The complaint says Openshaw’s statements misrepresented FDA filings and omitted facts showing Apeel’s commercial process has never used the solvents Openshaw described.

Apeel says, in fact, its primary technology is a plant-based, edible coating that extends the freshness of produce without the need for refrigeration or synthetic preservatives. It is tasteless, odorless and made from naturally occurring ingredients such as mono- and diglycerides, baking soda and citric acid. These coatings mimic a fruit’s natural peel to slow spoilage, reduce food waste and lower grocery costs. The company adds that its products are approved by regulators in the U.S., the European Union and dozens of other markets worldwide.

‘Freedom of Speech’ vs. ‘Freedom to Defame’

Apeel’s legal representation says the implications of the disinformation campaign are far reaching and financially harmful.

“Apeel has been the victim of a deliberate smear campaign that weaponized disinformation for financial gain,” Thomas A. Clare, one of the founding partners of Clare Locke LLP, which represents Apeel, said in a release. “These falsehoods were not just defamatory. They misled consumers and caused real financial harm to Apeel, its employees and its partners.

“Free speech does not mean freedom to defame,” Clare continued. “This lawsuit is about accountability, and ensuring disinformation cannot be used to destabilize safe and needed innovation and mislead the public.”

Social Media Disinformation

The lawsuit follows actress Michelle Pfeiffer’s July 31, 2025, retraction of inaccurate social media claims about Apeel and its connection to Bill Gates. Pfeiffer acknowledged reposting false information and emphasized the importance of accuracy in public conversations about food safety.

Apeel says the case is part of a larger disinformation campaign that began in April 2023, when dozens of coordinated posts spread across Facebook, X and Telegram warned consumers not to “eat anything with the Apeel sticker on it.” Those posts falsely linked to a safety sheet for an unrelated industrial cleaner manufactured by a wholly different company based in the United Kingdom, presenting it as if it described Apeel’s products.

The complaint states that Openshaw amplified those narratives to her hundreds of thousands of followers, repeating them at least 60 times and intentionally mischaracterizing Apeel’s FDA submissions. Independent fact checks by Reuters, the Associated Press, USA Today and Politifact later confirmed the claims were false and that Apeel’s products are safe and FDA-approved.

Despite this, Apeel said Openshaw and other influencers continued to drive the false narrative, creating consumer fear, harassment of retail partners and disruption of the company’s business.

“Our hope is for an amicable resolution in litigation we pursue, including a retraction of false posts to set the record straight,” Beling told The Packer. “Apeel Sciences will continue to vigorously protect its name, its mission, and the trust of consumers everywhere.”

For more information about Apeel’s products, ingredient safety and global mission, visit its FAQ or read company leadership’s open letter on disinformation here .

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Could EPA Decision Signal The Beginning Of The End For DEF?

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 16:24:41 GMT

Mike Berdo has strong words to describe his ongoing experiences using machinery requiring DEF ( Diesel Exhaust Fluid ) on his southeast Iowa farm.

“It has been an absolute nightmare, at least for us. Mechanics make trip after trip to do little stuff that’s very expensive to fix,” said Berdo, who produces grain and beef cattle near Washington. “We had planting delays last spring … little stuff that came from it and just seemed like [an issue to deal with] day after day.”

The ongoing mechanical issues and costs are why Berdo said he is “all for” EPA rescinding the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding. The Finding has enabled the agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under Section 202 of the Clean Air Act and, in recent years, and launch requirements such as the use of DEF systems in diesel-powered engines.

EPA Draws A Line In The Sand
On Tuesday, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin released a proposal to rescind the 2009 Finding.

If finalized, the proposal would remove all greenhouse gas standards for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and heavy-duty engines, EPA said in a follow-up press release .

The move would start with EPA’s first greenhouse gas standard set in 2010 for light-duty vehicles and those set in 2011 for medium-duty vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles and engines.

EPA said the proposal is expected to “save Americans $54 billion in costs annually through the repeal of all greenhouse gas standards, including the Biden EPA’s electric vehicle mandate, under conservative economic forecasts.”

Zeldin made the announcement to rescind the Finding in Indiana, alongside Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and called it the largest deregulatory action in U.S. history.

What The Decision Could Mean To Farmers
Specific to U.S. farmers, the proposal could potentially result in DEF systems no longer being included on new tractors and other heavy equipment using diesel-powered engines, said Chip Flory, host of AgriTalk, during a Farmer Forum discussion on Wednesday.

South Dakota farmer Ryan Wagner told Flory he has a wait-and-see perspective on how or whether the EPA proposal goes into effect. He anticipates that reversing the Finding will take considerable time and effort for EPA to implement.

“It took a long time with the interim engines and things to get into full DEF in the first place,” Wagner said. “I don’t know how long it would take to unwind all that and how quickly manufacturing will just take those systems right off, but it’ll be interesting to see what happens.”

To Wagner’s point, here’s a brief look back at some timing showing when DEF rolled out in agriculture and nonroad equipment and became mandatory . The regulations were phased in over several years based on the type of equipment and engine size:

2008: DEF became required for all new diesel engines with engine sizes over 750 horsepower.

2011: the regulations expanded to include equipment with engine sizes between 175-750 horsepower.

By 2015, all new nonroad diesel engines were required to be Tier 4 compliant and utilize DEF, regardless of equipment type or engine size.

As Wagner considers DEF, he noted its use in diesel engines has provided him with one benefit: “On the plus side, I do like that they don’t make the walls of my shop black. That’s been nice,” he said. “You can run them inside for a short time and not not feel like you’re breathing in a bunch of soot and making everything black.”

Expect Legal Challenges To EPA Decision
A number of environmental groups have already blasted the move by EPA, saying it spells the end of the road for U.S. action against climate change, according to an online article by Reuters .

Legal challenges from various environmental groups, states and lawyers are likely ahead.

That fact wasn’t lost on Flory and the Farmer Forum participants during the AgriTalk discussion on Wednesday.

“If this proposal is finalized, it’s going to start a lot of conversations … and the dominoes are going to start to fall, something that we need to keep track of, no doubt,” Flory said. You can hear the complete Farmer Forum discussion on AgriTalk here:

EPA will initiate a public comment period to solicit input. Further information on the public comment process and instructions for participation will be published in the Federal Register and on the EPA website .

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How Welch’s New Data Partnership Expands Data Insights

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:36:53 GMT

Family-farm cooperative Welch’s has partnered with TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods, a provider of digital solutions and data insights to offer automated validation, custom rules management and real-time compliance monitoring throughout Welch’s supply chain by leveraging TELUS’ proprietary agricultural database and advanced analytics.

TELUS says a first-of-its-kind deployment through this collaboration will use crop insights from soil to harvest to provide data-driven decision-making.

“This partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward digitizing compliance and improving traceability at every stage of the food system,” says Amy Turner, senior communications manager with TELUS. “The tools we’re providing are designed to help any organization — like Welch’s — capture reliable data from the field and create a strong chain of custody across their supply network.

Turner says this effort underscores the changing landscape as consumers and retailers seek more information on traceability and where food comes from.

“Food companies today are facing growing expectations from retailers and consumers alike, not just to meet safety standards, but to demonstrate transparency in how food is grown and handled,” Turner says. “This partnership is an example of what it looks like when companies invest proactively in that future.”

Turner says the platform will help growers and supply chain stakeholders simplify record-keeping, reduce duplication and provide a clearer view of compliance status. It also enables food companies to use standardized digital records to support transparency, improve workflows and build trust, she adds.

“That kind of infrastructure can help any food company become more agile and audit-ready, especially in the face of evolving regulations,” Turner says. “It’s about creating the right foundation so companies can adapt and scale as their needs evolve. And the goal is the same across the board: to improve the quality, safety, and sustainability of food from grower to consumer.”

The companies say this decade-long arrangement will transform regulatory compliance management and supply chain transparency, which Turner says is worth noting.

“A 10-year partnership signals a deep level of alignment and commitment to evolving together over time,” she says. “It also underscores the growing importance of collaboration between agtech providers and food companies to address complex supply chain challenges — not just in the short term, but for the future of food.”

Bayer Submits Novel Herbicide for Regulatory Approval in U.S., Canada, Brazil and EU

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:36:52 GMT

Bayer has taken the first steps in bringing a new herbicide to market, submitting registration applications in four major agricultural regions: the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and now, the European Union. The application process ensures that government agencies in each region review and approve the product for safe use in crop production.

Icafolin-methyl is a new herbicide that employs a mode of action not seen in commercial agriculture in over 30 years, Bayer says in a news release. The company says the novel mode of action to control emerged weeds meets the highest safety and sustainability criteria of CropKey, Bayer’s novel R&D approach for crop protection products. Icafolin belongs to a new chemical class providing unique properties that allow for lower dose rates, more targeted applications, and is expected to demonstrate an exceptional safety and sustainability profile.

A mode of action refers to how a herbicide kills weeds at the molecular level. Bayer says it has been designed to be highly effective at low dose rates, compatible with reduced-tillage practices and supportive of soil health and sustainability goals. This approach uses artificial intelligence to design new active ingredients more quickly and efficiently, and Bayer claims this will also accelerate future product development.

“With CropKey, we’re not just responding to current agricultural challenges more quickly, we’re being proactive and anticipating future needs,” says Rachel Rama, senior vice president and head of small molecules for Bayer’s crop science division. “Leveraging artificial intelligence greatly accelerates our journey from concept to market, so farmers gain access to the most effective and environmentally responsible crop protection products.”

Registration Application

Before a crop protection product such as icafolin can be sold and used, it must be evaluated and approved by regulators in each country or region. These agencies — such as EPA in the U.S. or Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency — examine data on how the product works, how safe it is for humans and the environment, and how it should be used.

Submitting an application is the first official step of this process. Bayer is now waiting for regulatory agencies to complete their review, with projections for initial release in Brazil in 2028. If approved, farmers will be able to use the product according to the label and restrictions set by regulators.

Why This Matters

As more weeds adapt to survive common herbicides such as glyphosate, farmers have fewer effective tools to manage them.

“Weeds threaten food security and farmer livelihoods, which is why investing in game-changing innovations like icafolin is so vitally important,” says Mike Graham, head of research and development for the crop science division of Bayer. “Access to an entirely new herbicide class that complements the existing toolbox not only helps farmers combat and prevent weed resistance, but it also helps farmers adopt and maintain no-till and reduced tillage practices that improve soil health, which is a cornerstone of regenerative agriculture.”

Icafolin-methyl is expected to help by offering a new mechanism for weed control that complements existing herbicides, including glyphosate. Bayer says this will make it easier for growers to rotate and mix herbicides, slowing down resistance development.
In test applications, icafolin-treated weeds stop competing with crops for water and sunlight but remain physically in place, acting as a mulch that helps retain soil moisture and prevent erosion.

When Could Icafolin Be Available?

With an estimated peak sales potential of around 750 million euros, Bayer expects icafolin will be launched from 2028 onward with initial availability in Brazil. The new operating model DSO has been instrumental for advancing icafolin regulatory submissions ahead of schedule, according to the release.

It would be available in the U.S., Canada and other markets in the following years, pending approval.

The product is being developed for a wide range of crops including soybeans, cereals, pulses, oilseed crops, pome and stone fruits, tree nuts, grapes and citrus.

As a novel mode of action, it has unique properties and benefits, Bayer says. Treated weeds become “frozen” in the fields, meaning they stop competing with crops for water, nutrients and sunlight, but the dead weeds remain in the field longer because they largely maintain their structure. This creates a mulch layer that helps prevent erosion and traps moisture in the soil. By providing effective weed control, it reduces the need for tillage, supporting regenerative practices in agriculture that can improve soil health.

For farmers, the news of Bayer’s regulatory submissions marks the beginning of a multi-year approval process but also signals the arrival of long-awaited new weed control options. With herbicide resistance growing, icafolin-methyl could become an important addition to integrated weed management strategies in the next decade.

How the Trending #FarmGirlSummer Is Educating Viewers About Rural Living

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 20:07:34 GMT

Sporting dirty boots and a deep-rooted love for the land, a new wave of female farmers is making waves on social media under the trending hashtag #FarmGirlSummer. Step beyond the sunsets and tractor selfies, and this viral movement is offering something deeper: a window into the real day-to-day of agricultural life.

The Packer spoke with four influencers who are using their platforms to share more than just aesthetic glimpses — they’re educating followers about rural realities, farm work and what it truly means to live off the land.

Miranda Neville and her husband, Douglas, are dairy farmers in Pennsylvania on his family farm.

(Photo courtesy of Miranda Neville)

Miranda Neville, Dairy Farmer

I want others to see my content and know that even though we work long, tiring days, it’s still important to make time for the things we enjoy.

Miranda Neville and her husband, Douglas, are dairy farmers in Pennsylvania on his family farm. In addition to farming, she also works an off-farm job in agricultural conservation, while balancing family life. Neville says she enjoys sharing her life on the farm on social media and all of the joyful chaos that comes with it.

The Packer: What does #FarmGirlSummer mean to you personally?

Neville: There is rarely a slow day living on a farm, especially if you have livestock. For me, #FarmGirlSummer is about finding the peaceful moments during the busiest time of year. Some examples of that might look like unloading hay in the summer heat but then watching animals graze on the lush, green pasture. Showing dairy cattle at county fairs while making memories that will last a lifetime with friends. Working tirelessly to get crops planted but making time to deliver meals to the field and having a sunset ride in the tractor. Farming can be difficult, so #FarmGirlSummer is about romanticizing my life while doing farm chores and appreciating the land that surrounds me.

How do you think social media is shaping the way people see farm life or rural living?

Historically, there have been so many misconceptions about farmers and ‘country life.’ With social media, we are able to show firsthand what we do and why we do it. Yes, it’s a simpler life — in that we aren’t living in a busy city and bustling traffic— but we work long, hard days to improve the lives of our families, our livestock and crops. We are able to share ideas, educate and build connections with so many different people from all walks of life. It’s giving a voice to farm life and rural living in a way that has been limited in the past.

What message or feeling are you trying to share when you post with #FarmGirlSummer?

