The Agribusiness Update

Major livestock groups are applauding new legislation that would expand the H-2A guest worker program to year-round agriculture, and President signs executive order temporarily suspending countervailing duties applied to imported phosphate.

Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act of 2026 would broaden access to H-2A workers, and agricultural groups are urging the Senate Ag Committee to include language in their final bill to address the problems caused by California’s Proposition 12.

The Renewable Fuels Association applauds President Trump's latest call for Congress to approve permanent, year-round sales of E15 gas nationwide, and American businesses searching for skilled workers may be overlooking one of the country's largest talent pools: the National FFA.

In 2017, as dozens of wildfires ravaged California’s wine country, UC-Davis, researcher Natalia Pinzón witnessed the devastation firsthand, and the Honey Bee Health Coalition has released the ninth edition of its Tools for Varroa Management Guide.

Your 4th cookout will cost $73.82 for 10 guests this year, according to the American Farm Bureau annual marketbasket survey, and the Honey Bee Health Coalition has released the ninth edition of its Tools for Varroa Management Guide.

Over 100 ag groups urging Congress to provide additional funding and staffing support for local USDA Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service offices, and calling it the “Agricultural Act of 2026,” Senate Ag Chair John Boozman releases bill discussion text.

Governor Ron DeSantis is celebrating the opening of the Florida Pavilion at the Great American State Fair, and calling it the “Agricultural Act of 2026,” Senate Ag Chair John Boozman releases bill discussion text.

Labor shortages, rising costs and water access emerged as key concerns for farmers during discussions at the 2026 Agri-Pulse Food & Ag Issues Summit, and American farmers could gain a new export market if ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran lead to an agreement allowing unfrozen Iranian assets to be used for food purchases.

For the 15th year, Georgia Farm Bureau rewarded the 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors who showed the top animals at the Georgia Junior National Livestock Show, and American farmers could gain a new export market if ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran lead to an agreement allowing unfrozen Iranian assets to be used for food purchases.

USDA's new 2027 cost of production forecast reveals farmers may not see meaningful relief from elevated production costs anytime soon, and the fertilizer industry is welcoming the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Northwest cherry season has entered its peak shipping window, with volumes now at their highest levels of the year, and a new Senate farm bill proposal could face an uphill battle after reports indicated it does NOT include a delay in planned changes to SNAP funding.

Summer break can leave some Florida children without access to regular, healthy meals, and a new Senate farm bill proposal could face an uphill battle after reports indicated it does NOT include a delay in planned changes to SNAP funding.

The American Farm Bureau is now accepting applications for its 2027 Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence, and a new survey suggests artificial intelligence is gaining traction on America's farms and ranches, though many remain cautious.

A new online computer program helps producers determine whether irrigation systems are applying water uniformly and estimate waste costs, and forecasters are reminding farmers and ranchers that no two El Niño weather patterns are exactly alike.

A new initiative launched by the University of Georgia aims to improve roadway safety education for all-terrain and utility task vehicle operators, and forecasters are reminding farmers and ranchers that no two El Niño weather patterns are exactly alike.

Rising farm labor costs and depressed crop prices have pushed California farmers to seek labor-saving technology to remain financially viable, and the H-2A ag worker program continues to grow, with the DOL certifying 17% more jobs in the first half of fiscal 2026 than last year.

Georgia Ag Commissioner announces enhanced interstate animal movement requirements for all warm-blooded animals entering Georgia from Texas, and the H-2A ag worker program continues to grow, with the DOL certifying 17% more jobs in the first half of fiscal 2026 than last year.

U.S. food spending by consumers, businesses, and Government entities increased to $2.51 trillion in 2025 from an inflation-adjusted $1.56 trillion in 1997, and farmer awareness of biological crop products remains high, and new research suggests the market is entering a more mature phase with confidence rising.

Nearly a billion pounds of plastic film mulch is used in American agriculture each year, and most of it dumped into landfills, and farm and food industry leaders tell members of House Ag Committee that renewing the USMCA is critical to the future of American agriculture and rural communities.

The USDA announced the Great American Cotton Plan, and farm and food industry leaders tell members of House Ag Committee that renewing the USMCA is critical to the future of American agriculture and rural communities.

Fertilizer prices have retreated sharply in recent weeks as concerns over prolonged supply disruptions tied to tensions in the Middle East have eased, and ag and conservation groups want staffing shortages at USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency addressed.

Using pressure chambers, commonly called pressure bombs, has been compared to taking the “blood pressure” of a plant to tell how stressed it is for water, and Fresh produce industry leaders were in Washington, D.C. advocating policy priorities affecting growers, consumers, and ag businesses.

Another data center is threatening farmers and their land, this time in Georgia, and Fresh produce industry leaders were in Washington, D.C. advocating policy priorities affecting growers, consumers, and ag businesses.

Seasonal staff are dispersing to set traps or the Washington State Department of Agriculture Pest Program’s annual search for invasive species, and global demand for crop protection products will continue growing as farmers work to protect yields and meet rising food demand.

