8-31 Riata & Sterling Meldrum

Idaho Ag Today
Young Farmers and Ranchers District Chairs Riata & Sterling Meldrum tell us about what being a YF&R member means to them.

Rebuilding the U.S. Herds

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
The Trump administration has announced a new plan aimed at lowering beef prices for consumers, but will the plan negatively impact the farm economy?

Mexican Livestock Trade Resumes and Trade Delegation to Australia

The Agribusiness Update
USDA began reopening Southwest ports for livestock trade last week, more than a year after suspending crossings to slow the spread of New World Screwworm, and USDA sent a delegation to Australia last week to strengthen export opportunities for U.S. farmers and ranchers.

California golden mussels

Idaho Ag Today
In October 2024, golden musselswere detected in the Port of Stockton near Sacramento.

California Lettuce Growers Feel Fallout From Cyclospora Outbreak

California Ag Today
California growers face steep losses as consumer concerns surrounding a cyclospora outbreak weigh on lettuce and fresh produce demand.

Retaliatory Tariffs from Canada

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
U.S. farm exports face possible retaliatory Canadian tariffs after talks between the two nations collapsed, triggering 50% U.S. duties on many Canadian exports, including farm goods.

California Lettuce and Cyclospora and AFBF Urges Resume Talks with Canada

The Agribusiness Update
California lettuce was not implicated in a sprawling cyclospora outbreak that’s sickened thousands of people this summer, and American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall is urging the U.S. and Canada to return to the negotiating table.

Southeast Pork Alliance and AFBF Urges Resume Talks with Canada

The Agribusiness Update
During the Southeast Summer Conference in July, six state pork organizations announced the formation of the Southeast Pork Alliance, and American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall is urging the U.S. and Canada to return to the negotiating table.

Gene Discovery Will Help Avocado Breeders

Farm of the Future
Scientists have found a genetic switch that could shave years off avocado breeding.

Quaggas down in Snake River

Idaho Ag Today
Sampling Shows Another Decline in Snake River Quagga Mussel Population.

Mexico Cattle Back in US and More Beef Coming

Line on Agriculture
The U.S. border has resumed live cattle imports from Mexico, starting with the Douglas Port in Arizona. The reopening comes after Sonora confirmed its first case of New World screwworm. Additionally, there's a push to lower tariffs on 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef imports to support U.S. farmers and ranchers, as a 14-month closure led to over a million head of cattle remaining in Mexico.

Georgia Helene Block Grant Payments Expected This Fall

Southeast Regional Ag News
More than $900 million has been requested against roughly $531 million in available disaster assistance.

California Farmers Urge USMCA Renewal and Canadian Tariff Exemptions

The Agribusiness Update
California farmers, agribusiness leaders and state officials are urging the U.S., Mexico and Canada to extend and strengthen the USMCA, and the Agricultural Coalition for the USMCA is urging the Trump administration to exempt all products from new 50% tariffs on Canadian goods.

Farmland Returns

Farm of the Future
About 31% of US farmland is owned by non-operating land owners, and farmland as an asset class continues to attract interest from investors.

California Specialty Crop Grant Applications Open for 2027

California Ag Today
CDFA is accepting concept proposals for projects eligible for $100,000 to $600,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grant funding.

Ag Problems Recognized in Olympia

Fruit Grower Report
Washington State Tree Fruit Association President, Jon

DeVaney says challenges for the ag industry may be getting a bit more attention in Olympia.

Securing Diesel Supplies

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
As work on the farm continues, global inventories of diesel fuel remain tight, thanks to the Strait of Hormuz being essentially closed as the war with Iran continues.

English EPA Appointment and USDA Beef Export Data Errors

The Agribusiness Update
Florida Farm Bureau member Kate English has been appointed to the EPA’s Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee, and Democratic senators seeking answers from the USDA after a major error in U.S. beef export sales data.

Climate-Smart Farming Cuts and USDA Beef Export Data Errors

The Agribusiness Update
Lynda Hopkins, of the California Air Resources Board, criticized anticipated cuts to state-funded programs that incentivize climate-smart farming practices, and Democratic senators seeking answers from the USDA after a major error in U.S. beef export sales data.

Farm Bill Likelihood

Fruit Grower Report
There are some doubts out there among lawmakers about the likelihood of getting a new Farm Bill done this year, but there’ also still some hope out there.