Through my social media, I show the realities and struggles of life on our dairy farm, but I also try to focus on the most beautiful parts of farm life — particularly in the summer. I want others to see my content and know that even though we work long, tiring days, it’s still important to make time for the things we enjoy.
Follow Miranda: Tiktok (Miranda.neville); Instagram (Miranda.neville1)

Erica Loesel balances a career as an oncology nurse with Michigan farming.

(Photo courtesy of Erica Loesel)

Erica Loesel, FarmHer

Even if the photos are pretty, the message is: this is real. Real effort. Real life. Real beauty in the mess and the mud and the moments between.

Erica Loesel balances a career as an oncology nurse with Michigan farming.

The Packer: What does #FarmGirlSummer mean to you personally?

Loesel: For me, #FarmGirlSummer evokes a vivid, grounded kind of freedom. It’s not just a hashtag — it feels like a celebration of hands-in-the-dirt simplicity, sun-kissed days and a deeper connection to the land and hard work.

Personally, it looks like:

Early mornings with dew on the fields and coffee steaming in a Yeti cup.
Cutoff jeans, dusty boots and tan lines from hours in the sun.
Quiet, golden sunsets after long, labor-heavy days — and a satisfaction that city summers just don’t offer.

It’s about living a little slower, working a little harder and feeling a whole lot more connected to what matters.

How do you think social media is shaping the way people see farm life or rural living?

Social media is massively reshaping how people perceive farm life and rural living.

By romanticizing the rural lifestyle, platforms like Instagram and TikTok have popularized the ‘aesthetic’ of farm life — think slow mornings, tractor rides, sunsets over fields of gold. It’s drawing people into appreciating a simpler, more grounded way of living.

Visibility and connection. Farmers, especially women and younger people, are sharing real stories and daily routines, creating communities and challenging outdated stereotypes (like the idea that farming is only for older men or men in general).

And through education and awareness, audiences get to see how food is grown, the labor involved and the realities of sustainable or ethical agriculture. It helps bridge the urban-rural disconnect.

What message or feeling are you trying to share when you post with #FarmGirlSummer?

When I post with #FarmGirlSummer, the message I’m trying to share is a blend of realness and reverence — a celebration of resilience, connection to the land and the gritty joy that comes from a life rooted in tradition.

Here’s what I hope comes across:

Grounded joy: Not everything is picture-perfect — there’s sweat, dirt and sometimes hard days — but there’s real joy in that. A joy that comes from doing something meaningful with your hands and heart.

Empowerment: #FarmGirlSummer isn’t about being delicate or curated — it’s about being strong, capable and unafraid to show up exactly as you are, whether you’re driving tractors or making homemade jam. It’s femininity without fragility.

Simplicity with soul: It’s about slow mornings, honest work and choosing presence over polish. It’s a lifestyle, not a filter.

Authenticity over aesthetic: Even if the photos are pretty, the message is: This is real. Real effort. Real life. Real beauty in the mess and the mud and the moments between.

In short, it’s not just “look at this cute farm outfit,” it’s “here’s what it means to live close to the earth, close to the truth and be dang proud of it.”

Follow Erica on TikTok (thecodebluefarmher)

Anne Sneller lives in Earlham, Iowa with her husband, John, and 11-year-old son.

(Photo courtesy of Anne Sneller)

Anne Sneller, Ag Advocate

I am passionate about advocating for agriculture and the opportunities 4-H and FFA offer youth and the skills they can learn from participating.

Anne Sneller lives in Earlham, Iowa. She works as a fraud and claims operations senior manager for Wells Fargo, leads a 4-H club of 75 members called Penn Prize Winners, and is also active supporting FFA, from mentoring members to judging contests at State FFA. Her husband, John, and she have an 11-year-old son who shows pigs and goats.

The Packer: What does #FarmGirlSummer mean to you personally?

Sneller: #FarmGirlSummer to me is helping my son with his show livestock, running on the pavement and gravel roads of Madison County, enjoying the agriculture, helping on my family’s cattle and row crop farm, and fishing and four-wheeling with my son any chance we get.

I am passionate about advocating for agriculture and the opportunities 4-H and FFA offer youth and the skills they can learn from participating.

Follow Anne on TikTok (chasingthatrunnershigh)

At home, you’ll find Topanga Dailey raising her 8-month-old son Owen while helping her husband farm wheat, soybeans and milo in McPherson, Kans.

(Photo courtesy of Topanga Dailey)

Topanga Dailey, Farmer

It’s a reminder — to myself, my family and my community — that life is bigger than your newsfeed. It’s proof that I’ve stepped away from the trap of constant scrolling and hopefully encourages others to slow down, take a breath and enjoy the moment.

Topanga Dailey is a senior digital marketing specialist. At home, you’ll find her raising her 8-month-old son Owen while helping her husband farm wheat, soybeans and milo in McPherson, Kans.

The Packer: What does #FarmGirlSummer mean to you personally?

Dailey: To me, #FarmGirlSummer is a conscious choice to be more in touch with the real world — making things from scratch, getting soil under your fingernails, embracing natural materials, wearing less makeup, stepping away from screens and reconnecting with what real work looks and feels like. Life can feel stressful, exhausting and even scary when you’re glued to a computer all day. The farm reminds you that life moves in seasons — some good, some hard — and that things take time and nothing is permanent.

How do you think social media is shaping the way people see farm life or rural living?

Social media has helped romanticize the farm. #FarmGirlSummer is one of the latest “vibes” people are chasing — a form of escapism and a search for meaning in what can feel like an overwhelming world. Now, people can see farms and rural life right from their phones and reframe what was once seen as an undesirable lifestyle into something idyllic — especially for those feeling overstimulated by city life. Rural living is naturally beautiful and social media has made it easier than ever to show just how special it is.

What message or feeling are you trying to share when you post with #FarmGirlSummer?

It’s a reminder — to myself, my family and my community — that life is bigger than your feed. It’s proof that I’ve stepped away from the trap of constant scrolling and hopefully encourages others to slow down, take a breath and enjoy the moment. Farm life offers that shift in perspective perfectly.

Follow Topanga on Instagram (reallifetopangadailey).

Rural America is Facing a Mounting Labor Crisis

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 21:02:49 GMT

The American labor market is reaching a critical turning point that could tighten labor availability in rural industries and slow growth across the U.S. economy. A new quarterly report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange warns that demographic shifts and recent policy changes may start impacting businesses as soon as late 2025.

From livestock and crop operations to food processors and rural cooperatives, this labor shortage is becoming especially noticeable in the heart of America’s farmland. Many producers are already struggling to fill roles, and the challenge is expected to intensify in the coming months.

“Barring an unforeseen change in labor force participation rates or immigration policies, the pool of available workers is set to shrink sharply in the next few years,” says Rob Fox, director of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. “The problem will be even more serious in states with slower population growth in the Upper Midwest, Corn Belt and Central Plains.”

Demographic Pressures Mount

Fox says the warning signs have been building for years. Labor force participation has steadily declined, birth rates have dropped and immigration policy has become more restrictive.

Between 2022 and 2024, nearly 9 million immigrants arrived in the U.S., driven by global humanitarian crises and relaxed federal rules. While that influx temporarily eased labor constraints, Fox says it only masked deeper, long-term trends.

U.S. fertility rates have fallen from 2.12 children per woman in 2007 to 1.62 in 2023, meaning fewer young people are entering the workforce just as the last of the baby boomers retire. In addition, labor force participation has slipped from a peak of 67% in 2000 to 62% today. Nearly 2.5 million working-age Americans have left the labor force in the past eight months alone.

“There is no single reason people are stepping away,” Fox explains. “It’s a combination of rising caregiving responsibilities, job skill mismatches, mental health challenges and higher disability rates. These are complex issues that won’t be resolved overnight.”

Shrinking Workforce Hits Agriculture Hard

The effects are already being felt across rural America. Farms, food processors, equipment dealers and cooperatives are struggling to find and keep the workers they need to maintain daily operations. Seasonal labor has become harder to find and full-time positions, especially those requiring specialized skills or long hours, are increasingly difficult to fill.

In regions with slower population growth, such as the upper Midwest and central Plains, the challenge is even more acute. These areas often lack the population inflows that help offset workforce losses elsewhere in the country.

While labor has been tight for several years, Fox warns that conditions are poised to deteriorate further.

“What we are facing is not just a cyclical labor issue; it’s a structural one,” he says.

Border encounters have dropped sharply since August 2024, signaling a steep decline in immigration. Combined with rising political pressure to increase deportations, the agricultural labor pool could shrink even more in the months ahead.

“Immigration has long been a key pillar supporting the rural workforce,” Fox notes. “Without a steady flow of new workers, farms and agribusinesses will have to get creative, either by increasing wages, automating tasks or changing how they manage production.”

Technology Offers a Path Forward

In response, more agricultural businesses are turning to technology to help offset the labor gap.

“The key to addressing labor scarcity always lies in innovation,” Fox says. “AI and robotics are no longer limited to the factory floor. They are increasingly being used in fields, dairies and food plants.”

A recent Gallup poll found that nearly one in five workers already uses artificial intelligence in some form each week. At the same time, the cost of robotics has dropped by nearly half in the past decade, making automation more accessible for a broader range of farms and agribusinesses.

CoBank’s report notes that many farm supply customers are using new tools to increase efficiency, improve decision-making and free up time for employees to focus on higher-value responsibilities.

Planning for What Comes Next

As producers look toward 2026, a combination of labor constraints, volatile input costs and shifting policy landscapes will continue to shape decision-making. Fox thinks adaptability will be essential.

“Technology will be critical to agriculture’s future,” he says. “AI and robotics can help farmers do more with fewer workers, boosting efficiency and margins. But investment decisions must be made carefully, especially in this uncertain economic environment.”

Until clearer policies emerge on trade, labor and energy, rural America will need to prepare for continued pressure.

“This is a pivotal moment,” Fox concludes. “Farms that plan ahead, embrace innovation and stay flexible will be best positioned to succeed.”

USDA’s National Farm Security Action Plan Targets Billions in SNAP Fraud

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 12:28:29 GMT

From SNAP benefit reform and fraud crackdown to the continuation of mass deportations with “no amnesty,” the USDA’s newly launched National Farm Security Action Plan touches on several issues that may impact the fresh produce industry.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins held a press conference Tuesday to unveil the seven-point plan, which the USDA says seeks to position American agriculture as a key element of national security and to strengthen the domestic food supply.

Among the plan’s action items: “Protect U.S. nutrition safety net from fraud and foreign exploitation.” The USDA says billions have been stolen to date from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by foreign crime rings.

Rollins held a virtual press briefing Monday evening in advance of Tuesday’s conference, during which she told reporters: “We absolutely have to get all illegal aliens off of our SNAP programs and make sure that taxpayer funded dollars are being spent the way that they were intended.”

The SNAP program is facing major reform from the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which intends to slash billions from program over the coming years.

As part of the SNAP reforms, Rollins says for the first time in USDA history, it is calling on “absolute” and “complete transparency” of data sharing for SNAP programs across the country.

“The largest program here at USDA is not a farming program; it’s actually the SNAP or the food stamp program,” Rollins told reporters Monday, adding that the USDA spends $405 million a day across its nutrition programs.

“And vulnerabilities within that payment system — our payment system — are a persistent target of transnational criminals and gangs,” she said. “Law enforcement has identified a troubling trend of transnational criminal organizations stealing from the poor and the American taxpayer by cloning point of sale devices and card skimming.

“Just based on what we have seen and some pretty major stings that have happened in the last few months by the Secret Service and by DOJ on SNAP fraud, [it’s] equaling tens upon tens upon tens of millions of dollars — just one case after another,” she added.

To address these vulnerabilities, Rollins says the USDA is actively ensuring no funds across the department’s 16 nutrition programs are being used to fund activities related to terrorism or criminal activity.

“In addition, the department will disqualify authorized retailers that are complicit in SNAP fraud or otherwise demonstrate a lack of responsible business behavior to transact purchases made with SNAP,” Rollins continued. “We’re also conducting regular assessments to identify risks and security vulnerabilities to the food and agriculture critical infrastructure sector, including transport vulnerabilities.”

Rollins says the USDA will be looking at the situation every single day, and that she thinks, ultimately, the reforms will be helpful to those who really need SNAP the most.

New Dietary Guidelines

Also on the nutritional horizon, new dietary guidelines are expected to land in the next month or two, said Rollins.

“Most people don’t realize what an important document or set of guidelines that is,” she said Monday. “It drives almost all of the food purchasing for schools, for prisons, for the different nutrition programs, etc.

“We are both, Bobby [Kennedy] and I, are very encouraged that we’re going to be able to change the game in terms of the quality and the type of food that we are feeding, especially to our schools,” she continued.

Rollins says they’re also working to get more smaller farms involved and tap into more locally sourced foods for federally funded nutrition programs.

Mass Deportations to Continue

Much of agriculture, including the fresh produce industry, has been feeling the effects of the Trump administration’s ongoing ICE raids and immigration crackdown since they began in June. During a Q&A at Tuesday’s press conference, Rollins fielded a question from a reporter who asked about mass deportation’s impact on the farm industry and if there would be amnesty for agricultural workers.

“There’s been a lot of noise in the last few days and a lot of questions about where the president stands and his vision for farm labor,” said Rollins. “The first thing I’ll say is, the president has been unequivocal that there will be no amnesty, and I think that’s very, very important.”

Rollins went on to say that Trump has always been of the mindset that “at the end of the day, the promise to America to ensure that we have a 100% American workforce stands, but we must be strategic [in] how we are implementing the mass deportation so as not to compromise our food supply.”

The ag secretary pointed to automation, government reform and tapping American workers as potential solutions to the labor crisis.

“When you think about the 34 million able-bodied adults in our Medicaid program — there are plenty of workers in America … So, no amnesty under any circumstances,” she said. “Mass deportations continue, but in a strategic and intentional way as we move our workforce toward more automation and toward a 100% American workforce.”

Your next read:

How an Agri-Food Pioneer Transforms Soil Science into Real-World Solutions

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 18:52:39 GMT

Long before soil biology and microbial inoculants became paramount for produce growers and agtech companies alike, Linda Kinkel was digging — literally and figuratively — into the relationships between microbes and plants. As a young faculty member at the University of Minnesota nearly 35 years ago, she encountered a field where something unusual was happening: after 30 years of monoculture potato cropping, the soil had become virtually immune to disease.

