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Pro Farmer Crop Tour Begins, Set to Influence Corn and Soybean Prices Amidst Varied Weather Conditions

Pro Farmer Crop Tour Begins, Set to Influence Corn and Soybean Prices Amidst Varied Weather Conditions

Pro Farmer Crop Tour Begins, Set to Influence Corn and Soybean Prices Amidst Varied Weather Conditions

Federal Court Sets January 2027 Hearing for John Deere's $99 Million Right-to-Repair Settlement

Federal Court Sets January 2027 Hearing for John Deere's $99 Million Right-to-Repair Settlement

A federal court in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has set a fairness hearing for January 19, 2027, to consider final approval of John Deere's proposed $99 million right-to-repair settlement. This settlement is part of an ongoing class-action lawsuit filed by farmers across the country who alleged that John Deere restricted their ability to repair their own equipment. The court issued an amended order of preliminary approval, stating that the settlement is "fair, reasonable, adequate and in the best interests of the settlement class." The class is expected to include over 200,000 members who purchased repair services from John Deere or its authorized U.S. dealers between January 10, 2018, and May 18, 2026. The deadline for notifying the settlement class is August 28, 2026, with objections due by December 4, 2026, and claim forms by December 31, 2026.

USDA Announces $7.5 Million in Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance

USDA Announces $7.5 Million in Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened the application period for the new 2026 Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance (CCG) program, making approximately $7.5 million available. The program aims to competitively fund one or more eligible nonprofit corporations that can demonstrate the capacity to implement and manage a subaward program. These subawards will be used to provide cold storage and distribution equipment to food banks, food pantries, and other emergency food assistance operations. The primary goal is to enhance their ability to deliver high-quality meats, eggs, seafood, dairy, and fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables to vulnerable Americans. Applications are due by October 1, 2026, and interested applicants are encouraged to attend a CCG webinar for additional information and program details.

USDA Announces $7.5 Million in Grants for Cold Storage Infrastructure to Enhance Food Assistance Programs

USDA Announces $7.5 Million in Grants for Cold Storage Infrastructure to Enhance Food Assistance Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has allocated approximately $7.5 million in grant funding through its Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance (CCG) program. This initiative aims to bolster the cold storage and distribution capabilities of food banks, food pantries, and other emergency food assistance operations across the United States. The grants will be competitively awarded to eligible entities that can demonstrate the capacity to implement and manage a subaward program. The primary goal is to improve the ability of these organizations to provide high-quality perishable foods, such as meats, eggs, seafood, dairy, and fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables, to vulnerable Americans. Applications for the 2026 CCG program are currently open, with a deadline of October 1, 2026. The USDA encourages interested applicants to review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for detailed guidance and program information.

USDA Loans Offer Path to Manufactured Homeownership with Specific Eligibility Requirements

USDA Loans Offer Path to Manufactured Homeownership with Specific Eligibility Requirements

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers loan programs that can be utilized to finance manufactured homes, providing an affordable route to homeownership, particularly in rural and some suburban areas. These loans come with benefits such as no down payment requirements and competitive interest rates. However, both the manufactured home and the borrower must meet specific criteria to qualify. Key requirements for the home include being manufactured after June 15, 1976, within 20 years of the loan closing date, and being permanently affixed to a foundation. The home must also be classified as real property and meet age and condition standards, passing an appraisal and inspection. For borrowers, income must fall within USDA limits, and they must meet basic credit and debt guidelines. Properties that do not qualify include mobile homes built before 2006, homes without permanent foundations, investment properties, second homes, and homes moved from another site.

The Augusta Chronicle

Georgia farmers learning to adapt to extreme heat | Exclusive

Georgia farmers learning to adapt to extreme heat | Exclusive

What hotter summers mean for Georgia farms and the changes already underway, according to experts.

Cultivated Meat Industry Faces Significant Challenges Despite Early Hype and Investment

Cultivated Meat Industry Faces Significant Challenges Despite Early Hype and Investment

Cultivated Meat Industry Faces Significant Challenges Despite Early Hype and Investment

Arizona Republic

What Trump's plan to kill roadless rule means for Arizona's forests

What Trump's plan to kill roadless rule means for Arizona's forests

Environmentalists say rescinding the roadless rule will allow development in forests and destroy wildlife habitat.

Growmark Elects New Board President and Farm Bureau Member at Annual Meeting

Growmark Elects New Board President and Farm Bureau Member at Annual Meeting

Growmark Elects New Board President and Farm Bureau Member at Annual Meeting

Carol Miller, Content Lead for American Vegetable Grower, details farm visits in Missouri and Kansas

Carol Miller, Content Lead for American Vegetable Grower, details farm visits in Missouri and Kansas

Carol Miller, the Content Lead for American Vegetable Grower, a Meister Media Worldwide publication, recently concluded a week-long tour of farms across Missouri and Kansas. Her visits aimed to observe firsthand how growers are innovating and adapting their agricultural practices. Miller documented various approaches, from established operations like Happy Hollow Farm, which has expanded into field production with the help of H-2A workers, to resource-conscious farms like Heimsoth Farm, which repurposes black walnut hulls for composting and potential high tunnel heating. She also highlighted farms that have successfully shifted their business models, such as Geiringer's Family Farm, which now attracts customers directly to its on-farm market, and Juniper Hill Farms, known for its farm-to-table pizza nights. Miller emphasized the diversity of strategies employed by these growers to build successful and sustainable farming businesses.

Virginia Allocates Record $304 Million for Agricultural Conservation Practices

Virginia Allocates Record $304 Million for Agricultural Conservation Practices

Virginia has committed a record $304 million to its Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program (VACS) for the 2027 fiscal year, which began on July 1. This funding represents an $81 million increase over the previous fiscal year and marks the fifth consecutive year of record allocations for the program. The VACS program provides financial and technical assistance to farmers for implementing over 60 approved conservation practices. These practices are designed to protect water quality, improve soil health, and support the long-term sustainability of agricultural operations. Eligible measures include planting cover crops, developing nutrient-management plans, installing livestock stream-exclusion systems, and implementing rotational grazing. Farmers can qualify for up to $300,000 in state cost-share reimbursement, depending on the proposed practices and program requirements.

Major retail meat company closes plants, lays off over 3,200

Major retail meat company closes plants, lays off over 3,200

A historic drop in the size of the U.S. cattle herd to a nearly 75-year low of 86.2 million head as of Jan. 1, 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is putting pressure on the beef industry, resulting in plant closures. Beef processing companies, such as Tyson Foods, have closed ...