The Latest
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Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
Trump freeze on federal grants and loans sparks confusion in agriculture
The Office of Management and Budget said aid to farmers won’t be affected, but listed dozens of USDA programs to be reviewed for “Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies.”
Updated Jan. 29, 2025 -
Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
Zeldin is confirmed as the new EPA administrator. What’s next?
Agriculture groups welcomed the former New York representative’s approach to deregulation and his support for extending year-round access to E15.
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Matt Cardy via Getty Images
US detects rare bird flu strain H5N9 in poultry for first time
The finding at a California duck farm is raising alarms among public health experts that bird flu could further mutate into “unpredictable new viruses.”
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Wolterk via Getty Images
Smithfield falls short of expectations in muted IPO
The public offering came in at $522 million, although the pork producer had anticipated more than $900 million.
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Courtesy of Agco Corp
Deere loses appeal against Agco in patent dispute over precision planting technology
A federal court upheld a ruling that Agco’s SpeedTube seed delivery system did not infringe upon Deere’s intellectual property.
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Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Egg prices could break more records in 2025
The USDA is expecting consumer costs to rise another 20% this year as bird flu devastates commercial flocks.
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Permission granted by Corn Next
Lend an ear: Corn-based material introduced for biodegradable packaging
Corn Next believes it has cracked the corn code for more sustainable packaging and is eyeing a move to Illinois to be closer to supplier ADM.
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evandrorigon via Getty Images
Investment in agtech startups plummeted in 2024
Deal activity fell 25% during the year with a string of companies declaring bankruptcy, but Pitchbook analysts say a rebound could still happen.
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Martynasfoto via Getty Images
USDA slow to update food safety standards for meat and poultry, watchdog finds
The U.S. Government Accountability Office recommended action on dormant pathogen standards and better collaboration within the USDA’s outbreak investigation activities.
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ZeynepKaya via Getty Images
How new food traceability requirements will impact the grocery industry
Retailers have less than a year to get their supply chains ready, yet challenges and confusion remain.
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Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
Trump’s agriculture secretary nominee lays out ‘day one’ priorities for USDA
Brooke Rollins presented her vision to "modernize" the department and sided with the president on controversial issues like immigration and tariffs.
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Getty via Getty Images
Agtech Seedlings: CH4 Global to expand methane-reducing cattle feed with Mitsubishi
Also in this week’s farm technology news: Deere & Co. will partner with six agtech startups in 2025, and Google makes two biochar carbon credit deals.
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Courtesy of Lew Thompson & Son Trucking
Covenant pays poultry carrier another multimillion-dollar performance award
The $100 million acquisition of Lew Thompson & Sons Trucking in 2023 included up to $30 million in earnouts.
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Michael DeMocker via Getty Images
How a rare southern snowstorm could bring risks to farms
Experts warn citrus and livestock farmers in states like Texas, Georgia and Alabama will need to take precautions to protect their operations.
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Courtesy of LaBonne's Markets
Why an independent grocer is holding the line on egg prices
Connecticut supermarket chain LaBonne’s Markets sees the ongoing egg shortage as an opportunity to demonstrate to shoppers that it is focused on helping them afford groceries, CEO Bob LaBonne Jr. said.
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Drew Angerer / Staff via Getty Images
Perdue Farms to shutter Tennessee chicken plant
The company is set to close the Monterey facility at the end of March, eliminating 433 jobs.
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Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
Trump threatens 10% tariff on China
The president said duties could go into effect Feb. 1, the same day as potential 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada.
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Courtesy of LanzaJet
USDA releases guidance on climate-smart crops in biofuels
The interim rule gives insight into how farmers can access renewable fuel tax credits, though a Trump administration freeze on recent federal regulations is creating more uncertainty.
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The image by Tony Webster is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Smithfield Foods eyes $10.7B valuation in IPO
The company said it plans to raise up to $939.6 million through its shareholder offering.
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Matthew Stockman via Getty Images
Cargill reaches $32M settlement in turkey price-fixing lawsuit
Tyson Foods previously agreed to pay $4.62 million in the case, which accuses meatpackers of colluding to drive up consumer prices.
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Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
Trump says 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada to take effect Feb. 1
The president on his first day of office also directed federal agencies to review trade pacts with China.
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Getty Images via Getty Images
Foreign ownership of US farmland continues to rise, but Chinese holdings dip
As renewable energy projects drive foreign land investments, acreage owned by China has declined 27% between 2022 and 2023, according to the USDA’s latest report.
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David Becker via Getty Images
Deere sued by FTC over farmers’ right to repair equipment
The tractor giant is accused of holding a monopoly over its repair services, forcing customers to pay more at dealerships to fix equipment.
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Courtesy of Windfall Bio
ColumnAgtech seedlings: Amazon-backed Windfall Bio hits commercial milestone for methane-eating microbes
Also in this week's farm technology news: Syngenta to speed up biostimulant development with AI, and Pilgrim's Pride expands its renewable gas efforts at a South Carolina plant.
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Courtesy of C.H. Guenther & Son
Hormel Foods CEO to retire
The departure of James Snee, who took over the top post in 2016, is the third leader from a major food company to announce they are leaving since December.