“No grower would grow potatoes every year in the same field for 30 years,” Kinkel says, “but this was a breeding nursery for the fresh market potato industry. It was a great spot to have lots of disease pressure, but after 30 years, there was no disease. You could put pathogens in that soil and there was no infection.”

The discovery sparked what became a lifelong career of research into soil microbes and their capacity to build disease resistance, improve nutrient uptake and enhance overall crop productivity.

“I spent more years than I care to admit trying to find the microbe responsible,” she says. “What became clear was that there was no one microbe. It was partnerships, microbes interacting. And specifically, the way they interacted led to this amazing disease suppression, so — partners matter.”

That principle, partners matter, has guided her scientific journey ever since. It also played a key role in her being named a Top Agri-Food Pioneer by the World Food Prize Foundation in 2025.

From science to solutions

Kinkel co-founded Jord BioScience to make microbial products that are not only effective but also consistent, something the biologicals industry has long struggled with, Kinkel says.

“Growers need consistent tools,” she says. “That’s a huge opportunity, and one of the primary goals of Jord: to lift that consistency while seeking to outperform chemistries.”

Though microbial technologies like bio-stimulants, bio-fertilizers and biopesticides aren’t new, their relevance to fresh produce and specialty crops is rapidly growing. And according to Kinkel, they’re far from a one-size-fits-all tool.

For the fresh produce industry, the potential is great, Kinkel says.

“These aren’t crop-specific technologies,” she says. “There’s no reason they can’t be adaptable to any crop, any mode of application, any grower objective. If a grower needs disease control of a particular pathogen in leafy greens, or enhanced phosphorus uptake in apples, or stronger biostimulant action in potatoes, we can optimize inoculants to those needs.”

At Jord BioScience, Kinkel says, the company is already working with leafy greens, and she, personally, has long experience in potato and apple production.

“Earlier in my career, I worked on inoculation of apples to protect the fruit,” she adds.

Linda Kinkel, founder of Jord BioScience has been recognized as a 2025 Top Agri-Food Pioneer by the World Food Prize Foundation.

(Photo courtesy of Linda Kinkel)

Special solutions for specialty crops

What excites Kinkel most about the future of microbial solutions is their potential in specialty crop systems, where diversity in crops and growing environments demands flexibility.

“Specialty crops offer a special opportunity,” she says. “There’s so much diversity — so many crops, challenges and habitats. That’s where biology shines. Chemistry usually has one active ingredient applied broadly, but that’s not how biology works. Microbes allow for bespoke solutions that can be tailored not just to the crop, but to the specific farm or region.”

And thanks to advances in fermentation technology, application method flexibility and inoculant stability, many previous barriers to microbial adoption are falling away.

“Our microbes are agnostic to application method,” Kinkel says. “Whether it’s foliar, soil or something else, we can work with it. Biologicals are becoming much more adaptable and stable.”

Still, one major challenge remains, particularly for produce: field validation.

“You must have that field validation to provide the rigor and confidence growers need,” she says. “The diversity in specialty crops makes it harder to build large-scale testing platforms. But it’s our responsibility in the biologicals industry to make those investments, to prioritize the right needs and bring real value to growers.”

A lifelong fan of the “good guys”

Kinkel’s fascination with soil microbes began during a college course in plant pathology that focused almost entirely on pathogens.

“There was one lecture, just one, on beneficial microbes,” she says. “And I thought, what the heck? Why don’t we know more about the good guys? That question really defined my career.”

“The soil is filled with an entire universe of microbes that are doing big jobs for us every day, thanklessly,” Kinkel says. “My passion has always been to understand the who, how and why of these microbial interactions, and how we can manage them for better outcomes in food security and agriculture.”

Even after more than three decades in the field, her enthusiasm hasn’t waned.

“I’m not young anymore,” Kinkel laughs, “but I still see such potential in what we can do with soil microbiology. It’s a great tool.”

Top Agri-Food Pioneer recognition

As she prepares to be honored by the World Food Prize Foundation this year alongside a new cohort of innovators, Kinkel reflects on her journey and the mentors who inspired her, including Norman Borlaug, whom she met early in her career at the University of Minnesota.

“It’s humbling to be part of Dr. Borlaug’s broad footprint, however small my piece may be,” she says. “I’m especially proud that our collaborative team at Jord is being recognized. Microbes work best in collaboration — and so do we.”

The second annual Top Agri-Food Pioneers includes 39 changemakers from 27 countries forging a new future for food, according to a news release by the World Food Prize Foundation . The honorees, including Kinkel, will be formally recognized during the 2025 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, taking place Oct. 21–23 in Des Moines, Iowa.

“The 2025 TAP list showcases the extraordinary diversity, talent and resolve of individuals working across borders and disciplines to build a more sustainable and just global food system,” says Mashal Husain, president of World Food Prize Foundation. “In a world facing urgent and interwoven crises, these honorees are fearless changemakers driving impact where it matters most — and offering real hope for the future.”

USDA Links Catastrophic Honeybee Losses to High Viral Loads, Mite Resistance

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 20:59:12 GMT

What caused catastrophic honeybee colony losses earlier this year ? Researchers, scientists and beekeepers have been looking for answers since January, and now new research from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service has identified causes behind the devastating losses.

The findings point to alarmingly high levels of viral infections — vectored by Varroa mites with resistant genes to a common treatment — as key drivers of colony collapse, according to a news release from the Honey Bee Health Coalition, a project of the Keystone Policy Center.

“I think we always thought that it would be some kind of viral load that was transmitted from the Varroa mite,” Matt Mulica, senior project director with the Keystone Policy Center, told The Packer. “As a reminder, the Varroa mite is ubiquitous across the country. On a human scale, it’d be about the size of a dinner plate, like a mite or tick. So, it’s very large compared to the size of a bee’s body.”

The study analyzed samples from six major commercial beekeeping operations affected by the losses, which collectively managed nearly 184,000 colonies — roughly 7% of all U.S. hives — and reported losses averaging over 60%, just as bees were being staged for California’s almond pollination season, according to the Honey Bee Health Coalition.

Mulica said the biggest reveal from the research was that it determined the mortality-causing viruses were Deformed Wing Virus (DWV-A and DWV-B) and Acute Bee Paralysis Virus.

All Varroa mites collected from affected colonies tested positive for a genetic marker linked to resistance to amitraz, the most commonly used miticide in commercial beekeeping, said the Honey Bee Health Coalition, adding that this finding underscores the “urgent need for new tools and integrated pest management strategies.”

Any pest is going to build resistance as beekeepers or farmers try to control it by more frequent treatments and higher doses, and that was the case here, said Mulica.

He pointed to a number of tools that beekeepers use to fight against Varroa, including coumaphos and tau-fluvalinate, which were used in the ‘90s and to which eventually mites built resistance to as well.

“It’s all about rotation of chemicals and cultural techniques,” said Mulica. “Beekeepers shouldn’t be relying on amitraz as their primary mite control method. There’s a whole host of other chemicals, but also cultural techniques that they can use — re-queening and drone brood breaks (the removal of male bees from a honeybee hive to interrupt the Varroa mite life cycle and reduce mite populations), along with formic acid and oxalic acid, and some of these other new and emerging treatments.”

A Threat to U.S. Food Security

Late last month the Environmental Protection Agency, which has called Varroa mites “a national threat to bee colonies and in turn to farmers with crops dependent on pollination services provided by bees, and ultimately to food security in the United States,” proposed to register one technical and two end-use products containing the new active ingredient Vadescana — a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) — for control against the destructive mites in honeybee hives.

“That’s really promising news that beekeepers now have even more tools to use, as these mites are becoming resistant to their primary tool, which is amitraz,” said Mulica.

The EPA further said it is prioritizing pesticide applications that target Varroa mites to provide beekeepers with a variety of tools to combat the pest.

Where Do Beekeepers Go From Here?

“Just like all epidemic epidemiological studies, there’s the controlling of the vectors of the disease, that’s the mite, and then there’s the controlling of the diseases themselves,” said Mulica. “If you remember during COVID, once they learned what it was, they immediately started working on a vaccine, and then they also had recommendations of how to avoid getting it.”

Mulica said the best practices applied during COVID are what’s happening now in beekeeping to rebuild hive strength and avoid the virus spreading to other bee colonies.

“We have tools in the toolbox that are coming out that will hopefully take the place of amitraz, so controlling the vector of the disease,” he said. “USDA is also working on antivirals. For the past 10 years, they’ve been screening hundreds of plant compounds to see what they could provide to bees that would help them heal if they got these viruses.”

Preliminary recommendations and best practices to control the virus include cleaning hive tools between use or wiping it down with isopropyl alcohol, and if someone has hives that are dwindling and not growing, know that there’s probably something wrong and keep those hives isolated, Mulica explained.

For beekeepers who have a dead colony, Mulica recommended letting it sit and air out for a few weeks before repopulating to allow the viruses to dissipate.

While these are the Honey Bee Health Coalition’s initial recommendations, the organization is working on an FAQ, currently in draft mode, that will be released in the coming weeks, he said.

Impact to Food Supply

While viruses and Varroa were confirmed as primary contributors, the USDA ARS research also pointed to other stressors including pesticide exposure, poor nutrition and environmental conditions that may have exacerbated the losses.

“With estimated bee colony losses at 62% of all the hives in the country, beekeepers are working to meet their pollination services contracts for the fruits and vegetables that we all rely on,” said Mulica.

In normal conditions, a beekeeper can take a strong hive and split it into up to four new hives by putting in three more queens, said Mulica, adding that this is a much more challenging endeavor with fewer and weaker hives.

“An impact to food prices is a distinct possibility,” he said. “But I think the beekeepers are pretty resilient, and they’re scrambling to make sure that they meet those contracts.

“We’re just entering the height of the pollination season, where they’re going around to all your apples and blueberries and melons, various cucumbers and nuts,” he continued. “I think that they’re a resilient industry and that they’ll pull through, but it’s certainly going to be financially very difficult for a lot of these operations.”

Additional Resources

In 2021, the Honey Bee Health Coalition published “Guide to Varroa Mite Controls for Commercial Beekeeping Operations.” The coalition said it plans to release an updated version of its “Tools for Varroa Management” guide later this year.

Related news:
What caused the catastrophic U.S. honeybee colony loss

Road to Recovery: Can Global Food Production Bounce Back From Record Honeybee Losses?

What the 1.1M Honeybee Colony Loss Could Mean for Ag

BeeHero Takes Growers Inside the Hive

Chinese Scientist Accused Of Smuggling ‘Potential Agroterrorism Weapon’ Into the U.S.

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 21:22:46 GMT

Two Chinese nationals have been charged with trying to smuggle a fungus, Fusarium graminearum, into the United States.

Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, citizens of the People’s Republic of China, were charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the U.S., false statements and visa fraud.

The charges against the pair were unsealed in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, on Tuesday.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office references Fusarium graminearum online as a “dangerous biological pathogen … which scientific literature classifies as a potential agroterrorism weapon.”

Fusarium graminearum causes significant diseases in a number of U.S.-grown food crops, including corn, wheat, barley, soybeans and rice.

Diseases caused include Fusarium head blight (scab) in wheat, and two corn diseases Gibberella ear rot and Gibberella stalk rot , which can lower yield and feed quality of silage corn, according to the Crop Protection Network, a partnership of land grant universities.

Toxins the fungus produces can cause vomiting, liver damage, reproductive defects and mycotoxin-induced immunosuppression in humans and livestock, including cattle, hogs, horses and poultry.

One Scientist Arrested, One Returned To China
The 25-page criminal complaint alleges Liu tried to smuggle the fungus through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DMA) in July 2024, so he could study it at a University of Michigan laboratory where his girlfriend, Yunqing Jian, worked at the time.

Jian had been living in the U.S. and working at the university laboratory since 2022.

The roots of the case involving Yunqing Jian, 33, and her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, 34, stretch back to March 2024. That is when Liu applied for a B2 tourist visa to enter the U.S.

(The Detroit News and Sanilac County Jail)

According to the criminal complaint, Jian and Liu had both previously conducted work on the fungus in China.

Officials further allege Jian received funding from the Chinese government for her research on the pathogen in China. They also claim she is a member of the Chinese Communist Party.

Jian, who was arrested by the FBI, remains in federal custody. On Thursday, her detention hearing was adjourned until 1 p.m. June 13 to allow time for a new defense attorney to get up to speed.

Liu was sent back to China last year after changing his story during an interrogation at the Detroit airport about red plant material discovered in a wad of tissues in his backpack, the FBI says.

The U.S. does not have an extradition treaty with China, which makes Liu’s arrest unlikely unless he returns.

In a statement released on June 3, the University of Michigan said it condemns “any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university’s critical public mission.”

“It is important to note that the university has received no funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals,” the university added. “We have and will continue to cooperate with federal law enforcement in its ongoing investigation and prosecution.”

In a statement released on June 3, the University of Michigan said it condemns “any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university’s critical public mission.”

(Michigan News Source)

Boyfriend Spills Intentions To Investigators
An article in The Detroit News said Liu told investigators during an interrogation at the Detroit airport he planned to clone the different strains and make additional samples if the experiments on the reddish plant material failed, according to the government.

“Liu stated that he intentionally hid the samples in his backpack because he knew there were restrictions on the importation of the materials,” an FBI agent wrote. “Liu confirmed that he had intentionally put the samples in a wad of tissues so CBP officers would be less likely to find and confiscate them, and he could continue his research in the United States.”

Liu told investigators he planned on using UM’s Molecular Plant-Microbe Interaction Laboratory to research the biological materials, the FBI agent wrote.

“Liu stated that, while he was in the United States, he would have free access to the laboratory at the University of Michigan on some days, and that other days his girlfriend would give him access to the laboratory to conduct his research,” The Detroit News article reported.

Before preventing Liu from entering the U.S. and sending him back to China, the investigators found messages between the couple that indicate Jian previously smuggled biological material into the U.S., the FBI agent wrote.

The messages are from August 2022 and discuss smuggling seeds into the U.S.

