Farm Policy, Food Supply & Rural Coverage
305 articles · page 6 of 11
Summer Heat Chokes Cattle Across U.S. as Pasture Quality Fails
Extended heat and drought nationwide have left beef producers scrambling as pasture declines and cattle productivity falters, deepening economic pressure on family operations.
Tyson Shuts Down Illinois Plant, Consolidates Beef Operations
Meatpacking giant is eliminating 10,000 head of daily processing capacity and centralizing beef production, squeezing cattle feeders between plant closures and record prices.
California Moves on PFAS as 'Forever Chemicals' Threaten Farmland
Four consumer safety bills clear appropriations committees, targeting toxic 'forever chemicals' that contaminate drinking water and agricultural soil across California.
FDA tightens antibiotic oversight—what farms need to know
The FDA finalized a new framework to assess antibiotic risks in animal agriculture, marking a shift toward preventing resistance that threatens human health.
Soil Scientist Put His Farm Where His Mouth Was
An NRCS soil specialist bought farmland and rebuilt it with regenerative ag practices to prove that soil health wasn't just theory—it was survival.
Ticks are farming's new climate crisis—and farmers can't escape them
Climate warming is fueling tick populations faster than ever. Farmers and their livestock are paying the price as parasites spread north and multiply.
Tyson doubles profits as beef prices hit $10.49—ranchers see none of it
Record meatpacker profits and soaring beef prices haven't reached family ranches. Consolidation means farmers have no leverage to claim their share.
Illinois farmers hit with nation's steepest diesel spike
As planting costs skyrocket, farmers across the Midwest face a 63% jump in seasonal diesel spending—a $1.4B surge that compounds the farm debt crisis.
Thirty years ended: orchards face a year with no harvest
After three decades of work, family orchard owners are watching their fruit crops fail—a climate-driven crisis hitting aging farmers and young growers hard.
California bans toxic herbicide tied to Parkinson's
After manufacturers voluntarily pulled paraquat from the market, California becomes the first state to phase out the weedkiller linked to neurodegenerative disease.
Grain rally lifts spirits, input costs keep farmers grounded
July's grain price climb boosted farmer morale, but half of producers still rank high input costs as their top worry, a new Purdue survey shows.
Two companies own 70% of your corn. Your tax dollars paid for it.
Corporate patents on seeds are locking farmers out of choosing their crops—while taxpayer subsidies fund the monopoly that locks them out.
AI 'slop' and fossil fuel fear campaigns target rural solar
Foreign-based accounts pump false claims about solar into rural Facebook groups, blocking clean energy on farmland while fossil fuel jobs disappear.
Cotton jassid creeps north—and U.S. growers are not ready
An invasive leafhopper is spreading across Southeast cotton belts, forcing growers to scramble for scouting and control strategies as harvest nears.
Farmland values surge past $6,000 per acre nationwide
Cropland prices climbed $2,000 in six years as pasture values soar, raising questions about who can afford to farm and who's cashing out.
When Geopolitics Meet Farm Inputs: The Strait Crisis Reshapes Fertilizer
A Persian Gulf supply crunch pivots fertilizer markets from price discovery to pure survival. What happens when US farmers compete for scarcity.
The Debt Is the Story: Chapter 12 Filings Keep Climbing Into 2026
Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies jumped 46% in 2025 and the pressure hasn't let up in 2026. The numbers behind a slow-motion squeeze on family farms.
USDA Reorganization Could Hollow Out Farm Trade, Research, and Aid Programs
Relocation orders covering more than half of USDA's Washington workforce could trigger large staff losses across trade promotion, agricultural research, food aid, and nutrition programs.
EPA Approves PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' Despite Cancer Warnings
The agency green-lit three new toxic pesticides despite evidence one poses carcinogenic risk, escalating contamination of farmland and water across the country.
Senate Pushes Food Warning Labels to Reshape Markets
Senators introduce rules requiring clear warning labels on ultra-processed foods, signaling a shift toward transparency that could benefit farmers producing real food.
Michigan farmers turn to precision data as rainfall turns chaotic
New app combining soil sensors and hyperlocal forecasts helps growers adapt to erratic weather while cutting water use and input costs.
Congress Eyes Warning Labels on Ultra-Processed Foods
Senate Democrats introduce food labeling bill requiring warnings on ultra-processed foods and those high in added sugar, sodium, and saturated fats.
Fertilizer Cartel: Farmers Demand Feds Speed Antitrust Probe
State grower organizations are pushing federal regulators to accelerate investigations into fertilizer industry pricing practices that have kept costs far above historical levels.
Senate Races Heat Up Over Big Ag Consolidation
Iowa and Nebraska candidates are running hard against agricultural monopolies as farm costs soar and consolidation tightens. A populist turn is reshaping farm-belt politics.
Cyclospora, climate, and why produce keeps making us sick
As water systems warm and weather destabilizes, cyclospora outbreaks are becoming more frequent and harder to predict. Here's what's actually happening to our food.
House Dems probe Taylor Farms over massive cyclospora outbreak
Congress scrutinizes one of America's largest produce processors as the outbreak spreads to 41 states with 4,100+ confirmed cases. The question: why wasn't this caught sooner?
Chapter 12 Bankruptcies Jump 46% as Farm Debt Hits Record
Farm bankruptcies surged 46% in 2025, marking the third straight year of increases. Total farm debt is forecast to hit a record $624.7 billion in 2026.
Foreign Farmland Ownership Thresholds Could Drop to 5%
USDA proposes sweeping changes to farmland disclosure rules, tightening oversight of foreign acquisition as 29 states pass their own restrictions.
Forever Chemicals Creep Into U.S. Farmland Via Biosolids
EPA and state regulators move to curb PFAS contamination of agricultural soils as 3 million U.S. acres face permanent chemical poisoning.
Tomorrow, Farmers Can Earn Real Money From Regenerative Practices
USDA's new feedstock rule takes effect tomorrow, creating a market for regenerative agriculture—if farmers know where to start.