Explore

USDA Designates Baca and Lincoln Counties in Colorado as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought, Offering Emergency Loans to Farmers

USDA Designates Baca and Lincoln Counties in Colorado as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought, Offering Emergency Loans to Farmers

On November 13, 2026, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated Baca and Lincoln counties in Colorado as primary natural disaster areas. This designation is a direct response to severe drought conditions experienced in these areas, which have met the criteria of D2 Drought-Severe for eight or more consecutive weeks or D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional during the growing season, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. As a result of this Secretarial natural disaster designation, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now authorized to provide emergency credit through emergency loans to agricultural producers in these counties. The designation also extends eligibility for assistance to contiguous counties in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, acknowledging the widespread impact of the drought.

USDA Designates Crawford County, Arkansas as Natural Disaster Area Due to Hail, Offering Emergency Loans to Farmers

USDA Designates Crawford County, Arkansas as Natural Disaster Area Due to Hail, Offering Emergency Loans to Farmers

On November 13, 2026, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated Crawford County, Arkansas, as a primary natural disaster area. This designation was made in response to significant damage caused by hail. As a result, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now authorized to provide emergency credit through emergency loans to agricultural producers in Crawford County who are recovering from the hail damage. The Secretarial natural disaster designation also extends eligibility for assistance to contiguous counties in Arkansas, including Franklin, Madison, Sebastian, and Washington, as well as contiguous counties in Oklahoma, specifically Adair and Sequoyah. This measure aims to support farmers and ranchers in these areas who have experienced losses due to the natural disaster.

USDA Considers Easing Import Requirements for Mexican Figs Following Pest Risk Assessment

USDA Considers Easing Import Requirements for Mexican Figs Following Pest Risk Assessment

USDA Considers Easing Import Requirements for Mexican Figs Following Pest Risk Assessment

States Implement Bans and Labeling Requirements for Lab-Grown Meat Amid USDA Approval

States Implement Bans and Labeling Requirements for Lab-Grown Meat Amid USDA Approval

Several U.S. states, including Florida and Texas, have moved to ban the sale of lab-grown meat, while others are debating strict labeling requirements for these products. Tennessee, for instance, passed legislation in 2025 to prevent lab-grown products from being marketed as 'meat' but stopped short of a complete ban. This legislative action comes despite the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) having approved lab-grown meat for sale, leading to its availability in select restaurants. The debate centers on transparency and consumer choice, with advocates for traditional food pushing for clear distinctions between conventional and cultivated products. Lab-grown meat, also referred to as 'cultivated' or 'cell-based' meat by its producers, involves growing animal cells in a bioreactor using a nutrient broth. This process aims to create biological animal protein without traditional livestock farming. However, concerns have been raised regarding its nutritional content, texture, and the lack of long-term stud...

USDA Designates Baca and Lincoln Counties in Colorado as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought

USDA Designates Baca and Lincoln Counties in Colorado as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Baca and Lincoln counties in Colorado as primary natural disaster areas due to severe drought conditions. This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to provide emergency credit to agricultural producers recovering from the drought through emergency loans. These loans can be utilized for various recovery needs, including replacing essential items like equipment or livestock, reorganizing farming operations, or refinancing certain debts. The FSA will evaluate loan applications based on the extent of losses, available security, and repayment ability. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties experienced a drought intensity of D2 (Severe) for eight or more consecutive weeks, or D3 (Extreme) or D4 (Exceptional) during the growing season.

USDA Designates Three South Dakota Counties as Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought

USDA Designates Three South Dakota Counties as Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially designated three counties in South Dakota—Edmunds, Faulk, and Walworth—as natural disaster areas due to severe drought conditions. This designation, announced on November 13, 2026, by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), enables agricultural producers in these areas to access emergency credit and other recovery assistance. The U.S. Drought Monitor indicated that these counties experienced drought intensity values of D2 (Severe Drought) for eight or more consecutive weeks, or D3 (Extreme Drought) or D4 (Exceptional Drought) during the growing season. In addition to the primary counties, nine contiguous counties in South Dakota—Brown, Campbell, Corson, Dewey, Hand, Hyde, McPherson, Potter, and Spink—are also eligible for assistance. The application deadline for emergency loans and other programs for these affected areas is June 21, 2027. Producers can utilize resources like the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool and Loan Assistance Tool on farmers.g...