Lawmakers Respond To The Criminal Complaint
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement that the Justice Department “has no higher mission than keeping the American people safe and protecting our nation from hostile foreign actors who would do us harm.”

“Thanks to the hard work of our excellent DOJ attorneys, this defendant — who clandestinely attempted to bring a destructive substance into the United States — will face years behind bars,” the attorney general says.

“I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country,” FBI Director Kash Patel said on Tuesday.

(FBI)

FBI Director Kash Patel addressed the arrest of Jian late Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter.

“This case is a sobering reminder that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences … putting American lives and our economy at serious risk.”

U.S. Custom and Border Protection, Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon says the criminal charges against Jian and Liu are indicative of CBP’s critical role in protecting the American people from biological threats that could devastate its agricultural economy and cause harm to humans.

“This was a complex investigation involving CBP offices from across the country, alongside our federal partners,” says Raybon in a prepared statement. “I’m grateful for their tireless efforts, ensuring our borders remain secure from all types of threats while safeguarding America’s national security interests.”

Your next read: Surveillance State: Game Wardens Sued for Secret Private Land Intrusions in Alabama

Reviving Hemp: Economic Boon or Passing Trend?

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 18:15:14 GMT

Industrial hemp is gaining more ground in the U.S., according to the 2025 National Hemp Report , released on April 17 by the USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The report says the total planted area for industrial hemp in the U.S. reached 45,294 acres in 2024 – up 64% from 2023. Likewise, total harvested acres were 32,694 acres last year – up 55% from 2023.

The report was based on a survey of 8,153 producers across the U.S.

(USDA-NASS)

The total value of U.S. hemp production – which includes open (fields) and under protection (such as greenhouses) – totaled $445 million, up 40% from 2023.

Of that $445 million, hemp production in the open was the lion’s share of the value – $417 million – a 46% increase over 2023.

The value of industrial hemp is increasing once again, following a profitability nosedive during the early days of the Covid pandemic.

(USDA-NASS)

What Is Industrial Hemp?
The National Hemp Report is based on the 2025 Hemp Acreage and Production Survey of 8,153 producers. The survey was conducted during February and March 2025.

As defined in the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill), the term “hemp” means the plant species Cannabis sativa L. and any part of the plant such as seeds, all derivatives and extracts.

Industrial hemp, whether growing or already processed, is characterized by low THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) content, not exceeding 0.3% on a dry weight basis.

Industrial hemp is an ingredient used in supplements, skin creams, and shampoos, among other products containing Cannabidiol, better known as CBD.

The hemp-derived cannabinoid industry supports over 325,000 jobs and $13.2 billion in wages across the U.S., according to Whitney Economics.

Texas leads the country in hemp production, followed by South Dakota.

Texas leads the country in hemp production.

(USDA-NASS)

Four Facets Of Industrial Hemp
The USDA’s 2025 report addresses four facets of industrial hemp, including floral, grain, fiber and seed production.

Floral hemp made the largest production gains in 2024, with U.S. production totaling 20.8 million pounds – a 159% increase over 2023.

The 37-page National Hemp Report says the area harvested for floral hemp in the open was estimated at 11,827 acres, an increase of 60% from 2023. Average floral hemp yields in 2024 reached 1,757 pounds per acre, a gain of 669 pounds per acre over 2023 yield results.

Seed hemp grown in the open made the most significant gain in value last year, jumping 482% to total $16.9 million. With 2,160 acres of hemp for seed in 2024, that marked a 61% increase over 2023.

Seed hemp has a high protein content with a balanced amino acid profile and is used in human dietary supplements. The seed oil is also used in the food, pharmaceutical, medical and cosmetic industries.

The Domestic Hemp Production Program, which allows for the cultivation of hemp under certain conditions, was established in the 2018 Farm Bill and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).

Taylor Farms acquires ag robotics company FarmWise

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 19:49:50 GMT

Taylor Farms, a Salinas, Calif.-based ready-to-eat salad company, has acquired FarmWise, an agricultural technology robotics company specializing in precision weeding and thinning solutions, according to a news release.

Last month, FarmWise announced plans to “wind down” operations by April 1 due to lack of funding.

Best known for its Vulcan next-generation, intra-row weeder and precision cultivator that launched in 2023, FarmWise’s three-in-one implement offers precision weeding, cultivation and thinning.

Taylor Farms, which had previously implemented FarmWise’s Vulcan technology, said it saw a reduction in its weeding costs of nearly $550,000, eliminating the need for cultivator passes on 64% of the acres covered. Taylor Farms had also said FarmWise’s technology allowed it to scale operations more efficiently, reduce labor costs and improve precision in ways that traditional methods couldn’t match.

“We believe in the FarmWise technology and think we have an important role to play with industry adoption in the specialty crop space,” Ted Taylor, president of Taylor Farms agricultural operations, said in a release. “This acquisition is another step forward in our mission to drive the future of agriculture with thoughtful and impactful innovation.”

FarmWise’s leadership echoed this enthusiasm in the future of agtech.

“I’m incredibly proud of what our team has built,” said FarmWise CEO Tjarko Leifer, CEO. “The FarmWise Vulcan delivers a strong return on investment to vegetable growers today, and this is just the beginning. I’m more bullish than ever about a future where advanced robotics play a vital role in making farming more productive and sustainable.”

Taylor Farms says the acquisition is a natural fit for the company as it continues to “adopt advanced solutions that benefit the produce industry at large.” It will immediately begin assisting the transition to ensure continuity of service for FarmWise’s Vulcan customers, the release said.

The companies say the collaborative approach strengthens the transition and furthers the innovative momentum behind the Vulcan technology.

Your next read: AI-powered FarmWise prepares for next chapter in ag robotics

Food banks prepare for fallout of USDA $1B funding cut

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:21:15 GMT

Earlier this month, the USDA cut funding for two federal programs that spent more than $1 billion to help schools and food banks buy food from local farms and ranches.

This includes $660 million for the Local Food for Schools program and $500 million for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program.

Brian Greene, president and CEO of the Houston Food Bank, said this cut will impact the organizations’ ability to distribute 40 truckloads of food each month. The organization provides access to 140 million meals in 18 counties through 1,600 community partners.

“Our distribution partners and neighbors rely on us for this food, and we are committed to maintaining this critical supply,” Greene said. “As we continue to assess the full impact of the loss of funding, the support of our donors is more critical than ever. In addition to giving, advocacy is crucial. Our community can also help us advocate by speaking to elected officials about the importance of protecting USDA and [The Emergency Food Assistance Program] foods.”

Spoonfuls CEO and founder Ashley Stanley said in a letter that the organization recently convened with 20 of the food programs in its network to discuss the impact of these funding cuts.

“What we heard — what we already knew — is that this isn’t business as usual,” Stanley said.

“In 15 years of Spoonfuls (including the years we worked continuously to be a food resource for our neighbors throughout a global pandemic), we and our partners have never seen anything like what we’re seeing now,” Stanley added. “With near daily announcements of various federal and state program and funding cuts (the latest just yesterday as we learned that USDA is canceling $3.3 million dollars’ worth of food deliveries to Massachusetts’ food banks, causing ripple effects for our partners and for Spoonfuls), programs we know and love in communities where we live and work, and people we care about, are in trouble. Because of this, we are no longer treating our work as ‘business as usual’ and, instead, are proactively moving into emergency response.”

Mollie Van Lieu, vice president of nutrition and health for the International Fresh Produce Association, said the organization understands the vital need for increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

“IFPA champions federal initiatives focused on increasing Americans’ access and consumption of fruits and vegetables,” Van Lieu said. “In addition to improving public health, these programs can create consistent demand for American-grown produce, benefiting farmers and strengthening local food systems. IFPA remains committed to working with the administration on fiscally responsible and effective policies that increase fruit and vegetable consumption, improve public health, and strengthen the farm economy.”

Leslie Gordon, president and CEO of the Food Bank for New York City, said the Emergency Food and Shelter Program has been paused, which cut $8 million in spending in the New York City marketplace. She said she also worries about how these cuts could be the start of deeper future cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or The Emergency Food Assistance Program.

“The American government goes out and purchases food through a bidding process from our farmers and producers and then and finds it homes at food banks and onto someone’s plate,” she said. “It’s a magnificent product. It’s gorgeous fresh produce.”

Gordon said any changes in purchasing from local producers have serious economic consequences for farmers, retailers and consumers.

“I think people don’t appreciate that when you make a decision there can be a very broad impact,” she said. “So, when you pull one lever or make one change there are any number of downstream impacts that happen, and we have to be really good and concise about helping lawmakers who hold the power to create change and to prevent things like this from happening — to unlock a process that prevents a wider crisis.”

Gordon said that every dollar spent in SNAP has a downstream economic impact of $1.50 and that SNAP and the other food purchasing programs provide such critical access to healthy nutritious food, especially fresh produce.

“Food is what powers people’s every day,” she said. “You can’t really do much and be successful at school if you’re a kid or a college student and you can’t be successful at work if you’re a professional if your stomach is constantly rumbling. You can’t take care of your family. You can’t be a resilient productive member of your own home if you don’t have access to good nutrition. There’s a lot at stake.”

Gordon encourages those concerned about these potential impacts to contact lawmakers and lobby for access to fresh produce for those in need.

“This country is built on the backs of advocates and people who stand up for themselves and this is our collective moment together to create change and the best way to do that is to really be proactive about it. If you take a back seat to it, we’re all going to pay. If we do nothing, then we shouldn’t be surprised about a result that we don’t like.”

What Do Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreaks in Europe Mean for the U.S.?

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:19:03 GMT

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is rearing its ugly head in Europe. After an outbreak in water buffalo in Germany in January, an outbreak in cattle in Hungary in early March and an outbreak in cattle in Slovakia last week, why now? What is the U.S. doing to keep this foreign animal disease out and protect the country’s livestock industry?

“FMD is caused by a virus that affects cloven-hoofed animals so that can include cattle, pigs, sheep and goats,” explains Megan Niederwerder, DVM, who serves as the executive director of the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC). “It does not affect humans and is not a threat to food safety, but it has significant trade implications once it is introduced into a country.”

FMD has been fairly quiet in these European countries – with no cases reported for decades. Other parts of Europe have seen outbreaks more recently like the 2001 outbreak in the United Kingdom that caused a crisis in British agriculture and tourism and resulted in the cancellation of the World Pork Expo held in Des Moines, Iowa.

“FMD really decimated the United Kingdom,” says Barb Determan who was serving as president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) at the time. “It became very apparent that we couldn’t guarantee the safety for our U.S. pig herd because of the high numbers of international travelers that would be at the show. We had to cancel World Pork Expo out of an abundance of precaution.”

Although there is still a lot to be discovered about how FMD was introduced into these populations, it’s a significant warning to the U.S. to be on alert.

(Lori Hays)

That was the first time, but not the only time World Pork Expo was canceled. The event was also canceled in 2019 because of the African swine fever outbreak in China and again in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That was a hard financial decision,” Determan says. “We had just completed the separation agreement between NPPC and the National Pork Board. NPPC was very tightly budgeted at that time, so it was a huge hit.”

However, keeping the U.S. pig herd safe was the most important thing on everyone’s mind. She says they made their decision after hearing reports from veterinarians who had been to England to better understand the extensiveness as well as from the USDA that had sent veterinarians over to help.

“At that time, we didn’t have near the biosecurity practices and things that we do now with the disinfectant foot mats,” Determan says. “We also don’t have live pigs on the on the grounds now compared to how we did things many years ago. We used to have live pigs everywhere on the fairgrounds in the early 2000s from genetics companies with pigs in their displays to the pigs in the live shows.”

The Truth About FMD
The clinical signs of FMD are similar to what the name implies. It can cause vesicles or blisters on the feet, mouth and tongue of animals that are infected. The U.S. has not had a case of FMD since 1929.

“We certainly want to keep it that way, as the economic implications for producers are significant if the virus is introduced,” Niederwerder says.

Compared to many viruses, FMD is a highly stable, non-enveloped virus that allows it to be infectious for longer periods. It’s very contagious and highly transmissible. Not only are there risks with transmission of the virus through infected meat products that may come in through illegal trade, but it can also be carried on contaminated clothes or equipment or supplies of humans.

“The human would not be infected, but certainly people can carry the virus on contaminated clothing,” Niederwerder says. “That’s why it’s really important as we think about prevention of entry into the U.S.”

FMD causes fever and pain. It results in excessive salivation and causes reduced milk production in dairy cattle.

“When you think about the impact, certainly there’s an impact on animal health with regards to the clinical signs, but even further is this impact on trade restrictions and the economic losses for producers,” Niederwerder says. “When you try and contain the virus, that oftentimes results in those infected animals being culled or euthanized so the disease no longer has the chance to spread.”

Why Should the U.S. Pay Attention?
When a virus moves into a new geographical range or is reintroduced into a country that has maintained a negative status for a long period, Niederwerder says it’s critical to reassess the risk to the U.S.

“In January, Germany reported their first case in over 30 years in water buffalo near Berlin,” she explains. “It was 14 animals, and those animals were all culled after the infection was confirmed but certainly trade restrictions and implications on surrounding areas of that Berlin farm were significant.”

Fast forward to March when two additional countries have reported cases. Hungary reported FMD in a single farm of cattle in the north part of the country for the first time in over 50 years. Shortly thereafter, the virus appeared in Slovakia (who also hadn’t seen a case in over 50 years) in multiple herds of cattle.

“Just recently, another herd was a suspect herd in Slovakia, near the southern border near Hungary,” Niederwerder says. “This is certainly concerning about how this virus is being reintroduced. Is it associated with contaminated fomites that may be in the country or traveling to new locations? Is it associated with wild boar? Could it be associated with infected hay?”

Although there is still a lot to be discovered about how FMD was introduced into these populations, it’s a significant warning to the U.S. to be on alert .

“We need to do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t get reintroduced into the U.S.,” Niederwerder says. “How can we amp up any biosecurity measures that are necessary to reduce our risk? We also need to think about reducing the risk of introduction into our country through travel and illegal trade.”

Be on Alert
Livestock operations should reevaluate biosecurity protocols. If any of your farm’s employees travel to areas where there are infected animals, implement a quarantine period for entry back into your U.S. farm, she advises.

