GOP Pushing Farm Assistance and Rural Mainstreet Index Down

The Agribusiness Update
GOP lawmakers are pushing to attach roughly $11 billion in direct farm assistance to a defense spending package, and rural bankers are growing more concerned about the farm economy as higher fuel and fertilizer costs weigh on producers.

Farmers File Solar Panel Lawsuit, Horticulture Careers Highlighted

Line on Agriculture
Farmers and renewable energy groups are suing the USDA over changes to the REAP program, arguing the new restrictions hinder solar project funding.

Seed Your Future is making efforts to promote the wide range of horticulture careers and connect students with local employers during Green Career Week, October 5–9.

$10,000 Grants Target Growing Agritourism

Southeast Regional Ag News
The new Farm to Stay program could help agricultural operations welcome visitors and diversify income.

Dirt Road podcast

Idaho Ag Today
Listeners might come for the ag, but they stay for the stories. The Dirt Road Discussions podcast.

Georgia Looks to Grow Rural Veterinary Care

Southeast Regional Ag News
Loan repayment program aims to bring veterinarians to communities facing critical shortages.

Preserving Agricultural Land

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says the development and loss of farmland should not come at the cost of American agriculture.

Keeping Up with Data Centers

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
More data centers are bringing new challenges for utilities across rural America.

Heads up drivers

Idaho Ag Today
There’s a #BrakeForHarvest public service announcement campaign for the current harvest season, warning drivers to use extra caution while driving.

The Farm Bill Waiting Game

Southeast Regional Ag News
Disaster assistance, input costs and animal health are among the issues on the table for Southeast agriculture.

Agriculture and Data Centers

Fruit Grower Report
More research is needed on the relationship between agriculture and data centers.

Cheese Names Debate and USDA Aid to American Beef Herd

The Agribusiness Update
A dispute over cheese names has become a sticking point in U.S.-Mexico trade negotiations, and USDA is rolling out a broad package of programs aimed at rebuilding America’s beef herd and strengthening the nation’s cattle industry.

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.

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.

Farm Bill Politics

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says lawmakers must stop with the farm bill delays and deliver some certainty to rural America.

Southeast Summit Tackles Farmland Loss

Southeast Regional Ag News
Regional leaders will explore land access, profitability and keeping farms and forests in production.

USDA Backs $486.7 Million in Georgia Electric Upgrades

Southeast Regional Ag News
Oglethorpe Power will use the financing for improvements at 14 generation sites across Georgia.

Why Farm Bureau

Idaho Ag Today
Zac Miller, CEO, and Matt Dorsey, president of the Idaho Farm Bureau, give you a host of proud reasons why the Farm Bureau exists.

Drone Rules Change and USDA Reorganization Criticized

The Agribusiness Update
Advocacy groups urge FAA to reject a proposal that would allow large livestock operations and slaughterhouses to restrict drone flights over their facilities, and Senate Ag Democrats warn a proposed reorganization of USDA’s Rural Development area could limit access to critical programs.

Small Farms Support Rural Economies

Farm of the Future
A downside of farm consolidation has been the toll it has taken on rural economies.

Rural Health Disparities and Mexican Cattle Update

The Agribusiness Update
A new study says growing health disparities are contributing to workforce challenges across rural America, and USDA will begin reopening the southern border to cattle imports from Mexico next month.