Georgia Farm Equipment Scams and Cattle Groups React to Southern Border Reopening
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**The Georgia Department of Agriculture is warning the ag community to be vigilant after receiving multiple reports of sophisticated online scams targeting farmers searching for farm equipment.
Investigators have identified schemes in which scammers create highly convincing websites and online advertisements that appear to represent legitimate farm equipment dealerships.
In many cases, the dealerships are real, but criminals are
using AI and other technology to imitate those businesses.
www.gfb.org/news/ag-news/post/georgia-department-of-ag-
warns-farmers-about-equipment-scams
**Cattle groups are supporting USDA's phased reopening of the southern border to live cattle from Mexico following progress in controlling New World Screwworm.
The Douglas, Arizona, port of entry is scheduled to reopen, with two New Mexico ports expected to follow.
National Cattlemen's Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall says
USDA's aggressive response puts us in a strong position to begin safely and gradually reopening our southern border to cattle shipments.
**U.S. cattle on feed totaled 11.4 million head on July 1, up 2% from a year ago, according to USDA's latest report.
Feedlots placed 1.4 million head in June, down 3% from last year, while marketings also fell by 3% to 1.66 million head, the lowest June total since records began in 1996.
Analysts say the report was less bearish than the headline suggests because cattle are remaining in feedyards longer.