“Be vigilant,” Niederwerder urges. “One of the challenges of FMD is that it does cause these characteristic lesions of vesicles or blisters on the mouth, nose or the hoof. What becomes very tricky is that those clinical signs are indistinguishable from other vesicular diseases such as Senecavirus A. If producers and veterinarians see these lesions, they must report it immediately so it can be investigated and confirmed that it is not FMD virus.”

FMD is not just a disease of pigs and cattle, she points out. Sheep, goats and cloven-hoofed zoo animals may also be impacted by FMD. This increases the breadth of what the industry needs to monitor.

“The world is very small now,” Niederwerder says. “Not only do people travel more internationally, but animals move around more than ever, too. It’s extremely important for those of us that are producers to keep our eyes open and pay attention to what’s going on worldwide so we can be as prepared as possible for any change in disease risk.”

That’s one of the ways that SHIC is trying to help producers. SHIC provides timely domestic and global disease updates to producers.

“Watching the SHIC global disease report is really important for producers,” Determan says. “It comes out every month and really gives you a feel for what’s happening in the entire world from a swine health standpoint. The biggest lesson we learned from the 2001 FMD outbreak is that looking farther out than just our own farm gate is so important.”

Keep Reading:
An Update on Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Serotype O in Germany

Hungary Confirms Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak in Cattle

Slovakia Records First Foot-and-Mouth Cases, Minister Says

Plenty restructuring to support focus on premium strawberry market

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 21:21:44 GMT

Plenty Unlimited Inc. says it has filed voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, in accordance with its board-approved plan to restructure its liabilities, streamline operations and focus its go-forward operations.

The company posted on social media in December 2024 that it closed its Compton, Calif., leafy greens farm as part of a strategic decision to focus on strawberries . Plenty will continue to operate its Richmond, Va., vertical strawberry farm and its Laramie, Wyo., plant science research and development facility throughout the restructuring process, according to a news release.

The company said it has also received a commitment for debtor-in-possession financing of $20.7 million. Plenty has filed a motion seeking approval of the DIP financing and, upon approval, the DIP financing is expected to provide the company with the necessary liquidity to support its operations throughout the planned process, the release said.

“Plenty’s advanced technology is transforming indoor farming, removing the unpredictability of Mother Nature and making it possible to create a stable supply of fresh produce with peak-season flavor year-round almost anywhere in the world,” said Dan Malech, interim CEO for Plenty. “However, our company is not immune from larger market dynamics and the fundraising challenges facing our industry. After evaluating all of our strategic alternatives, we have determined that pursuing this restructuring process is in the best interests of all of the company’s stakeholders.

“We are fortunate to have stakeholders who support and believe in our mission to make fresh food accessible to everyone, everywhere,” Malech continued. “The restructuring will position us to continue working toward that mission by expanding our production of premium strawberries with industry-leading partners and filling a supply gap in the market to meet consumer demand for locally grown, high-quality strawberries year-round.”

In addition to seeking approval of the DIP financing, Plenty has filed a number of customary motions seeking authorization to support its operations during the court-supervised process, including authority to pay wages and provide health and other employee benefits, the release said.

Additional information regarding the process can be found at cases.stretto.com/PlentyUnlimited , a website administered by Plenty’s claims agent, Stretto Inc. Information is also available by calling 855-994-4202 (toll-free) and 847-610-7823 (international).

Sidley Austin LLP and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati are serving as the company’s legal counsel, the release said. Jefferies LLC and Uzzi & Lall LLC are serving as financial advisers. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and Sullivan and Cromwell LLP are representing certain providers of the DIP financing.

Your next read:

More Funding Going to Tackle HPAI H5N1, Egg Imports are Now Underway to Stabilize Supply

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:05:23 GMT

On Thursday morning, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins gave an update on progress the Trump administration is making on the five-prong strategy it unveiled Feb. 26 to combat avian influenza virus type A (H5N1).

Speaking to industry stakeholders, media and offices of elected officials, Rollins focused on the administration’s work to lower egg prices and improve supply, while also emphasizing the importance of biosecurity in protecting U.S. poultry flocks from the virus.

Regarding egg prices, she said wholesale prices are down nearly 50% from their peak in late February from $8.53 then to $4.08 currently.

However, Rollins said she realizes that wholesale prices don’t automatically show up as reductions in retail prices.

“I know for some of us who are shopping that we’ve seen egg prices drop immediately, which has been true for me. But then we’ll hear from people in other parts of the country where they have yet to see that reduction on their grocery store shelf.”

With Easter just a few weeks away, she acknowledged that egg demand is always “unusually high during the season,” and that egg prices could potentially move back up.

To help address the egg shortage, Rollins noted that shell egg exports have declined by 8%, “keeping more eggs in the U.S. and lowering prices.”

In addition, the Trump administration is allowing egg imports as a temporary measure to stabilize prices and supply. Rollins’ chief of staff Kailee Buller said this measure would likely be discontinued once those measures were achieved.

USDA Focuses On Biosecurity For Poultry Operations
Rollins said biosecurity in poultry flocks will continue to be a major part of the Trump administration’s plan to address H5N1, moving forward.

“Our pilot programs have proven that biosecurity is the most important thing our farmers can do to protect our flocks against the disease, at least right now,” she said.

The USDA is working closely, she said, with its federal partners including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to “combat avian flu as a unified federal family.”

On Wednesday, USDA announced it is expanding the availability of its biosecurity assessments to commercial poultry producers.

“These assessments, which were previously available on a limited basis have been extremely successful in improving biosecurity on individual premises and preventing the introduction or spread of avian influenza,” Rollins said.

While USDA is exploring the viability of vaccinating poultry for H5N1, she said the use of any vaccine for poultry or any animal species has not been authorized at this time.

“I know there has been some misreporting on that,” Rollins said. “The day we rolled out the plan, I actually talked about the fact that we’re not ready to vaccinate. We need to do some more research, and so that has not changed, but I do look forward to this next process of learning more about getting more research done and perhaps seeing what makes sense for the country moving forward, once that is concluded.”

Dairy Is Not Part Of USDA’s Primary H5N1 Focus
No information was offered during the conference call to address the issue of H5N1 in dairy cattle or other livestock or animal species.

Mike Watson, administrator of USDA-APHIS, said right now USDA is focused on the poultry vaccine.

“We’re looking for a vaccine that has sterilizing immunity but also an opportunity for us to have different introduction methods for the vaccine right now, as injections are the only possibility,” he said. “We need new tools, whether it’s water based, aerosol based, those kind of things. We’re looking for manufacturers to really look at what those options might be, to really provide us with a vaccine that matches the current strain but also is highly effective. And again, this is really focused on poultry.”

Buller said there is already quite a bit of research at USDA on the topic in dairy.

“Please rest assured, we are thinking of you all (in dairy). We know you all are impacted. But for this particular strategy, we have been hyper-focused on the poultry side. USDA has separate work streams as we’re working through this on the cattle and dairy side.”

One of the media asked whether Sec. Rollins had talked further with HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding his idea of letting H5N1 burn through poultry flocks to identify birds that might have immunity or show resistance to the virus.

Buller answered the question, as Rollins had stepped away from the call. “I have not been engaged specifically with those conversations with the Secretary and Secretary Kennedy,” she said. “They are talking very regularly and you are aligned on the approach, but in terms of that specific topic, there’s no further light I can shed on that at this time.”

Assessments Available To Poultry Operations
USDA is offering two different, free, voluntary biosecurity assessments for poultry operations not currently affected by HPAI.

The first is a wildlife biosecurity assessment. The second is a general biosecurity assessment. Poultry producers can request one or both of these free assessments.

Per the wildlife biosecurity assessment, Rollins said USDA will conduct on-farm assessments at poultry facilities and provide recommendations to producers for facility repairs and wildlife management techniques. The assessments include a series of regular engagements, including wildlife hazard identification surveys, wildlife abundance surveys and wildlife management on the premises.

“USDA has assessed approximately 130 facilities to date (in 2025), and plans on doing significantly more moving forward and expanding that program,” she said.

For the general biosecurity assessment, USDA will work with poultry producers to review biosecurity plans and physical measures.

“This is a proactive resource for premises that are outside of avian flu control areas to identify and mitigate potential biosecurity gaps,” she said.

Funding Is Ramped Up To Address HPAI In Poultry
The USDA announced on Thursday that up to $100 million in funding will be available to support projects on avian influenza, prevention, therapeutics, vaccines and research.

“USDA will invest up to $100 million in these projects, which will identify and foster innovative solutions to fight avian flu and directly support American producers,” Rollins said during the conference call.

Funding is available through a competitive process to for-profit organizations, including manufacturers of vaccines, biologics and therapeutics, as well as states, universities, livestock producer organizations and other eligible entities, she noted.

USDA will prioritize one or more of the following. First, it will support the development of novel therapeutics to address HPAI in poultry. Second, it will support research to further understand the risk pathways of avian influenza for producers and to inform improved biosecurity and response strategies.

“Let me just say, as a quick aside, I’ve had multiples and multiples and multiples of conversations with some of our chicken farmers across the country —many of them have been highly successful at not having the bird flu infect their populations,” Rollins said. “Better understanding of risk pathways and realizing what best practices are is a big part of (this work).”

The third focus is on the development of novel vaccines to protect poultry from H5N1 while promoting biosecurity.

“That will all be part of the research funding opportunity that we announced about an hour and a half ago,” Rollins said.

USDA will test the efficacy of therapeutic interventions to prevent the virus and treat infected flocks.

“USDA, in consultation with HHS, has already had multiple conversations with Secretary Kennedy and leaders in the NIH and CDC, but will also be exploring prevention strategies to promote biosecurity in agriculture and in humans, to ensure limited impact on American farmers,” Rollins noted.

USDA is offering a webinar to assist interested applicants in learning more about the funding opportunity and how to submit a proposal on Tuesday, April 1 at 12 p.m. Eastern. No details on how to participate in the webinar have been communicated yet.

“As we try to do everything under this president and here at USDA, we will be as fast and efficient and effective as we can possibly be, working around the clock,” Rollins said.

Buller added that Sec. Rollins and her staff will continue to host update calls regularly.

“It’s very important to Sec. Rollins that we are showing progress on this five-prong plan and being honest and open with the public about what we’re up to and the progress and potential challenges that we have ahead,” Buller said. “We have an open door here, and we remain open to having conversations and hearing from stakeholders.”

What caused the catastrophic U.S. honeybee colony loss?

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 15:33:50 GMT

In a follow-up about what led to a significant loss of honeybee colonies, a Feb. 28 webinar hosted by Project Apis m. revealed the short answer is beekeepers, researchers, scientists and a multi-organizational working group that includes Project Apis m., the American Beekeeping Federation and the American Honey Producers Association don’t know — yet.

“If you like food, you need bees,” said Danielle Downey, executive director of Project Apis m., kicking off the webinar that provided updates on two nationwide surveys of beekeepers. The initial survey, fielded Jan. 28, revealed a staggering 62% loss of commercial honeybee colonies across the U.S. , while a follow-up survey two weeks later aimed at determining the cause.

Critical to the food chain, honeybees are valued for much more than their honey, said Downey, who has worked with honeybees and the parasites that plague them for 30 years.

“Honey is valued at about $350 million, but pollination is the real important thing we get from bees, and that’s valued at $18 billion every year — just in the U.S.A., and globally between $235 [billion] and $577 billion,” Downey said.

What’s more, an estimated 75% of food crops and 35% of global agricultural production volume depend on pollinators.

Administered by Project Apis m., the initial survey gathered data from 702 beekeepers, covering colony losses, management practices and potential contributing factors. Almost 800 beekeepers have now participated in that survey, says Downey. The beekeepers surveyed represent more than 68% of the nation’s bees.

Conservatively, Project Aphis m. estimates the total economic impact of the honeybee colony loss at $634.7 million.

While the recent colony loss was more dramatic, honeybees have been in decline for some years now.

“Bees are losing their numbers for a number of reasons — all of which are interrelated,” Matthew Mulica, senior project director of the Keystone Policy Center, which facilitates the Honey Bee Health Coalition, told The Packer.

A lack of good forage and nutrition, not enough flowers, pest and disease pressures and the impact of pesticides collectively “make it really hard for beekeepers,” he said.

The Honey Bee Health Coalition was born a decade ago out of need for a centralized group that brought together beekeeping associations, researchers, agribusiness, government agencies and independent nonprofits, says Mulica.

“There was a lack of communication between mainstream, commodity agriculture and the beekeeping sector on a national, leadership level,” he said. “So, we bridge that gap and we’ve worked across all levels of bee health decline.”

The most recent losses, which surpass historical trends, could significantly impact U.S. agriculture, particularly crop pollination for almonds, fruits, vegetables and other essential food sources, says the Honey Bee Health Coalition.

With 1 in 3 bites of food reliant on pollination, Mulica says the catastrophic bee loss could mean “walking into your grocery store and not having melons and cucumbers and apples and pears and jalapeño peppers and almonds.”

“We still don’t know what caused this recent collapse,” he said. “It could be the usual suspects, or it could be a new, novel disease, an environmental stressor that we hadn’t thought about or a combination of many things.”

Busy bees

As Downey describes it, bees are essentially guns for hire — trucked in 18-wheelers from crop to crop that need pollinating once in bloom. At this time of year, that means almonds. Project Aphis m. says over 2 million hives are moved annually for almonds alone.

Prior to the almond bloom, honeybee colonies are stored for the winter in either indoor or outdoor facilities, so many beekeepers don’t know the condition of the hive until they’re ready to move them out of storage.

“This year, there were a lot of beekeepers who got surprised by the number of dead and dwindling colonies, and as those mounted, the beekeepers started to call researchers and say, ‘We need some help. We don’t know what’s going on,’” said Downey.

A working group was quickly mobilized to field a survey to determine if the honeybee loss was widespread or regional, to assess the severity of the damage and if there was a common cause, Downey explained.

A team of scientists and researchers from USDA and university labs were also mobilized to analyze the data, mite and disease trends, nutrition and landscape impacts, economic damage estimates, and pesticide concerns.