Farm Aid is heading to Virginia Beach for the first time Saturday, Sept. 26, and global demand for crop protection products will continue growing as farmers work to protect yields and meet rising food demand.

Purdue Universities’ new ‘USMCA Affordability Study’ finds that tariff reductions under these trade agreements help lower food prices by roughly 7% of household food expenditures, and the USDA confirmed three additional cases of the flesh-eating New World screwworm.

A natural disaster designation allows the USDA to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans, and Americans are expected to have more meat and eggs available in the coming years.

President Trump announced tariff reductions on certain agricultural and industrial equipment, and Americans are expected to have more meat and eggs available in the coming years.

More than 1,800 FFA members and 250 chaperons will travel to Washington, D.C. this summer for the 2026 Washington Leadership Conference, and China’s renewed demand for U.S. soybeans is providing optimism for American farmers.

Statewide fire restrictions remain in effect for all Bureau of Land Management public lands throughout Oregon and Washington, and the European Union has approved a one-year suspension of tariffs on certain nitrogen fertilizer imports.

Cotton varieties with built-in color, greater heat resilience, and reduced reliance on water, fertilizers and pesticides will hopefully appeal to consumers, and the European Union has approved a one-year suspension of tariffs on certain nitrogen fertilizer imports.

The USDA announced a new Great American Cotton Plan, saying it aims to strengthen cotton farm income, expand trade and increase demand, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says they’re working to finalize a new Waters of the U.S., or WOTUS, rule.

After years of rising labor costs, some farmers have seen relief in recent months thanks to the new AEWR rules, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says they’re working to finalize a new Waters of the U.S., or WOTUS, rule.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced legislation aimed at lowering grocery prices by increasing competition within the meatpacking industry, and the dairy checkoff is using today, National Cheese Day to promote cheese as a high-protein snack option.

Florida Ag Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture are pleased to announce that more than 1.5 million consumers now follow the ‘Fresh From Florida’ on social media, and USMEF wraps up Spring Conference with a discussion detailing innovative marketing strategies.

Washington’s Beef Community kicked off Beef Counts Summer Grilling by distributing 726 pounds of St. Helen’s ground beef, feeding 363 families, and USMEF wraps up Spring Conference with a discussion detailing innovative marketing strategies.

As summer arrives, the abundance of U.S.-grown produce makes it the perfect time to enjoy fruit pies and other desserts that highlight their flavor profiles, and Bayer subsidiary Monsanto is disputing claims a proposed $7.25 billion class action settlement of Roundup litigation is unconstitutional.

Alabama FarmPAC, the grassroots political action committee of the Alabama Farmers Federation, announced its endorsement of Barry Moore for U.S. Senate, and USDA continues to evaluate possible tariff relief options for farmers impacted by trade disputes and rising production costs.

California peach growers are removing hundreds of thousands of trees after the closure of Del Monte canning facilities left farmers without a major buyer, and USDA continues to evaluate possible tariff relief options for farmers impacted by trade disputes and rising production costs.

Fortunes went from bad to worse this year for California cherry growers, and the USDA announced renewed efforts to expand domestic fertilizer production.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed into law 10 bills related to agriculture and forestry, and the USDA announced renewed efforts to expand domestic fertilizer production.

The USDA continues to evaluate possible tariff relief options for farmers impacted by trade disputes and rising production costs, and China has suspended beef imports from three Brazilian meatpacking plants after detecting synthetic veterinary hormones in cattle.

For decades, experts have done their best to estimate the size of California’s almond crop prior to harvest, and President Trump defends Chinese purchases of U.S. farmland during his visit to Beijing.

Low water levels on the Mississippi River are increasing transportation costs for American farmers as drought conditions continue to disrupt barge traffic, and President Trump defends Chinese purchases of U.S. farmland during his visit to Beijing.

Sustainable agriculture advocates are concerned about the House fiscal year 2027 ag spending bill, and Americans continue to buy more meat despite rising grocery store prices.

USDA’s Risk Management Agency announced a significant expansion of the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index endorsement and the Tropical Storm Option, and U.S. retail meat sales climbed to a record $112 billion in 2025 as consumers continued prioritizing meat protein despite higher grocery prices.

Private companies and researchers at the University of California, Davis, are working with farmers to develop new ways to reduce methane emissions from cattle, and China and the U.S agreed to reduce tariffs on agricultural trade as part of a broader agreement.

The National Peanut Board is launching a brand platform that aims to elevate peanuts beyond being a reliable staple: “It’s Not Nuts. It’s Peanuts," and China and the U.S agreed to reduce tariffs on agricultural trade as part of a broader agreement.

The DOJ is intensifying its investigation into possible antitrust violations in the beef packing industry, and a federal judge in California has denied a request by the United Farm Workers to temporarily block the Trump administration’s revised wage rule for H-2A workers.

Every dollar spent on forest fuel treatments saves about $3.75 in wildfire damages, and Congressional negotiations over the next farm bill have intensified as lawmakers continue debating funding priorities, nutrition programs and conservation spending.