Analysts Question USDA's Use of Artificial Intelligence in Crop Reporting, Citing Accuracy Concerns

Analysts Question USDA's Use of Artificial Intelligence in Crop Reporting, Citing Accuracy Concerns

Analysts Question USDA's Use of Artificial Intelligence in Crop Reporting, Citing Accuracy Concerns

USDA Prioritizes Expanding Export Opportunities for American Farmers and Ranchers

USDA Prioritizes Expanding Export Opportunities for American Farmers and Ranchers

USDA Prioritizes Expanding Export Opportunities for American Farmers and Ranchers

Milder Weather Fuels Screwworm Resurgence in the US

Milder Weather Fuels Screwworm Resurgence in the US

The New World screwworm, a deadly livestock parasite, has seen a resurgence in the US due to milder temperatures and increased humidity. Over 40 cases have been confirmed in November, marking the worst month since the pest first appeared in Texas earlier this year. The total number of cases has reached nearly 130, with over 60 currently active. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has implemented measures such as livestock movement controls, monitoring programmes, and sterile fly dispersal to curb the outbreak. However, the parasite thrives in temperatures between 80°F and 100°F with high humidity, conditions currently prevalent in the Southwest.

Oregon Becomes 22nd State to Detect Bird Flu in Dairy Cattle, USDA Confirms

Oregon Becomes 22nd State to Detect Bird Flu in Dairy Cattle, USDA Confirms

U.S. and Oregon agriculture officials have confirmed the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, in dairy cattle in Oregon. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced the case on Tuesday, following routine testing by state agriculture officials. The virus was identified in a herd located in Morrow County. This detection makes Oregon the 22nd state to report HPAI in dairy cattle since the nationwide outbreak began in March 2024, which has now affected over 1,200 cattle across the country. Federal officials reiterate that the risk to pasteurized milk and dairy consumers remains low, and the general public faces a low risk, though precautions are advised for individuals working with birds or mammals.

Agricultural Coalitions Urge Congress for Immediate Farm Bill Passage Amid Economic Pressures

Agricultural Coalitions Urge Congress for Immediate Farm Bill Passage Amid Economic Pressures

As the U.S. Congress reconvenes for its post-election lame-duck session, major agricultural groups and commodity associations are intensifying their calls for the immediate passage of a modernized, five-year Farm Bill. Organizations, including the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), emphasize that escalating operational expenses, softening commodity markets, and prolonged policy uncertainty have left family farms with no financial margin for further legislative delays. NCGA President Matt Frostic stressed the urgency of converting stalled proposals into signed federal law before the current legislative calendar concludes, stating that farmers cannot afford additional delays. The agricultural leadership is pressing both chambers of Congress to overcome partisan divides between the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, highlighting that voters have mandated practical bipartisan governance. They assert that delivering an updated farm safety net is the most urgent economic priority for rural America.

Midwest Corn and Soybean Harvest Nears Completion Amidst Variable Yields and Steady Farmland Values

Midwest Corn and Soybean Harvest Nears Completion Amidst Variable Yields and Steady Farmland Values

The Corn Belt is concluding its harvest season, characterized by strong soybean yields and more varied corn production. According to Justin Bahr, an accredited farm manager with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA), soybean harvest was largely finished by mid-to-late October, while corn harvest experienced delays due to a wet September and scattered rainfall in October and early November. Bahr anticipates that corn harvest will accelerate as drier conditions become more prevalent, with many growers expected to finish by Thanksgiving. Regionally, western Iowa, southern Minnesota, and eastern Nebraska have reported robust corn yields, with some producers achieving 222 to 250 bushels per acre or more. In contrast, eastern Iowa and Illinois have seen greater variability, with some producers on high-quality land reporting corn yields 10% to 15% lower than the previous year. Factors such as tar spot pressure in parts of Nebraska and dry growing conditions in southern Minnesota have...