The goal of the first survey was to determine if it was regional or widespread and was focused on known challenges bees face, such as parasites that kill colonies, pathogens, viruses, pesticides and poor nutrition, said Downey.

The surveys have revealed beekeepers are short about 85,000 bee colonies for almonds this year.

Surveying for answers

The colonies represented in the survey were about 1.8 million, or 68% of the U.S. total bees, and showed a loss of about 41% of the nation’s bees, said Downey, who attributes high survey participation to level of concern among beekeepers.

Survey questions were designed to reveal commonalities that would identify a cause.

One question asked about indoor versus outdoor wintering.

“So many beekeepers have moved to a practice of storing their colonies in a climate-controlled building in the winter. We wanted to see if there was a pattern connected to these losses based on those winter conditions,” said Downey.

While there were slightly higher losses among commercial beekeepers who wintered outside, the disparity was not so great to reflect the cause of significant losses, said Downey.

Another question asked what percentage of queens were replaced. Queen health is a key concern to keep healthy hives, said Downey. But again, the data didn’t explain the losses.

Honeybee nutrition is another important factor in beekeeper management, says Downey. When the landscape doesn’t support sufficient nutrition, beekeepers often feed supplemental carbohydrates and supplemental protein to the bees. The survey asked if such supplemental nutrition was provided, and if so, what and when?

Despite some “slight differences,” there was “not a smoking gun,” said Downey.

Another question explored the presence of Varroa mites, which if beekeepers don’t kill, will kill the bees. The survey asked beekeepers what their mite counts were in the fall heading into winter. No smoking gun in the results here either, Downey said.

California almond study

Another important part of the project, says Downey, were samples gathered by the USDA Beltsville researchers who went to California, where bees destined for almond orchards were captured before they were dead. The researchers also took samples of dead outs — hives that were completely dead. They took nearly 500 samples in about 155 colonies and dead outs in nine different operations, said Downey.

“They collected live bees because that’s a snapshot of the current exposure of the colony. If the bees have pathogens — if there’s pesticides in those bees — it’s fairly recent exposure, and you can see their health through the virus analysis and many things that are attacking the colony right now would be seen in that live bee sample,” she said.

Samples collected in California will be an ongoing study, says Downey. The USDA Agricultural Research Service Bee Lab’s four-tiered investigation is exploring potential causes through:

Pathogen screening — Testing for all known honeybee pathogens using molecular methods.
Pesticide residues and pollen diversity — Examining stored pollen for pesticide examination and plant diversity.
Metagenomic analysis — Identifying previously unknown pathogens in colonies with high disease prevelance.
Microbiome and host-pathogen interactions — Assessing gut bacterial diversity and potential links to colony health.

Researchers are also looking at the bee bread, the stored pollen that the honeybees have in their hive, for contaminating residues and pollen diversity. They are also examining the wax.

Just the pesticide residue analysis alone will take two to four months to analyze, said Downey, explaining there are few labs that do this work.

“After the survey results come out, we should really have a good sense of what happened,” said Mulica of the Keystone Policy Center. “While we wait on those test results to determine what we can do, for now, we know we have to support beekeepers and do everything we can to keep them in business.

“We have to keep working together — beekeepers, farmers, policymakers — have to work together to support honeybee health,” Mulica continued. “We need to continue funding the research for new tools and improve management practices. And we also need policy solutions incentivizing farmers to plant flowers for bees and forage and to better understand impacts from pesticides. These are all the things that will help sustain this industry and help it rebound from these devastating losses.”

Another survey will be deployed April 1, and Project Aphis m. is encouraging strong participation from the beekeeping community.

Your next read: What the 1.1M honeybee colony loss could mean for ag

What the 1.1M honeybee colony loss could mean for ag

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 21:05:36 GMT

A nationwide survey of beekeepers has revealed catastrophic honeybee colony losses across the U.S., with commercial operations reporting an average loss of 62% between June 2024 and February 2025, according to a release from the Honey Bee Health Coalition, a project of the Keystone Policy Center.

The coalition says the losses, which surpass historical trends, could significantly impact U.S. agriculture, particularly crop pollination for almonds, fruits, vegetables and other essential food sources.

“Early reports of severe colony losses began pouring in last month from beekeepers across the country,” said Danielle Downey, executive director of Project Apis m. “In response, a multi-organizational working group — including Project Apis m., the American Beekeeping Federation and the American Honey Producers Association —quickly mobilized to launch this survey.

“The goal was to assess the scope and severity of the losses, gather critical management data and help guide research efforts to determine potential causes,” Downey continued.

Administered by Project Apis m., the survey gathered data from 702 beekeepers, covering colony losses, management practices and potential contributing factors. The coalition estimates that survey participants account for over 1.835 million colonies —approximately 68% of the nation’s bees.

“Initial survey results of colony losses suggest that commercial beekeepers may have lost in excess of 60% of their bees,” said Zac Browning, a fourth-generation commercial beekeeper and board chairman of Project Apis m. “The scale of these losses is completely unsustainable. Honeybees are the backbone of our food system, pollinating the crops that feed our nation. If we continue to see losses at this rate, we simply won’t be able to sustain current food production. The industry must look inward and outward for solutions to chronic bee health failure.”

The coalition says findings from the survey indicate:

Hobbyist beekeepers (1-49 colonies) lost an average of 50% of their colonies.
Sideliner operations (50-500 colonies) lost an average of 54% of their colonies.
Commercial beekeepers (more than 500 colonies) lost an average of 62% — a reversal of typical trends, where commercial beekeepers generally experience lower losses due to their scale and resources.

The results translate to an estimated 1,123,959 colony losses among respondents, says the coalition, which equates to immediate economic losses, including:

Direct colony losses — Conservatively estimated at $224.8 million (based on a $200 per colony replacement cost, not including labor, feed or treatments).
Economic impact — Factoring in lost almond pollination income based on the survey results, which was estimated at $181 per colony in 2023, the lost income exceeds $428 million. The loss rate to U.S. colonies that were not accounted for in the survey is estimated at an additional $206.4 million in losses, which could equal a total estimated economic loss of $634.7 million.

Additional economic impacts not included in this figure include the loss of honey production and pollination contracts for any crops following almonds, the release said.
To help beekeepers, farmers and policymakers understand the scale of these losses and ongoing research efforts, a free public webinar will be held on Feb. 28 , hosted by Project Apis m. to share information with stakeholders about progress analyzing the survey data.

Did the U.S. Cattle Inventory Shrink Even More in a Year? 60% of Ag Economists Think So

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 19:49:00 GMT

Last year’s USDA Cattle Inventory Report showed the smallest cattle herd in 73 years . And with no strong signs of rebuilding underway, along with strong prices providing no incentive to retain heifers, agricultural economists think the U.S. cattle inventory has shrunk even more since last year.

Last year, USDA’s Cattle Inventory report showed as of Jan. 1, 2024, the All Cattle and Calves inventory was 87.15 million head, a 2% reduction in just a year. Ahead of the 2025 report, the January Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor asked economists to project inventory as of Jan. 1, 2025.

50% said they expect inventory to fall to 86 to 86.9 million head.
20 percent expect inventory to remain similar to levels last year
An additional 20% think inventory will rise to 88 to 88.9 million head.
And 10% think cattle numbers could to 85 to 85.9 million head.

What would change a producer’s minds and give them confidence to grow their herds again? That’s exactly what we asked in the latest Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor, which is an anonymous survey of nearly 70 ag economists from across the country. While some said it will just take time, others pointed to the economics of strong cow-calf returns, weaker fed cattle prices and lower prices at the sale barn.

Other economists said:

“Today’s high prices are certainly incentive, along with the expectation of moderate feed costs.”
“Government policies, global demand, price cycle”
“Better spring forage supplies could be the most important factor in growth. More quality labor could be critical, too.”
“Confidence that the general economy outlook is positive and that there are unlikely to be negative policy shocks. And, of course, there has to be adequate forage.”
“Improved weather pattern in the West, along with profitable margins.”

Record-High Prices

January Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor

(Lindsey Pound )

Cattle prices continued to hit records this week. And with no signs of those record prices slowing down, it’s a question of how high these prices will actually go.

Is it the supply side or the demand side driving prices? According to economists in the survey, it’s both. And that’s why out of the 10 major commodities, economists are most bullish on cattle in 2025.

January Monthly Monitor

(Lindsey Pound )

Advice to Manage Risk
Even with no end in sight, the Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor asked economists, “What advice you would offer beef producers to consider to make sure they are in the right position to take advantage of high prices now and to be prepared for when the market changes?” Here’s what they had to say:

“Stay sold forward, and avoid over-leveraging.”
“To just keeping looking at their genetics, retaining those with the best traits to continually improve herd quality and meat marketability.”
“For those with adequate forage availability, the near-term outlook for cattle profitability is very positive. Remember, though, that all good things come to an end—those who wait too long may only have more animals to market when prices turn back down again.”
“Consider all options for their risk management strategy, including both insurance products, futures, options, or other strategies.”
“You must have something to sell.”
“Today, there is more downside price risk for cattle prices. Risk management against a significant decline in future cattle prices should be considered today.”
“Hedge sales and inputs both. Hedge the crush!”

Iowa Secretary of Ag Weighs In on The H5N1 Battle, Vaccine Potential And Trade Sensitivities

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:43:49 GMT

Eggs continue to be a hot topic in the news as supplies are down, prices are up – and expected to go even higher – and consumers are understandably concerned.

At the center of the issue, fanning the on-going problem for poultry and dairy producers as well, is the Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza A virus (HPAI H5N1).

AgriTalk Host Chip Flory broached the topic with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig on Tuesday.

At the heart of their conversation was a two-part question – how does the U.S. address the virus and, in the process, prevent any potential negative ramifications on trade?

Naig says the federal government is taking what he described as a three-legged stool approach to addressing the problem in both industries.

He described the three legs of the stool as being USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), individual state animal health officials and industry.

“We work very closely with APHIS on this, meaning that they’re the ones that are providing the indemnity payments to producers. They are providing the disposal and cleanup assistance, but they must work in close collaboration with the states and state animal health officials,” Naig says. “And then, of course, you’ve got to have the third leg, which is industry.”

Biosecurity Measures
Naig noted that while the virus hit the poultry industry hard in 2015, it struck even harder in 2024.

“It’s not just in the Midwest or West, it’s been really all across the country now, affecting the egg laying industry, broilers and turkey production,” Naig says.

A significant positive, Naig says, is that biosecurity measures in the poultry industry appear to be preventing farm-to-farm spread. “The industry continues to get high marks for that, which wasn’t the case in 2015, which was so devastating because we didn’t have those strategies in place.”

“I believe, and our experience has been, that our USDA partners in this regard have been very strong,” he adds.

As Naig addressed the three-legged stool approach the U.S. is taking to addressing the virus in dairy, he says the three partners have more work to do.

“Frankly, there’s been a lot of criticism to share around the three legs, if you will, on how states have reacted, or how strongly USDA should have reacted, and what the industry is doing to try to contain that virus. So, I would say on the dairy side of things, it’s a different story (than in poultry). There’s a lot more work that’s yet to be done to even understand how that virus is impacting those (dairy) herds.”

What Is The Role For Vaccines?
Flory asked Sec. Nagy whether he believes a vaccine could be part of the solution to the virus or whether that would set up too many trade barriers. Flory also asked whether the virus is stable enough for a long enough period of time for a vaccine to be developed that would work effectively.

Both are questions the U.S. is grappling with as it tries to get ahead of the virus in dairy and poultry.

Earlier this month, Reuters reported the U.S. will rebuild a stockpile of avian influenza vaccines for poultry that match the strain of the virus circulating in commercial flocks and wild birds, citing the Department of Agriculture.

Naig told Flory that he believes a vaccine could be developed, with regard to poultry specifically, and its use negotiated into trade agreements.

“Those are challenges, and yet those are things that can be worked on and can be done, but it’s not easily done. I would want to put a flag there,” Naig says.

“I’m supportive of developing … we should try to figure out whether this can be an effective tool. If you’re in the broiler business or if you’re in the turkey meat business or if you’re in the egg business or maybe you’re in the genetics business, those are very different in terms of how you view that vaccine.”

Naig explains part of the different viewpoints on vaccine use have to do with the difference between poultry business segments.

“We need to recognize that those sectors are different in how they’ll view and potentially use a vaccine,” Naig says.

“Don’t treat them all the same. It’ll make way more sense for some than others.”

Naig did not weigh in on vaccine development for the dairy industry specifically.

The full conversation between Naig and Flory on AgriTalk is available below.

Your next read: Think Egg Prices Are Already Too High? USDA Says Retail Egg Prices Could Jump Another 20% in 2025

5 Reasons Consumer Distrust In Our Food Supply Is Rising

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 20:38:14 GMT

Bread, check. Blueberries, check. As I wheel my grocery cart alongside the deli case, I’m taken aback at what I see. Rather, it is what I don’t see that has me wondering, “What in the world?” This section of my favorite grocery store is now almost completely empty, except for a couple of ham loaves and a renegade block of cheese.

In a slightly distraught tone I ask the worker behind the counter, “What’s going on?” He hesitates for a moment, then replies, “The store is in the process of changing suppliers for our deli products. We should have more of a selection next week.” Then it dawns on me: my favorite brand of deli meat and cheese, Boar’s Head, has officially been blacklisted by my go-to grocery store.

I should not have been surprised. Boar’s Head began its fall from public grace on July 26, 2024, when the company issued a recall for more than 207,528 lb. of product due to potential listeria contamination. The CDC linked the contamination to 61 illnesses and, tragically, 10 deaths. It was the worst listeria outbreak in the U.S. in over a decade.

The outbreak was ultimately traced to a production line at the company’s Jarratt, Va., plant. According to USDA inspection reports, which USA Today had to obtain through a Freedom of Information Act request, 69 reports of non-compliance were recorded at the Jarratt plant between 2023 and 2024. What was in those reports was unsettling. Documentation of insects live and dead, black and green mold, mildew, dripping and standing water, as well as other unsanitary conditions within the plant in the weeks leading up to the July recall. In a move that was too little too late, Boar’s Head announced on Sept. 13, 2024 that the Jarratt plant would be closed permanently.

