USDA offers online payment tool for farm loan borrowers

The new online option will give farmers and ranchers an alternative to making payments by phone, mail or visits to a USDA office.

By James Pothen • Feb. 7, 2024

Tyson signals ‘bold actions’ are working amid beef headwinds

After several plant closures last year, more cost-cutting could be on the horizon as the CEO says “everything remains on the table.”

By Nathan Owens • Feb. 6, 2024

Hormel Foods names new supply chain executive

Steve Lykken will take over as group vice president of supply chain, replacing the retiring Mark Coffey.

By Alejandra Carranza • Feb. 6, 2024

Cargill lays off more than 100 workers from Nashville meat plant

The Minnesota-based company says it will relocate some production to Nebraska and Texas as it optimizes its manufacturing footprint.

By Nathan Owens • Feb. 1, 2024

Agriculture outlook 2024: What to expect in the year ahead

As the sector anxiously awaits a farm bill, producers are expected to take advantage of new opportunities in renewable energy and regenerative agriculture.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Jan. 31, 2024

Bird flu roils poultry industry, raising concern over egg prices ahead of Easter

More than 2 million birds were killed in California over the last month as producers across the globe struggle once again to control the rapid spread of the virus.

By Nathan Owens • Jan. 31, 2024

Covenant Logistics to double size of poultry trucking fleet in 2024

The parent company of Lew Thompson is bullish on the poultry hauling business, even after a challenging winter.

By Colin Campbell • Jan. 30, 2024

Bridging the divide between food companies’ wants and farmers’ needs

Driven by the urgency to be more environmentally responsible, businesses sometimes fail to fully grasp the multi-faceted challenges faced by suppliers. Here’s how to get everyone on the same page.

By Ofir Ardon • Jan. 30, 2024

USDA remote beef-grading pilot uses smartphones to assess quality

The new program reduces costs and location barriers for small, independent processors and ranchers.

By Nathan Owens • Jan. 26, 2024

Tyson opens $355M high-tech bacon plant in Kentucky

The 400,000 square-foot facility has autonomous, box-stacking robots and driverless forklifts to help eliminate “ergonomically stressful tasks,” the meat giant said.

By Nathan Owens • Jan. 25, 2024

Autonomous tractors, robot milkers: How AI is transforming the future of farm tech

Artificial intelligence stands to revolutionize agriculture by opening new pathways for the industry to optimize production and address climate change.

By Tasmiha Khan, Iman Adem and Sarah Zimmerman • Jan. 24, 2024

Israel approves world’s first sale of cultivated beef

Aleph Farms said its steaks are a sustainable alternative to conventional cattle farming.

By Elizabeth Flood • Jan. 22, 2024

Food producers brace for another round of arctic chills

Tyson Foods, Cargill and Sanderson Farms paused meat production at several locations last week due to inclement weather.

By Nathan Owens • Updated Jan. 19, 2024

US, UK lawmakers urge SEC to scrutinize JBS listing

The global meatpacker's ties to deforestation and its history of misleading investors are cause for concern, critics say.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Jan. 18, 2024

Pork exports reach highest value since mid-2021

Beef and lamb, however, have trended downward as demand from key markets weakens.

By Nathan Owens • Jan. 12, 2024

Poultry farmers sue Tyson after Missouri plant closes

Plaintiffs say they invested millions of dollars in their operations after the company misled them to believe the facility would remain open.

By Nathan Owens • Jan. 11, 2024

Controversial Prop 12 rule takes full effect in the new year

Pork products sold in California must adhere to regulations that prohibit the use of swine gestation crates as of Jan. 1, 2024.

By Nathan Owens • Jan. 4, 2024

Agriculture’s year in review: The biggest stories of 2023

A farm bill extension and an economic downturn came just as the industry began an expensive transformation to adapt and mitigate climate change. 

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 21, 2023

Don’t fall for the meat industry’s COP out

Meat and dairy industry representatives made a big show at COP28 claiming that they want to be a part of the solution to combat climate change, but some see it as just greenwashing.

By Gene Baur • Dec. 20, 2023

Perdue taps former Tyson exec to lead supply chain in newly created role

Gregg Uecker will oversee every aspect of operations as poultry processors ramp up cost savings plans.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 20, 2023

USDA pressured to delay poultry competition rule

Lawmakers say more time is needed to comply with changes made under the Packers and Stockyards Act, which could affect tens of thousands of chicken contracts. 

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 19, 2023

US allows beef imports from Paraguay despite pushback from ranchers

Livestock producers are looking to overturn the rule, warning of potential food safety and trade risks. 

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 19, 2023

DOL shifts to a per-violation penalty for certain child labor infractions

The move is yet another enforcement change in a year where federal regulators levied high-profile penalties against child labor law violators in meatpacking and other industries.

By Ryan Golden • Dec. 15, 2023

UFCW throws support behind proposed grant program protecting farm and food workers

The Grocery, Farm, and Food Worker Stabilization Act would help cover “disaster-related costs” for workers across the supply chain, including those in grocery and meatpacking.

By Peyton Bigora • Dec. 14, 2023

Court approves Cargill’s $2.4M settlement of ransomware outage wage claims

Employees alleged that the Kronos Private Cloud cyberattack resulted in unpaid wages and overtime, among other damages.

By Ryan Golden • Dec. 12, 2023