Latest News From U.S. Department of Agriculture

The second USDA Crop Progress Report of the year shows farmers are already ahead in planting the 2024 crop with six states pacing ahead of the five-year average.

The first look at a new farm bill could happen as early as next week. It’s long overdue after nothing was released out of Committee in 2023. Now, there’s growing doubt a farm bill will even be passed in 2024.

With Steward Link’s background in federal, state and private funding opportunities and Taranis’ focus on technology, the companies share this partnership will help them better serve ag retailers and farmers. 

As most of the U.S. is still prepping for spring planting, USDA's weekly crop progress report shares Texas growers have already planted more than half their corn acres.

USDA says farmers intend to plant 90 million acres of corn this year, which is lower than the trade expected prior to USDA's big Prospective Plantings report.

USDA says genetic sequencing revealed the mystery illness impacting Texas dairies is the same strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) that's been in the U.S. The virus is carried by wild waterfowl.

USDA NASS has released the 2022 Census of Agriculture data, which revealed important information about the current state of agriculture.

“It’s hard to put yourself in growth mode when things are getting so expensive,” says Tanner Ehmke with CoBank.

On Monday, February 5 the news of Bill Northey’s passing quickly spread through the agriculture industry, of which he dedicated his professional life to serving.

AgWeb and Trust In Food’s beta Climate-Smart Opportunity Navigator is matching producers with Climate-Smart Commodities grants tailored to their operation.

Through his work, Russell Taylor has focused on being an advocate for conservation practices in agriculture – partnering with several different organizations to change laws and draft language for the farm bill. 

The Fertilizer Research Act has been introduced by three senators to require USDA to study competition and trends in the fertilizer market.

COP28's decision to not include food and agriculture as a way to meet climate goals was influenced by a request from the G77 group of developing countries for additional review related to agriculture and food.

Despite weather concerns sprouting in Brazil, USDA didn’t make any major adjustments to the South American crop in Friday's reports. Increased demand from China and Mexico prompted USDA to trim U.S. ending stocks.

According to USDA’s final crop progress report of the season, 96% of corn has been harvested — a 3% increase from last week.

According to USDA’s crop progress report, 93% of corn has been harvested so far – an increase 5% from this time last week.

Layering federal and private conservation programs has potential to add extra cash to your bottom line.

According to USDA’s crop progress report, 88% of corn and 95% of soybeans have been harvested so far.

USDA upped its corn yield estimate by nearly 2 bu. to a 174.9 bu. per acre national yield. The agency also increased its demand estimate, which softened the potential blow of such a big jump in production.

According to USDA’s crop progress report, 81% of corn and 91% of soybeans have been harvested so far.

According to USDA’s crop progress report, 71% of corn and 85% of soybeans have been harvested so far, which is considerably ahead of the five-year average.  

Scientists from the Agricultural Research Service have identified several different species of fungi and bacteria that can stop tar spot from developing.

According to USDA’s crop progress report, 59% of corn and 76% of soybeans have been harvested so far.

USDA has allocated more than $1.77 billion this year to agricultural producers and landowners through CRP. Since 2021, the CRP has witnessed a 21% increase in enrolled acres.

The shift to El Nino brings several changes to the upcoming winter.

According to USDA’s crop progress report, 45% of corn and 62% of soybeans have been harvested so far this year.

Two organizations share why we may see a decline in cash rent values in 2024.

Harvest progress on soybeans nearly doubled from last week and corn progress is ahead of the five-year average.

Nearly a quarter of corn and soybeans have been harvested for 2023.

USDA's weekly crop progress report shows harvest progress slightly behind average for corn and soybeans.

USDA looks to improve the future measure, monitoring, reporting and verification of ag climate emissions via a $300 million investment announced on Wednesday.

The biggest surprises included a 4-bu. reduction in corn yield and soybean ending stocks came in at 300 million bushels, which is 100 million bushels higher than trade estimates.

Even with rains sweeping the Northern Corn Belt last weekend, the latest drought monitor shows drought continues to spread across Illinois with D2 (Severe Drought) taking a 28-point jump in a week.

Despite weekend rains sweeping the northern Corn Belt, corn and soybean conditions sit at the second-lowest level in history. Sizable declines hit key areas of the Corn Belt as corn enters a critical time for production.

The USDA and NASA are doubling down on agency collaborations that will improve agricultural research and data application, along with fostering the next generation of science and agriculture leaders.

According to USDA, Russian-speaking hackers are the likely suspects. The Office of Personnel Management and two organizations within the Department of Energy also were apparently targeted or breached.

CRISPR results are identical to results of conventional breeding, and it's nearly impossible to differentiate from conventional vs CRISPR. The breeding tool is also having an impact on the apprehension of GMOs.

The Inflation Reduction Act is the most significant climate legislation ever enacted. The package includes more than $19 billion to support USDA conservation programs, but the money won't last forever.

Sluggish exports continue to be the main theme in the grain markets with USDA cutting both old and new crop ending stocks. Arlan Suderman of StoneX Group says the bigger story moving forward might be soft corn demand.

Rural electric cooperatives, utilities and other energy providers will soon be able to apply for nearly $11 billion in grants and loans for clean energy projects, funded by the $430 billion Inflation Reduction Act.

The May WASDE report is the first look at the new crop balance sheets. As old crop demand continues to be an area of concern, the trade was watching to see how aggressive USDA would be with new crop supply and demand.

Lenders In the hearing seemed to agree on a boost to lending limits in USDA guaranteed loans as lawmakers ready for the next farm bill.

The bipartisan bill sponsors say this will address a shortage of TSPs who work with farmers to adopt conservation practices via USDA-NRCS programs, and this legislation will build on the framework of the 2023 Farm Bill.

USDA’s latest Crop Progress report shows while corn planting is now right on track with average, the soybean planting pace is well above average despite North Dakota and South Dakota farmers who are still sidelined.

In April 2017, Ray Starling, Special Assistant to the President for Ag, Trade and Food Assistance during the Trump administration, received some important news. What happened next helped change the course of history.

Those who are CCAs (for example) could apply their accreditation toward their TSP status. There’s word from Capitol Hill of two bills being introduced in the senate to provide for such reciprocity.

USDA's 2023 Prospective Plantings report released March 31 shows farmers intend to plant significantly more corn acres in 2023. At nearly 92 million acres, that's a jump of 3.42 million acres from last year.

Just ahead of USDA's Prospective Plantings report, the largest cotton growing state in the U.S. is seeing another year of drought, and with fields resembling the Dust Bowl, crop prospects are dwindling by the day.

This round is for those who were delinquent on a direct loan as of Sept. 2020, restricted a loan after Feb. 2020 through FSA, or those who owe more interest on a direct loan than the level of the principal.

Industry experts say the new legislative package represents a 'generational opportunity' for conservation funding and needs to reach U.S. farmers and livestock producers sooner rather than later, starting this spring.