In 1906, Upton Sinclair published his famous novel “The Jungle,” which exposed the horrific conditions in the meatpacking industry at the time. The writer’s work proved to be an instant bestseller to the masses. The irony is that nearly 120 years later, one might find it hard to discern whether they’re reading a current USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) report or a chapter straight out of “The Jungle.”

Just One Of Many
The Boar’s Head case was only one the high profile food recalls last year. Remember the E. coli contaminated onions on McDonald’s quarter pounders? Then, Costco issued a massive recall on their Kirkland Signature brand of organic eggs because of a threat of Salmonella. And to cap off the year with the scariest illness yet, on Dec. 18, 2024, the CDC confirmed a patient in Louisiana had been hospitalized with the nation’s first severe case of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus, aka the “bird flu.”

If it seems that the number of food recalls are coming at us at a more fast and furious pace than ever, then your gut instinct is spot on. The Food and Drug Administration, which reports food and cosmetics together, says 1,908 such products were recalled in the fiscal year that ended in September. That’s the highest number since 2019. Such a constant barrage of warnings is having a serious affect on consumers’ overall psyche — and not in a positive way. According to a September 2024 Gallup report, only 57% of Americans say they have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of confidence in the government to keep food safe. This number is a 27 point decrease since 2019, and is a record low for the Gallup Consumption Habits Poll since its inception in 1999.

This explosion of 20th century foodborne illnesses has me asking the same question I asked the worker behind the deli counter: “What’s going on?”

5 Reasons To Be Skeptical
There are multiple reasons consumers have good reason to be less confident in the safety of their food.

First, there’s the government. Second, more and more of our food is imported, which makes it harder to inspect. Third, you have a growing quest for more natural food, which sometimes circumvents traditional inspection channels. Fourth, industry consolidation means only a handful of players control both the production and processing. That’s not inherently a bad thing, but if something goes wrong, it’s probably going to be big. Finally, we now have the ability, through more technology and data, to find, detect and isolate the specific source of contamination and document it.

Time For An Overhaul
Food safety policy and implementation at the government level is in need of a serious overhaul. There is a chance it could actually happen. In 2018, the previous Trump administration proposed consolidating federal food oversight into a single agency with USDA.

There are so many common sense things that a fully functioning food agency could do. For one, start with better and more noticeable country of origin labeling (COOL) on imported foods. It should be prominent, displaying the country’s flag as the primary indicator of origin. If nothing else, we’ll all get better at geography. Next, companies that embrace new technologies that prevent contamination should be rewarded with tax credits. We do it for electric cars. Why not for safer food?

Finally, the most important change needs to come in the form of accountability and transparency both from the food industry itself and the government that regulates it. That didn’t happen in the case of Boar’s Head, and 10 people lost their lives because of it. In the age of AI and social media, those FSIS plant inspection reports should be posted on platforms such as X and Facebook for the public to see in real time. Without such transparency, we’re no better off than we were back in 1906.

Second U.S. Port Strike Averted as Union, Employers Reach Deal

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 14:55:03 GMT

The union representing 45,000 dock workers on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts and their employers on Wednesday said they reached a tentative deal on a new six-year contract, averting a strike that could have snarled supply chains and taken a toll on the U.S. economy.

The United States Maritime Alliance employer group and the International Longshoremen’s Association, in a joint statement, called the agreement a “win-win.” The deal includes a resolution in automation, which had been the thorniest issue on the table.

“This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing East and Gulf coast ports — making them safer and more efficient, and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong,” the groups said.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The talks had been extended until Jan. 15 to hammer a deal on automation. Shipping industry executives had been concerned that the parties would not be able to overcome their impasse, leading to a second ILA strike just days before President-elect Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration.

A three-day ILA strike in October triggered a surge in shipping prices and cargo backlogs at the 36 affected ports. Longshoremen returned to work after employers agreed to a 62% wage increase over the next six years.

ILA and USMX have agreed to continue operating under the current contract until the union can meet with its full Wage Scale Committee and schedule a ratification vote, and USMX members can ratify the terms of the final contract.

(Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona and Leslie Adler)

2025 Weather: Drought and Root Zone Maps Signal Dryness Ahead

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:24:30 GMT

As 2024 comes to an end, roughly 70% of the nation is experiencing some level of drought and dryness.

Recent precipitation led to small improvements in parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas northeast to the Central Appalachians. Since its peak in September, the drought affecting the Central Appalachians and Upper Ohio Valley has steadily improved.

In the northeast, near to above-normal precipitation in the past 30 days means drought conditions have improved.

Across the Southeast, Lower Mississippi Valley and Texas, precipitation deficits continue to increase.

December is typically a drier time of year for the Upper Midwest and Northern to Central Great Plains.

Since the beginning of October, precipitation has generally averaged below normal across the Central Rockies, Great Basin, Southwest and southern California.

Northwest California and much of the Pacific Northwest have experienced wetter-than-normal conditions.

When it comes to severe or extreme drought, parts of the Northern Plains, the Southwest and the Tennessee Valley fall in those categories. Portions of the Midwest are now considered D1/moderate drought, and one-fifth of Indiana is in D2/severe drought.

Looking at various crop production areas, the following are currently affected by drought:

Barley, 35%
Corn, 54%
Cotton, 18%
Durum wheat, 70%
Peanut, 29%
Rice, 15%
Sorghum, 31%
Soybean, 47%
Spring wheat, 33%
Sugarbeet, 48%
Sunflower, 78%
Winter wheat, 27%

While the drought monitor looks longer term, NASA’s root zone soil moisture map shows just how dry it is in the top 3’ of soil across the Corn Belt and Southwest.

The Dec. 23, 2024, root zone soil moisture map shows just how dry it is in the top 3’ of soil across parts of the Corn Belt and Southwest.

(NASA)

Eric Snodgrass, principal atmospheric scientist at Conduit Ag, says the current La Nina is weak and fading, but it continues to influence weather patterns, which is sending warning signs for spring.

Snodgrass says we’re missing one important component in the atmosphere — the subtropical jet stream, which comes from Hawaii.

“We have the polar jet in place that will drive really cold air into the New Year, especially into the eastern two-thirds of the country, really cold air for probably a while,” Snodgrass says. “Until we crank the jet stream out of the Southwest, it’s hard to return a lot of moisture and break the fear of drought spreading from Mexico or from the western High Plains, which I think is where it’s going to come from next year.”

Snodgrass is worried about drought for two reasons:

Drought conditions are developing in Mexico, the western Plains, the High Plains and all the way up to Canada.
In six of the past 10 years with a really dry fall, the spring to follow was also dry. That causes concern for a big chunk of the Plains and into the Midwest.

Snodgrass says the best opportunity for a pattern shift would be if La Nina breaks down in the next few weeks and transitions to a more neutral pattern heading into spring.

Eric Snodgrass is on the agenda for Top Producer Summit in February. Register today!

Your Next Read: Ag Tech and Machinery Trends to Track for 2025

What The Trump Administration's Mass Deportation Plans Could Mean for Agriculture

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:47:38 GMT

Farmers and food industry leaders are warning that President-elect Donad Trump’s plans to deport millions of immigrants could devastate agriculture — an industry in which immigrants make up a good chunk of the workforce.

Nearly half of all farmworkers are undocumented, and industries such as dairy and meatpacking plants are especially vulnerable to labor shortages.

“Admittedly, there are some people who slip through,” says Scott VanderWal, vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “Perspective employers are required to take documentation that appears to be legal and valid. There are times when that’s not the case and then ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] comes in and cleans house, the workers disappear and go wherever they take them and the employers are left without help.”

While the H-2A visa program has grown, it only covers seasonal work and cannot replace year-round jobs at meat processing plants and on dairy and pork farms.

“Our packing plants need labor. Many of our farms use temporary visa labor — educated, skilled individuals work on our sow farms,” says Lori Stevemer, president of the National Pork Producers Council. “We have been experiencing an increased number of denials over the past year, which really makes it a challenge to find workers. The H-2A visa doesn’t work well when we have animals that need care 24/7, year-round.”

Experts say mass deportations would disrupt food production, raise prices and jeopardize the stability of U.S. agriculture.

Deportation falls under the Department of Homeland Security. President-elect Trump has selected South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem to lead that agency.

“With Governor Noem at the helm, she’s going to bring common sense to that discussion and make sure we don’t close businesses, make sure we get everyone in line, get the workforce in line and then make sure we’re following our country’s rules,” says Hunter Roberts, secretary of South Dakota’s Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Meanwhile, farm groups continue to urge for reforms to immigration policies or a guest worker program to secure a stable workforce.

“At the same time as controlling the border, we need to overhaul our labor system,” VanderWal says. “We need to make H-2A apply to your own workers or come up with a decent program that will help.”

We need some type of H-2A visa reform to allow those workers to stay year-round, Stevemer adds.

Even then immigration is likely to continue to be a political hot potato in 2025, and labor shortages will continue to top the list of challenges for agriculture.

2025 Ag Workplace Trends: What Employers are Saying

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:24:00 GMT

“What are you hearing out there? Are employers still hiring?” These are common questions posed to AgCareers.com as a job board and human resources service provider specific to the agriculture and food industry.

To help agricultural employers compete for top talent, we not only analyze what is happening on our job board and learn from conversations with employers, but we also aim to identify issues, opportunities and trends by surveying agricultural employers in our annual HR Review.

Pressure is on for Employers
AgCareers.com recently analyzed the 2025 Agriculture and Food HR Review data to provide an outlook of what agricultural employers experienced in 2024 and what they expect in 2025. Retention continues to be top of mind for employers, persistent even into the focus of recruitment strategies in the new year. Employers are also feeling the pressure to get compensation right, along with concerns about rising wage rates. Most employers are experiencing recruitment difficulties, amplifying compensation and retention issues.

Agricultural employers need people, and keeping those they already have in place is a top priority. Staying on top of how to reward their employees is essential to retention. From flexibility to bonuses and appropriate salary increases, employers in the industry are increasingly aware of the competitive nature of keeping their top talent while enabling the ability to effectively recruit new talent when posed against both competitors inside and outside the industry.

The AgCareers.com HR Review details employers’ plans for salary increases, workforce development and training, benefits and more.

Your Next Read: A Winning Mentality Motivates This Illinois Livestock Industry Teacher, Coach and Mentor

Congress Approves CR, Includes $31 Billion in Farmer, Disaster Aid and Farm Bill Extension

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 16:48:15 GMT

With little if any drama like the House, the Senate easily cleared the 118-page continuing resolution (CR) early Saturday morning with a vote of 85-11 (four members did not vote). The measure funds the government through March 14. The CR includes nearly $110 billion in disaster and farmer aid ($21 billion ag disaster and $10 billion in farmer aid), and a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill.

The Senate vote came hours after the House passed the measure on a 366-34 vote, well above the two-thirds majority threshold required under that chamber’s suspension of the rules procedure, with no Democrats voting no along with 34 Republicans. Texas Dem Rep. Jasmine Crockett voted “present”.

Debt Ceiling

GOP leaders dropped a two-year suspension of the statutory debt ceiling that was in a previous CR version and that helped push the bill through both chambers. Democrats opposed inclusion of the debt limit provision, arguing it would make it easier on Republicans next year to cut taxes and ram through other partisan priorities. Cutting the debt limit language was enough to convince Democrats to go along with the stripped-down bill, even though it excluded their priorities contained in an i nitial 1,547-page bipartisan measure .

One ag sector lobbyist said, “Ag groups need to start playing the game… those who always vote no on everything… why not actively oppose them… they don’t support farm bills anyhow.”

Breaking Down the Votes

Here is the list of House Republicans who voted no on the CR that contained $31 billion in ag sector assistance:

House no votes on CR

(House of Representatives)

Some notable representatives who voted against the CR include Nancy Mace (South Carolina), Thomas Massie (Kentucky), and Chip Roy (Texas). The reasons for voting against the CR varied among representatives, with some citing concerns about high levels of spending, lack of reforms, or opposition to giving the current administration additional funding.

Here is the list of Senate Democrats who voted no:

Senate no votes on CR

(U.S. Senate)

Farmer Aid in the CR

This is a breakdown of the $31 billion in farmer assistance via the CR:

Farmer aid breakdown

(House Ag Committee)

Possible Payment Amounts to Farmers

The farmer aid should be available 90 days after the legislation’s enactment. Farm CPA Paul Neiffer estimated per acre payment amounts via the Economic Loss Assistance program based on his knowledge of the provisions.

Possible payments as calculated by Farm CPA Paul Neiffer

(Lindsey Pound )

While USDA will make the final calculations, based on Neiffer’s estimates, producer payments look like this per acre, using the following calculation: (USDA’s Projected Cost of the Crop – National Projected Returns) x Eligible Acres x 26% = Total Payment.

Corn: $43.80
Soybeans: $30.61
Wheat: $31.80
Cotton: $84.70
Rice: $69.66

Neiffer says there is a payment limit of $125,000 dollars, which is down from the $175,00 originally proposed in the FARM Act. He says it’s also key to note with the updated relief, if 75% of your total gross income comes from farming, which includes wages and interest and dividends, then you qualify for the double payment.

Related Story: Poll Results: 71% of Farmers Say Congress Should Approve Economic Aid Before Year-End

House Ag Committee Fact Sheet Details Payments

The House Ag Committee released a fact sheet on the farmer economic assistance that is provided in the current Continuing Resolution (CR), modeled off of Rep. Trent Kelly’s (R-Miss.) FARM Act (HR 10045). There is a list of eligible commodities, a payment formula, administrative provisions, and estimated payment rates.

House Ag panel staffers say please keep in mind that the payment rates in this document are estimates and “almost certain to change slightly once implemented. These rates are the best approximation based on the data cited in text. This does incorporate the minimum payment rate provision. You’ll see that those crops receiving payments via the minimum payment provision have an asterisk.”

The House Ag panel had the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M analyze the impact of the economic assistance provided through this provision. Their findings suggest that the funds will improve ending cash position on their Representative Farm system by nearly 20% by the end of 2025.

