Farm Policy, Food Supply & Rural Coverage
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Nebraska becomes first state to protect farmers' data ownership
Nebraska becomes the first state to give farmers control of agricultural data, marking a major win for the right-to-repair movement against equipment giants.
ICE raids in Pennsylvania farms signal urgent legal reality for growers
As immigration enforcement intensifies in agricultural areas, farmers are urged to prepare for raids and know their rights. Legal experts outline emergency strategies.
Purdue barometer shows farmer optimism in free fall
As diesel and fertilizer costs rise, farmers' outlook darkens. But land prices stay high: a disconnect that reveals who's actually farming and who's just holding assets.
Trump's Diesel Relief Comes Too Late for Harvest
A new executive order allowing off-road diesel in vehicles won't help most farmers, who already have access to the fuel and are well past peak harvest season.
Hog farmers bracing for $22-per-head losses in 2027
U.S. pig farmers' production costs have surged 31% since 2020. Experts forecast steep losses next year without relief from trade or input prices.
Pecos River Drowning in Oil and Drought
New Mexico's Pecos River, already scarred by 380 oil wells, now faces a climate-driven water crisis. Regulators just made it worse.
Oil drilling threatens farm water across the West
From New Mexico to Colorado, oil and gas extraction is draining aquifers and poisoning groundwater that farmers depend on. Their irrigation and survival hang in the balance.
USDA's Yield Surprise Tanks Corn Prices, Squeezing Farmer Income
An unexpected USDA yield estimate sent corn crashing to a 6-week low, cutting prices for growers already managing tight margins and rising input costs.
Four Peanut Buying Points Vanish Mid-Harvest, Trapping Arkansas Farmers
When four major peanut buying points shut down suddenly in Arkansas and Missouri, hundreds of farmers faced a nightmare: crops ready to sell with nowhere to sell them.
Minnesota's warming winters are breaking farm systems
November temperatures are shattering records, and the agricultural calendar built for harsher cold is falling apart. What farmers need to know.
USDA Plows $180M Into Seed Research, but Big Seed Stays in Control
The agency backs seed sovereignty with a major research push, but food advocates say corporate consolidation remains the real problem.
California raises farmworker minimum wage to $19.75 an hour
California raises the minimum wage for agricultural workers to $19.75 an hour, continuing state-level efforts to recognize farmworker contributions.
Walmart backs $9M to keep Great Plains grasslands working
A new public-private conservation fund aims to help ranchers preserve working grasslands as corporate consolidation and climate pressure intensify.
EPA Walks Back Iowa Drinking-Water Protections Amid Lawsuit
EPA reverses course on water impairment protections even as lawsuit pressures action on cancer-linked contamination in Iowa farming communities.
Crushed by Debt: Farmers Struggle to Manage Fertilizer Costs
Farmers face historically volatile fertilizer markets, leading to financial challenges and debt accumulation.
Willapa Bay's oyster growers fight an invisible invader
When banned pesticides stopped working, Washington's oyster farmers had to find new ways to battle ghost shrimp. The battle is far from over.
Red-Dye Diesel Comes to the Road, but Tax Confusion Lingers
Trump's executive order opens on-road use of red-dye diesel for farmers, but tax exemptions remain murky. Experts warn the relief may not go as far as promised.
Illinois Farmland Rents Fall as Farm Costs Tighten
Cropland rents have dipped for a second consecutive year in Illinois, offering renters brief relief as input costs and debt pressure squeeze farm finances across the Corn Belt.
Farmers Face Crushing Debt Amid Market Volatility
Fertilizer prices, disease outbreaks, and market fluctuations are taking a toll on farmers' finances. Experts weigh in on the challenges ahead.
Farm bill extension ends, CRP halted without Congress action
The 2018 farm bill's third extension expired Sept. 30. Congress must now act to restore funding for conservation, commodity support, and nutrition programs.
Small Farmers Gain Direct-Sale Win With Inspection Exemption
Rep. Massie and Pingree introduce bill allowing small farmers to slaughter and sell meat directly without federal inspection requirements, challenging consolidation in meat processing.
USDA Cuts Renewable Energy Support for Farms, Sparks Legal Battle
USDA's changes to farm solar funding eliminate grants farmers relied on for rural sustainability investments. Advocates are now fighting back in court.
California raises farm wage floor to $19.75, ag groups fight back
California's new farmworker minimum wage law draws sharp reactions. Advocates say it's overdue. Employers argue it threatens their margins and could force consolidation.
Minnesota's Farm Advocate Program: A Lifeline for Struggling Farmers
The Minnesota Farm Advocate Program helps threatened operations survive financial crisis by navigating debt, policy, and the pressure to sell to consolidators.
Dairy Margin Coverage Opens Enrollment Next Week
The USDA's Dairy Margin Coverage program opens enrollment Oct. 5, offering federal protection as milk prices fall and feed costs remain high.
California Farmworkers Headed Toward $20 Minimum Wage
California's agricultural minimum wage will reach nearly $20 per hour in 2027, marking a major gain for farmworkers but intensifying cost pressure on growers.
Beef Imports Widen the Rancher Margin Squeeze
Surging imports are pressuring cattle prices while grocery stores pocket the savings, pushing ranchers to demand trade relief as costs mount.
Crushed by Debt: Farmers Face Financial Strains
Farmers struggle with rising fertilizer costs, increased beef imports, and other financial challenges.
The Cooperative Squeeze: How Dairy Co-ops Became Competitors
Three dairy cooperatives control most U.S. milk sales and have moved into processing. Farmers say these farmer-owned organizations now compete with them instead of serving them.
The H-2A clock is still running when harvest begins
Federal data show a growing H-2A pipeline and a two-track processing problem. For farmworkers and growers, a late decision can turn a seasonal job into a missed season.
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