KFGO & Growing Harvest Ag Network’s Sarah Heinrich & Rusty Halvorson bring you the latest in agriculture news and information from the Upper Midwest.
Wheat industry sharing the story of farm to flour on the National Mall in D.C.
U.S. Wheat Associates, North American Millers' Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, and American Bakers Association are joining the "Celebration of Modern Agriculture on the National Mall" near the United States Department of Agriculture headquarters on May 6, 7, and 8, 2024. The event is spons...
12h ago
Michigan takes "aggressive" steps to protect poultry and dairy from HPAI
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Dr. Tim Boring today signed a "Determination of Extraordinary Emergency, "HPAI Risk Reduction Response Order," to further protect Michigan's poultry and livestock industries from the ongoing threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influe...
13h ago
United Soybean Board / CC
NMPF statement on House and Senate farm bill frameworks
From NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud: "Dairy farmers are heartened that today, both House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn 'GT' Thompson, R-PA, and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-MI, each released documents providing an overview of their farm bill priorities and plans. Dairy far...
14h ago
Upendra Kanda / CC
USDA reminds producers of climate-smart opportunities using farm loan programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency reminds agricultural producers that Farm Loan Programs can be used to support a variety of climate-smart agriculture practices, which build on many practices that farmers and ranchers already use, like cover cropping, nutrient management and conservation tillage....
15h ago
Clean Fuels welcomes §40B SAF GREET model
Clean Fuels Alliance America expressed appreciation to USDA, the U.S. Treasury, Argonne National Labs, the Department of Energy, and other federal agencies for finalizing updates to the GREET model that will allow taxpayers to use it in calculating 2023-2024 sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blender tax incentives (§...
17h ago
United Soybean Board / CC
North Dakota cropland values up significantly while cash rents see modest gains
North Dakota cropland values increased 11.59% heading into the spring of 2024, marching upward from 2,863 per acre to 3,174 per acre, says Bryon Parman, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension agricultural finance specialist. This represents the third year in a row where North Dakota cropland values have increas...
17h ago
ACE reaction to new 40B GREET model for SAF tax credit
the U.S. Treasury Department released a highly anticipated update to the Department of Energy's Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Technologies (GREET) model, providing guidance on how feedstocks like corn ethanol could qualify for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) under the 40B tax credit of the In...
20h ago
Agriculture Future of America appoints new board leadership
Starting a career can be daunting. Having someone build bridges for you to opportunities makes the experience smoother. Students who participate in Agriculture Future of America's (AFA) leader development programs benefit from the leadership of a board of directors who have been before them and are committed to buildin...
20h ago
NDSU Sheep Unit to market Romanov sheep flock
Spring lamb prices are holding strong, and the new crop lambs are growing. As NDSU continues to evolve with the sheep research, teaching, and extension program, an opportunity exists for regional sheep producers to add quality sheep genetics to their operation. The North Dakota State University Department of Animal Sci...
Apr 30, 2024
USB CEO visits MN Soybean Research & Promotion Council in Mankato
While a soggy start to the end of April kept field equipment in park, agriculture discussions remained in drive as Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council welcomed United Soybean Board Chief Executive Officer Lucas Lentsch to its newly renovated office space in Mankato of Ag Management Solutions, the group w...
Apr 30, 2024
Lawmakers want support for American West amid drought
Senators and representatives from Western states called on the Biden administration to make further investments to address long-term drought. "Drought remains a severe risk for American farmers and ranchers and threatens farmland and local economies that rely on dwindling water resources, especially in states West...
Apr 30, 2024
Stakeholders form the SAF Coalition
Forty companies and organizations that hold a stake in the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuel united to form the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition. The organization is made up of airlines and aircraft operators, agricultural enterprises, aircraft and aircraft equipment manufacturers, airports, te...
Apr 30, 2024
Chalabala / Depositphotos.com
Global fertilizer growth expected despite challenges
Operating costs keep getting higher while commodity prices fall at the same time. Rabobank says this combination has led to a squeeze on farmers' operating margins, which are now below the average of the past two years, making farmers more cautious about investing in their farms. "Despite these headwinds, the fert...
Apr 30, 2024
eutrophication&hypoxia / CC
Strong farmland demand remains
The agricultural economy has faced some challenges during the past year, with increased interest rates and decreased commodity prices. However, farmers are the eternal optimists. Farmers National Company reports that overall farmland demand remains extraordinarily strong and land values are holding steady in most areas...
Apr 30, 2024
CGP Grey / CC
Nine trade associations ask EPA to meet November deadline for 2026 RFS volumes
Today, nine trade associations representing feedstock providers, advanced biofuel producers, and low-carbon fuel customers wrote to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, urging the agency to propose and finalize robust 2026 Renewable Fuel Standard volumes by this November's statutory deadline. The letter highlights the dram...
Apr 29, 2024
Heidi Heitkamp
National Milk Producers statement on new federal travel and test order that begins today
From President & CEO Gregg Doud: "The crossover of this H5N1 virus from birds to dairy cattle has presented some extraordinary challenges to animal and human health regulators in Washington. Throughout my regular contact with Secretary Vilsack, Undersecretary Moffitt, and officials from FDA and other agencies ...
Apr 29, 2024
NCBA statement on final traceability rule
National Cattlemen's Beef Association President Mark Eisele, a Wyoming rancher, reacted to USDA's final animal traceability rule. USDA's final traceability rule updates the existing requirement for animal identification that has been in place since 2013, switching from solely visual tags that are both electronically an...
Apr 29, 2024
SAF climate model could come on Tuesday
The University of Illinois Farm Policy News says the Biden administration is expected to release a climate model for its sustainable aviation fuel subsidy program on Tuesday. The rule will dictate how ethanol producers can use climate-smart agriculture to qualify for tax credits in the production of SAF. The ethanol in...
Apr 29, 2024
Tony Webster / CC
Colombia restricts U.S. beef imports due to HPAI
Colombia has become the first country to restrict U.S. beef imports due to HPAI infections in dairy cattle. The U.S. Meat Export Federation says there is "no scientific basis" for the restrictions. "Columbia is the only country that has officially restricted imports of U.S. beef," the organization s...
Apr 29, 2024
Farm Watch / CC
Texas Ag Commissioner expresses gratitude to other states for wildfire recovery efforts
As Texans recover from the devastating Texas Panhandle wildfires, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) extend their heartfelt appreciation to the agency's valued counterparts in state agriculture departments nationwide. Departments in states such as Alabama, Iowa, and ...
Apr 26, 2024