Farmer aid

(House Ag Committee)

Your Next Reads:

Poll Results: 71% of Farmers Say Congress Should Approve Economic Aid Before Year-End

Ag Gets Potential Christmas Gift from Congress: Continuing Resolution Includes $31 Billion in Aid for Producers

Majority of Ag Economists say U.S. Agriculture is Ending the Year in a Recession

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 17:52:30 GMT

A sharp drop in net farm income among row crop farmers has held a hefty grip on the ag economy this year. 2025 isn’t forecast to be much better, with margins expected to be in the red again for all major row crops. The high input and high interest rate environment, coupled with low commodity prices, is a recipe that could also mean more consolidation in agriculture in 2025.

The eroding health of the overall farm economy was the emphasis of the latest Farm Journal Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor, which is a survey of nearly 70 leading agricultural economists from across the country.

When asked if agriculture is either currently in a recession or on the brink of one:

56% of ag economists responded by saying agriculture is currently in a recession, which is up from the 53% who responded that way in October.
And 81% of economists surveyed said the U.S ag economy is on the brink of a recession, which is a significant jump from the 56% of economists who responded that way in the October survey.

One of the main reasons more economists didn’t respond that ag is already in a recession, is the fact the livestock sector is doing better than expected at the beginning of the year.

Farm Journal asked economists to weigh in on whether they thought agriculture is currently in a recession. Economists in the anonymous survey said:

“A recession is a sustained period of economic decline. We may not be able to say the entire agriculture sector is in recession, but the row crop sector has been in economic decline since 2022 and looks like that will continue into 2025.”
“I would argue we are largely already there...incomes have already fallen...used machinery values have fallen...but there is room for more decline from the livestock sector should those prices turn lower. Land values holding up are probably the one thing in my opinion that has yet to give, and that MAY only be a matter of time. “
“Farm income has already dropped considerably from the 2022 peak, and the crop sector is seriously affected. There are many downside risks in 2025 that could make a difficult situation worse.”
“I believe we are already in a recession. Farm income is and has been declining, and I don’t see a reversal of this in the next 12 to 24 months given policy uncertainty, surplus inventories, large ex-U.S. production, and likely declines in export viability.”
“Higher interest rates are making it hard to manage debt that is outstanding and likely to come with next year.”
“Some producers have not built an adequate asset base to weather these low returns and will be forced to change their business in an attempt to survive.”
“Negative profit margins relative to recent years are driving capital investment and land prices lower, reducing the financial position of agriculture amid lower income.”
“Specifically for the row crop sector, we are looking at another year of negative returns and that really wears on liquidity and puts pressure on longer term solvency.”
“Prices are too low to pay input costs and create a profit. At the moment, producers are fighting to break even.”

However, not all economists agree agriculture is in a recession. One economist points to land prices as the reason why.

“It is hard to say that agriculture is facing a recession when land prices are holding the way they are,” said one economist in the anonymous survey. “It appears that (many) full-time, commercial-scale row crop producers have used their working capital on recent land purchases and have nothing left to withstand a financial shortfall. Frankly, the current conversation about passing economic relief will go to those that have overextended their means to buy land the last couple years.”

Concerns About Consolidation

Another year of negative margins could create more consolidation in the row crop sector, according to economists. The latest Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor found 94% of economists think the current environment of low commodity prices and high input costs will accelerate consolidation in row crop operations and allied industries .

“Some farms are expanding while others are leaving the industry. It is interesting to compare the percentage of U.S. businesses that go broke in the first 10 years to the percentage of U.S. farms that go broke in the first 10 years. The role of government intervention has really limited the realized risk in agriculture and, as a result, lowered the ability for young producers and ranchers to get into agriculture and increased the consolidation of land.”
“A sustained period of high costs and low prices will likely result in some farmers going out of business sooner than expected, which may be due to point of financial need or stopping by choice ahead of that. When farm consolidation is accelerated, there are fewer farmers buying inputs. Even if the acres are the same, fewer input retailer are needed to serve the customer base. Also, we have greater pressure on the whole industry as big farmers grow.”
“Low-cost producers, and those without any land rents or borrowing costs, are better equipped to weather a downturn in the farm economy.”
“Average margins are typically higher for larger farms. They also have more ability to borrow money.”
“The only way to survive is to increase quantity (number of bushels) and low margins.”
“Those who have managed well, kept production costs low, and have responsible cash balances should be in a good position to expand, absorbing those who made poor choices or experienced bad luck. Lending and federal disaster payments could delay this some. So, the magnitude of this is uncertain.”
“People will always be entering and leaving the industry, but when returns are low, more people leave because they have to, rather than because they want to.”
“The last time we were at the start of a commodity down cycle in 2014/15, it presaged a wave of consolidation in input developers over the next several years, such as Bayer/Monsanto; Dow/Dupont; ChemChina/Syngenta; Mosaic/Potash.”
“Operations and allied industries will expand to find additional economies of scale, one of the few options on the table to help with the tough financial situation.”

What to Watch in the Ag Economy in 2025

The health of the farm economy into the new year relies on a number of factors. What happens in South America with crop production will have a major impact on commodity prices in the U.S. However, economists said there are other factors to watch, including what happens with the incoming Trump administration.

Nov./Dec. Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor

(Lindsey Pound)

When asked, “What are the two most important factors driving agriculture’s economic health today as well as in12 months,” economists said:

“South American production and input costs.”
“Farm financial conditions: there’s been a little price improvement recently, but still high costs mean 2025 is likely another year of negative margins for row crop producers. 2. Relative global competitiveness: We continue to see cropland area expansion in Brazil and, at the same time, they have a more favorable biofuels policy and are expanding trade agreements.”
“Congressional efforts to deliver economic and natural disaster aid, and U.S. agricultural export markets.”
“Declining commodity prices and associated margin squeeze.”
“As a sector as a whole, the livestock sector returns are important to the overall health in the short run. In 12 months, how the markets adjust (input prices, crop prices, and cash management/debt levels).”
“Demand side: uncertainty about renewable energy policy and potential international market loss through trade disputes. Production side: outlook for labor availability, given political rhetoric. Overall margin compression on lower commodity prices (likely larger Brazilian production forthcoming) and sustained high interest rates.”
“If 2018 is any indication, in 12 months we are likely to see adverse effects of tariffs, as well as immigration policy changes.”

Future of the Farm Bill

The Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor also asked economists to weigh in on when they think Congress will pass a new farm bill, as well as if Congress votes on an extension this year, is it necessary to raise reference prices for producers.

Nov./Dec. Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor

(Lindsey Pound)

Nov/Dec Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor

(Lindsey Pound)

See previous results from Farm Journal’s Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor.

Stabenow Finally Releases Full Text of Senate Farm Bill; Here's What It Means for Agriculture

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 17:35:08 GMT

Stabenow unveiled 1,397-page details of her long-awaited farm bill Monday morning. This comes as early Sunday evening Pro Farmer broke the news that Senate Ag Chairwoman (D-Mich.) had briefed Democrats but not Republicans on her coming farm bill text, which was expected to be released Monday.

Stabenow said in a news release and summary of the bill , “The foundation of every successful farm bill is built on holding together the broad, bipartisan farm bill coalition. This is a strong bill that invests in all of agriculture, helps families put food on the table, supports rural prosperity, and holds that coalition together.”

BREAKING: Chairwoman @SenStabenow Introduces Rural Prosperity and Food Security Acthttps://t.co/qRunZlk6zj
— Senate Ag, Nutrition, & Forestry Committee Dems (@SenateAgDems) November 18, 2024

The Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act includes $39 billion in new resources “to keep farmers farming, families fed, and rural communities strong.” The bill builds on the proposal Stabenow released in May by investing new resources and including innovative, new ideas to deliver the assistance farmers need faster.

It provides farmers with the certainty of a 5-year farm bill and the immediate help they need to manage the urgent needs of the present. It doubles down on our commitment to rural communities, ensures that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) keeps up with the realities of American life, and brings the historic investments in climate-smart conservation practices into the farm bill. These new investments include:

$20 billion to strengthen the farm safety net to support all of agriculture and establishes a permanent structure for disaster assistance so emergency relief reaches farmers faster;
$8.5 billion to help families make ends meet, put food on the table, and improve access to nutrition assistance;
$4.3 billion to improve quality of life in the rural communities that millions of Americans call home.”

Farm CPA Paul Neiffer has already combed through the bill, and says, “This is our first preview of the Senate Farm Bill Proposal. There appears to be some benefit to production Ag, however, many of the proposals seem to penalize production ag such as the following:

Very limited increase in base acres
Restriction on payments due to ownership of farmland by higher AGI individuals or entities
Reduction in AGI limits
No change to definition of farm income
Possible limit on PLC payments
Items that may benefit production ag include:
Permanent ERP (although this is a very messy program)
Partial advance payments of ARC and PLC
Automatic 2023 and 2024 ARC or PLC decisions”

Senate GOP Ag Committee Ranking Member Reacts

Senate Ag Committee ranking member John Boozman (R-Ark.) on X wrote: “An 11th hour partisan proposal released 415 days after the expiration of the current farm bill is insulting. America’s farmers deserve better.”

“An 11th hour partisan proposal released 415 days after the expiration of the current farm bill is insulting. America’s farmers deserve better.” RM @JohnBoozman
— Senate Ag Committee Republicans (@SenateAgGOP) November 18, 2024

Meanwhile, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) issued the following statement:

“Though America’s pork producers appreciate Chairwoman Stabenow’s efforts to publish Farm Bill text, this is simply not a viable bill, as it fails to provide a solution to California Prop. 12,” said NPPC President Lori Stevermer, a pork producer from Easton, Minn. “Pork producers have continually spoken up about the negative impacts of this issue, and it is a shame these conversations were disregarded.”

In May, NPPC secured 100 percent of pork producers’ priorities in the House Agriculture Committee-passed bipartisan 2024 Farm Bill. In June, producers once again secured all policy priorities in Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman’s 2024 Farm Bill framework.

NPPC said it urges both chambers of Congress to swiftly consider and pass a Farm Bill this year that includes a fix to California Proposition 12, a state law that places arbitrary housing standards on the pork industry, creating uncertainty for pork producers as they look to continue their operations to the next generation.

Additional Impact on Agriculture from Farm CPA

In a post this morning, Paul Neiffer of Farm CPA Report included a quick preview of the items that jumped out at him relative to the farm bill details released by Stabenow.

Reference Prices: The House proposal raised reference prices by approximately 10-20%. The Senate proposal appears to raise reference prices by a flat 5% (rounded). Although it appears that Cotton only went up by 4% instead of 5%.
Increase in Base Acres
- Only underserved and disadvantaged farmers may increase base acres
- Based on average of 2018-2022 plantings
- Includes prevent planted acres
- Maximum increase of 160 acres per farm
- If disadvantage farmer does not farm acres during 2025-2029, then increased base acres are eliminated
- Special 2023 and 2024 ARC/PLC election
- Automatic election to be paid the highest amount for 2023 and 2024 crop year even if the farmer originally elected ARC or PLC.

Limit on PLC Payment: The maximum amount of payment for PLC will be 15% of the effective reference price. As example, assume a farmer has a PLC yield of 200 bushels for corn and the effective reference price is $4.30 and the final corn harvest price is $3.50. Under the old PLC rules, the farmer could receive 200 bushels times 80 cents per bushel or $160. Under this proposal, the farmer is limited to 65 cents or $130 per acre.
Partial PLC Payments: Instead of waiting until after October 1 to collect a PLC payment, the farmer, in certain situations may elect to receive up to 50% of the crop beginning February 1. This is based on firm projections by USDA that the final harvest price will be below the effective reference price. If USDA pays too much, then the farmer must pay it back.
Agricultural Risk Coverage: As expected, the Bill increases the guarantee from the current 86% to 88%, less than the 90% in the House Bill. However, not expected, the Bill increases the maximum payment to 12.50% of benchmark revenue, matching the House Bill and makes this retroactive to the 2024 crop. 2023 crop remains at 10%.
Partial ARC Payments: Provides same mechanism for partial payments as under PLC.
Increase to Marketing Loan Rates: For 2025 crops and subsequent years, the loan rate will be the lesser of 110% of current loan rates or an adjustment based on current input costs versus a five-year average.
Sugar Program: Increase sugar cane payment to 24 cents per pound for 2025-2029. Sugar beet growers will receive 136.5% of sugar cane payment rate.
Permanent ERP: Emergency Relief Program would be made permanent (at least until next farm bill). Payment limits of $500,000 for specialty crops and $250,000 for all other crops.
Terms appear similar to old ERP programs, but it does not mandate how USDA will administer it, etc. Also, no extra payment limit if you can prove you are a farmer. This may still be messy for CPAs to help farmers calculate their claim. Also, requires farmers to insure all acres.
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limits: AGI limits dropped from $900,000 to $700,000.
- Increases AGI limits to $1.5 million for specialty and high-value crops.
- What happens if a farmer grows both? The Bill does not address this, other than likely leave it up to USDA to come up with rules.
- Waiver of AGI rules available to economically distressed producer.
- It appears that no payments will be allowed if the land is owned by someone or an entity whose AGI is over $700,000. This means that a farmer who is cash renting that ground will not qualify for any payment on that ground. Under current rules and the House Farm Bill proposal, any farmer who is cash renting the ground and their AGI is under the limit will qualify for a payment. This is a major change and will create the law of unintended consequences. They seem to want to not have an incentive for wealthier individuals to purchase land since their high AGI will not qualify them for any payments but under current rules they get no payment anyway.

Increase in CCC Scoring: Section 1708 indicates that for purposes of CBO scoring, the restrictions on utilizing CCC funds shall be $6.7 billion per year for 2024-2033. The last scoring by CBO was $400 million per year.

CRP Rentals Limit Increased to $125,000 from current $50,000

Crop Insurance Changes: Increases subsidies for beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers to essentially match House proposal.
- Increases SCO to allow for payment at 88% instead of 86% of guarantee. House was at 90%.
- Increases premium subsidies.
Makes improvements to Whole Farm and Micro Farm insurance plans.

Comments:

Several contacts, asked to respond to Stabenow’s late farm bill details, used the same words: “Wow, finally, but too late.” Stabenow is departing Congress after this session ends, and veteran farm bill watchers say this late-entry farm bill is not a positive chapter in her long career. Most are asking why she chose today in releasing the details, and why she took a partisan approach in briefing about the matter.