Results from USDA’s highly anticipated “2022 Census of Agriculture” show the trends of fewer farms and farmland, aging farmers, and climbing expenses remain intact.  In 2022, a little over 3.37 million producers operated 1.90 million farms covering 880.1 million acres. That compares to just under 3.40 million producers on 2.04 million farms and more than …

Census of Agriculture Shows Continuing Decline in Farms and Acreage Read More »

After two decades of cautiously tiptoeing around the commercial adoption of genetically modified crops, China recently seems to have done a complete 180. The country has been revving up its approvals of new GM crop varieties and pushing farmers to adopt the seed technology, marking one of the Chinese government’s most significant steps in recent …

China is Suddenly Speeding Ahead on GM Crop Adoption Read More »

The start of the new year officially marked the start of big changes for the pork industry with California’s controversial “Proposition 12” going into effect. That means pork producers that want to sell their products in the state must comply with its larger animal housing requirements. So far, industry stakeholders have mixed opinions on the …

Uncertainty Clouds Pork Market After California’s Proposition 12 Takes Effect Read More »

Milton Hershey can thank his mother Fanny for stepping up to the plate to raise him after she left his father following years of his repeated failures as he searched for the “next big thing.” With Hershey’s upbringing left in the hands of his mother, the strict Fanny instilled in her son an appreciation for …

From High School Dropout to “Candy Kisses”… How Millions Were Made! Read More »

Fungal infections pose a significant and increasing risk to global food security, according to a recent warning by scientists in the journal Nature. Worldwide, producers lose between 10% and 23% of their crops to fungal infection each year, despite the widespread use of antifungals. An additional 10%-20% is lost post-harvest. Scientists predict those figures will …

World Food Supply at Risk from Expanding Fungal Infections Read More »

Home gardeners have a new tomato variety available this year that is sure to stand out, named simply the “Purple Tomato.” The name gives away what makes the new fruit from Norfolk Plant Sciences so special. Purple Tomatoes are indeed purple, through and through, and this year,  it became the first genetically modified food crop …

Can a Purple Tomato Change Consumer Minds About GMOs? Read More »

Fat may be a four-letter-word in dieting circles but it’s all the rage in the diary industry. Average milkfat above 4% has become the new normal in recent years and increasing demand could push levels even higher than today’s record levels. The fat found in milk, known as “butterfat,” is what gives dairy products their …

“Fat” is All the Rage in US Dairy Industry Read More »

US soybeans and products added +$39.8 billion to the US economy in marketing year (MY) 22/23, according to the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC). That includes the “shining star” of the soybean complex, soybean meal, which set new records for both volume and value. Despite persistent global challenges in 22/23, USSEC says the volume of …

U.S. Soy Exports Add Billions to US Economy Read More »

Americans are expected to eat 1.45 billion chicken wings and drumsticks during  Super Bowl LVIII this Sunday, according to the National Chicken Council (NCC). To provide some reference, 1.45 billion wings is enough for every man, woman, and child in the United States to eat four wings each, or enough to put 693 wings on every …

Americans Love Their Chicken Wings Read More »

Agriculture’s war against weeds is not going great. For decades, herbicides like glyphosate were a farmer’s best friend, keeping fields weed-free and crop yields high. However, over time, some weeds developed genetic mutations that allowed them to survive even heavy herbicide applications. These survivors thrived, reproducing and spreading their resistant genes, creating a new generation …

Agriculture is Losing the Fight Against Weeds Read More »