Farm & Agricultural News Headlines

Montana farmers are bracing for economic challenges as new U.S. tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico threaten their key agricultural markets, particularly wheat and lentils. Montana ranks third in U.S. wheat production and first in lentil production, and relies heavily on exports. 80% of its wheat is typically shipped ...

A teenager was arrested and charged with deadly conduct after untying multiple show steers at a Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The teen claimed he was concerned that the animals were tied too tightly and attempted to loosen their ropes, successfully untying two steers before being stopped while attempting a third. L...

Wholesale egg prices in the U.S. have dropped to $3.45 per dozen, the lowest in nearly five months, following a period of extreme price fluctuations driven by supply chain issues, bird flu outbreaks, and shifting consumer demand. Prices had peaked at $8.17 per dozen on March 3 due to tight supplies and seasonal demand ...

North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has announced funding for teachers in grades 2-3 to integrate edamame trail mix kits into their curriculum through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. This initiative, aligned with National Soy Foods Month in April, aims to educate students about soybeans and othe...

The USDA has announced an extension of waivers allowing pork and poultry processing plants to operate at higher line speeds, aiming to reduce regulatory burdens and increase efficiency in the industry. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized that these changes will strengthen American agriculture while maintain...

As first reported by the Jamestown Sun, NextEra Energy Resources has abandoned its $1.3 billion fertilizer plant project in Spiritwood, North Dakota. Their decision was rooted in unfavorable market conditions and changes to federal hydrogen production tax credits that reduced production recognition from 100% to 50%. Th...

The North Dakota Senate passed a bill that would allow The North Dakota State Energy Research Center to pursue projects that may result in the exploration, storage, treatment or disposal of high level radioactive waste in North Dakota. Senate Bill 2159 passed the Senate 45-2 without much pushback, but three farmers and...

Iowa senators have advanced a bill expanding drone restrictions over farms, providing broader protection against aerial surveillance. The proposed legislation, Senate File 491, extends the current law-which prohibits drone flights over animal feeding operations-to cover all farmsteads of at least 40 acres that generate...

The USDA has announced the rollout of the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), which will distribute $10 billion in financial relief to commodity producers affected by 2024 crop losses. Enrollment begins on March 19, with payments reaching farmers within three business days of application processing. The aid,...

During recent meetings, the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and State Board of Animal health has issued an extension on the waiver rule allowing the age of brucellosis vaccinations to be extended from 12 months to 14 months for heifers. A shortage of vaccines has challenged producers and veterinary clinics, lead...

As the H5N1 strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza continues to impact U.S. dairy herds in California. In response, the state has imposed a ban on all dairy and poultry exhibitions, which has been in a smaller effect since January. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will re-evaluate the risks...

A bill to fund improvements to the Stutsman County Fairgrounds is making it's way through the North Dakota Legislature. House Bill 1591 would provide up to $100,000 through grants to improve what proponents describe as aging facilities at the Fairgrounds on the north side of Jamestown. Stutsman County Fair Board member...

Agricultural cooperative CHS has awarded grants to ten rural communities across the U.S. to improve safety and essential services. The CHS Foundation provided grants of up to $15,000, with final recipients chosen through a vote at the 2024 CHS annual meeting.. Major awards included $10,000 to a Minnesota fire departme...

The Case New Holland plant in Fargo is laying off almost 200 workers, confirmed by a company spokesperson on Friday. The employees were notified earlier this week. The workers build tractors and loaders for the agriculture and construction industries, but "due to current and anticipated market conditions," 19...

Each year, there are reports of serious accidents on the farm, the top two culprits being tractors and grain bins. In 2021, there were 133 fatal agricultural worker injuries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To address this, the Winter Show in Valley City hosted the "Stop the Bleed" project on Thu...

The North Dakota Winter Show opens today in Valley City. The annual event is a hallmark of the late-winter season in the area, with exhibits, shows, rodeo events, and live music. Wednesdays events include the Tractor Pull, Truck Pull, and Ag Social. Plus there's a 'Wheel of Agriculture' game show, and special demos and...

John Deere has announced a series of upgrades and new technologies across its equipment lineup, with many updates are available for model year 2026. A key highlight is the Next Generation Perception System for Autonomous Tillage, which allows select 9R, 9RX, 8R, and 8RX tractors to operate without a driver. Model year ...

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a $1 billion plan to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza and reduce domestic egg prices. The USDA will allocate $500 million to help poultry producers implement top-tier biosecurity measures and another $400 million toward increasing indemnity payments to poultry farm...

A new pilot program, backed by the Walton Family Foundation, aims to help farmers transition to regenerative agriculture by offering discounted interest rates on land loans. Led by Farmers Business Network (FBN), the Regenerative Agriculture Financing Land Loan provides financial incentives for farms that implement con...

The House of Representatives narrowly passed a budget resolution that leads the way for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts while imposing significant reductions in social programs, including Medicaid and the SNAP program. The measure enables Republicans to move forward with a budget reconciliation bill without requiring a 60-vo...