Rail Merger Draws Farm Opposition

California Ag Today
National Farmers Union pushes back on proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern combination.

Rail Merger Raises Questions for Agriculture

Southeast Regional Ag News
Farm group cites consolidation concerns while Union Pacific points to reliability and market access.

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.

Farm Bill Progress

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says there are many benefits in the Senate version of the Farm Bill, but some improvements are still needed.

Winter wheat outlook

Idaho Ag Today
Winter wheat crop condition improvements nationwide to start May.

Lawmakers Move Farm Bill Forward in 224-200 Vote

Southeast Regional Ag News
The National Cotton Council highlights gains for producers while flagging input concerns.

Labor Shortage in Specialty Crops and USMCA Improvements Pushed

The Agribusiness Update
Labor shortages continue to challenge specialty crop growers, raising concerns about production, harvest and rising costs, and a bipartisan group of senators is urging continued support and improvements to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Citrus Greening Heroes and USMCA Improvements Pushed

The Agribusiness Update
A few tiny heroes may help fight Florida’s long-running battle against citrus greening disease, and rising costs, and a bipartisan group of senators is urging continued support and improvements to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Immigration Enforcement Survey and One Farmer-One File

The Agribusiness Update
The California Farmer Immigration Enforcement Survey is the first to assess the impact of the mass deportation agenda on California farms, and USDA announced the “One Farmer, One File” modernization plan, designed to put “farmers first” with technological improvements.

Hurricane Helene Relief and One Farmer-One File

The Agribusiness Update
Georgia farmers, ranchers and foresters in eligible counties can begin applying for assistance for losses due to Hurricane Helene on March 16th, and USDA announced the “One Farmer, One File” modernization plan, designed to put “farmers first” with technological improvements.

CattleFax Shows Changes in 2026 and Right to Repair Clarification

The Agribusiness Update
The CattleFax Outlook Seminar, held as a part of CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, said there are signals showing changes ahead in 2026, and new federal clarification has added momentum to the right-to-repair debate.

Seaweed Science Heads South

Southeast Regional Ag News
A UC Davis study reveals how red seaweed shifts rumen microbes to lower methane and boost efficiency in cattle.

California Walnut Harvest and Farm Bankruptcies Soaring

The Agribusiness Update
As California’s walnut harvest begins, market conditions remain strong following improvement last year, and Farm bankruptcies as of July have exceeded those for all of 2024.

USDA Reorganization Concerns and New GPS Technology

The Agribusiness Update
USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden responded recently to concerns from the Senate Ag Committee on its reorganization plans, and FreshMiners Company launched a GPS service that gives accurate positioning for agriculture, construction, and drone navigation.

USDA Reorganization Concerns and New GPS Technology

The Agribusiness Update
USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden responded recently to concerns from the Senate Ag Committee on its reorganization plans, and FreshMiners Company launched a GPS service that gives accurate positioning for agriculture, construction, and drone navigation.

Unlicensed Pest Control and New GPS Technology

The Agribusiness Update
The Georgia Department of Agriculture has received a spike in reports of unlicensed individuals going door-to-door to solicit pest control services, and FreshMiners Company launched a GPS service that gives accurate positioning for agriculture, construction, and drone navigation.

Wildfire Communications Resiliency Act and Herd Expansion Happening

The Agribusiness Update
U.S. Representative Cliff Bentz, of Oregon, sponsors H.R. 1655, the Wildfire Communication Resiliency Act, and ranchers move to expand their herds from a seven-decade low, paving the way for a long-awaited recovery in beef supplies.

Japanese Beetle Treatment and Rural Broadband Improving

The Agribusiness Update
The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Pest

Program is seeking permission from property owners to treat their yards for Japanese beetle, and Rural Broadband Association released its “2024 Broadband-Internet Availability Survey Report,” capping off a year in which NCTA members made remarkable strides in delivering robust and reliable high-speed connectivity in the most rural parts of the country

McCall Reelected GFB President and Rural Broadband Improving

The Agribusiness Update
Georgia Farm Bureau elects 2025 board, including President Tom McCall for a third, two-year term, and Rural Broadband Association released its “2024 Broadband-Internet Availability Survey Report,” capping off a year in which NCTA members made remarkable strides in delivering robust and reliable high-speed connectivity in the most rural parts of the country

Climate Smart Specialty Crops Pt 2

Fruit Grower Report
Whether it’s from the USDA or Congress, we’re hearing of more plans to make positive improvements in the sustainability of agriculture and climate smart changes, but that message is a bit skewed for specialty crops.