KFGO & Growing Harvest Ag Network’s Sarah Heinrich & Rusty Halvorson bring you the latest in agriculture news and information from the Upper Midwest.
Texas Ag Commissioner expresses gratitude to other states for wildfire recovery efforts
As Texans recover from the devastating Texas Panhandle wildfires, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) extend their heartfelt appreciation to the agency's valued counterparts in state agriculture departments nationwide. Departments in states such as Alabama, Iowa, and ...
14h ago
Growth Energy applauds Nebraska SAF credit
Growth Energy celebrated the significant legislation that will speed investment in Nebraska's production of sustainable aviation fuel. The bill was signed by Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and will provide a 75-cent per gallon tax credit for the production of aviation fuel that reduces lifecycle emissions by at least 50 ...
19h ago
USDA continues investing in rural high-speed broadband
USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced that the agency is partnering with rural cooperatives, local organizations, and tribes to support more high-speed internet deployment in 11 states. USDA is awarding $5.2 million in cooperative agreements through the Broadband Technical Assistance Program, which is fu...
19h ago
Blaise Alleyne / CC
Rabobank released its North American Agribusiness Review
Rabobank released its North American Agribusiness Review, a bi-monthly analysis of market conditions and trends across North American agriculture. Among the highlights, the report says American consumers have proven far more resilient than expected, and they continue analyzing the drivers behind evolving consumption pa...
19h ago
Mike Lawrence / CC
AMI calls for worker protections at beef facilities
As the USDA issued a nationwide order requiring lactating dairy cows to test negative for HPAI before transport, the American Meat Institute says that properly prepared beef remains safe to eat. The Institute is asking the USDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide worker safety guidance specific to...
20h ago
artfotoss / Depositphotos.com
Colombia becomes first country to restrict US beef due to bird flu in dairy cows
By P.J. Huffstutter and Tom Polansek CHICAGO (Reuters) -Colombia has restricted the import of beef and beef products coming from U.S. states where dairy cows have tested positive for avian influenza as of April 15, according the U.S. Department of Agri...
Apr 25, 2024
Pope County farmer to serve on Northern Crops Council
With his decorated history in agriculture, a Minnesota farmer leader prepares to put on a new hat as a newly elected member of the Northern Crops Council. Paul Freeman was appointed to replace Kris Folland on NCC. Folland, who farms in Kittson County, is retiring from the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Coun...
Apr 25, 2024
Weekly U.S. Drought Monitor shows improvements in southern Minnesota
This U.S. Drought Monitor week saw improvements on the map in drought-affected areas of the Southwest, Northern Plains, and the Midwest while conditions deteriorated in areas of the Pacific Northwest, Eastern Plains of Colorado and Montana, Southern Plains, and the South. Wetter-than-normal conditions have prevailed du...
Apr 25, 2024
Crop insurance payments to farmers vary by farm category
About 13 percent of U.S. farms participated in Federal crop insurance programs in 2022, with the highest share from small family farms. USDA's Economic Research Service reports small family farms accounted for 54 percent of the participants in Federal crop insurance programs and received 12 percent of the insurance pay...
Apr 25, 2024
USDA NRCS Montana
NCBA offers fall semester internships
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association is seeking applications for fall internships. The programs include a public policy internship and a meetings and events internship. The public policy internship, based in Washington, D.C., is held in conjunction with the Public Lands Council and gives students an opportunity to...
Apr 25, 2024
National Milk Producers statement on H5N1 and Federal Order on lactating cows
ARLINGTON, VA - From NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud: Since this virus was first discovered in cows, H5N1 in dairy cattle has been primarily an animal health concern. Today's announcements and actions underscore that continued concern and focus on the well-being of animals and those who care for them. USDA, FDA and...
Apr 24, 2024
Sister finds her farm safety voice as a SDSU student and athlete
College is a life-changing experience for many people, but Jaiden Boomsma's life changed well before she arrived on the campus of South Dakota State University (SDSU). Seven years ago this month, when Jaiden was 15, she lost her little brother Jaxon in a tractor runover on their grandparents' farm. Soon after, the Boom...
Apr 24, 2024
USDA actions to protect livestock health from H5N1 Avian Influenza
To further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, USDA is sharing a number of actions that we are taking with our federal partners to help us get ahead of this disease and limit its spread. Today, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ann...
Apr 24, 2024
USDA announces new school meal standards
Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced major steps to promote the health of America's children through school meals. Nutrition standards for school meals will be gradually updated to include less sugar and greater flexibility with menu planning between Fall 2025 and Fall 2027. The Departm...
Apr 24, 2024
FDA reaffirms that pasteurization is effective against HPAI, commercial milk supply safe
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed again today that pasteurization of milk consistent with the federal Grade "A" Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) destroys harmful pathogenic bacteria and other microorganisms, including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and other viruses. The data cited by...
Apr 24, 2024
Mike Mozart / CC
Small ruminant grazing during drought is the topic of April 29 webinar
North Dakota State University Extension and University of Minnesota Extension are hosting a webinar at 7:30 p.m. CDT on April 29 for producers to learn more about sheep and goat grazing during drought conditions. The webinar, "Thriving Through Drought: Regenerative Grazing Strategies for Sheep and Goats," wil...
Apr 24, 2024
SDSU Extension hosts hands-on high tunnel build experience
South Dakota State University Extension is offering the public a chance to participate in an educational, hands-on high tunnel build on the SDSU campus in Brookings. The four-day workshop, How to Build a High Tunnel, is on May 7-8 and 14-15, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Registration is required, and space is l...
Apr 24, 2024
Drone operators urged to give right of way
The U.S agricultural industry is entering the growing season, which means things will get busy. The National Agricultural Aviation Association is asking all uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operators (or drones) to be mindful of low-altitude crewed or manned agricultural aircraft operations. UAS are not allowed above 400...
Apr 24, 2024
welcomia / Depositphotos.com
March milk production drops almost one percent
Milk production in the 24 major states during March totaled 18.8 billion pounds, down 0.9 percent from March 2023. February revised production, at 17.4 billion pounds, was up 2.9 percent from February 2023. The February revision represented an increase of about 82 million pounds, or 0.5 percent, from last month's preli...
Apr 24, 2024
USDA report examines energy payments in ag producer income
A significant portion of energy production in the United States takes place on farmland, which can have substantial economic implications for the farmers who host such developments. A report issued today by USDA's Economic Research Service, The Role of Commercial Energy Payments in Agricultural Producer Income, analyze...
Apr 23, 2024