The Agribusiness Update

AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST · aginfo.net

This news program gets cutting edge science, technology, corporate mergers and innovative farming activities out to today’s ag community. In addition the ag economy relies on breaking news on farm regulations and political announcements, information important to keeping our producers ahead of the game not only locally but on the world stage. Bob Larson is the newest member of the team. Bob grew up in Southeastern WA working in the fields as all rural kids do. He left the country life behind to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. He comes to us from the number one talk radio station in Seattle, KIRO, where Bob was the station’s news editor for eight years. This is a daily 2:30 minute program.

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Episodes 100

California Lettuce and Cyclospora and AFBF Urges Resume Talks with Canada
2d ago
California lettuce was not implicated in a sprawling cyclospora outbreak that’s sickened thousands of people this summer, and American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall is urging the U.S. and Canada to return to the negotiating table.
Southeast Pork Alliance and AFBF Urges Resume Talks with Canada
2d ago
During the Southeast Summer Conference in July, six state pork organizations announced the formation of the Southeast Pork Alliance, and American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall is urging the U.S. and Canada to return to the negotiating table.
California Farmers Urge USMCA Renewal and Canadian Tariff Exemptions
3d ago
California farmers, agribusiness leaders and state officials are urging the U.S., Mexico and Canada to extend and strengthen the USMCA, and the Agricultural Coalition for the USMCA is urging the Trump administration to exempt all products from new 50% tariffs on Canadian goods.
English EPA Appointment and USDA Beef Export Data Errors
4d ago
Florida Farm Bureau member Kate English has been appointed to the EPA’s Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee, and Democratic senators seeking answers from the USDA after a major error in U.S. beef export sales data.
Climate-Smart Farming Cuts and USDA Beef Export Data Errors
4d ago
Lynda Hopkins, of the California Air Resources Board, criticized anticipated cuts to state-funded programs that incentivize climate-smart farming practices, and Democratic senators seeking answers from the USDA after a major error in U.S. beef export sales data.
Canadians Pull Out of Talks and Argentinian Beef Imports
5d ago
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called steep new U.S. tariffs on $20 billion worth of his country’s goods “a miscalculation” after trade talks with Canada collapsed, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association criticized a social media post by President Trump regarding beef imports.
Canada Avoids Tariffs and Potato Sales Stable
6d ago
Canada has temporarily avoided a 50% U.S. tariff after reaching a last-minute agreement with the Trump administration, and retail potato sales remained stable during the 12-month period from July 2025 through June 2026.
More Tyson Closures and Produce Imports Impacting Domestic Production
9d ago
Tyson Foods will close two beef facilities and seek a buyer for a third, and U.S. fruit production has declined 32% and vegetable have fallen 10%, while fresh fruit and vegetable IMPORTS have each increased about 70%.
Alabama Farmers Conference and Produce Imports Impacting Domestic Production
9d ago
More than 700 Alabama farmers wandered on down to Mobile Bay for the Alabama Farmers Federation Farm & Land Conference, and U.S. fruit production has declined 32% and vegetable have fallen 10%, while fresh fruit and vegetable IMPORTS have each increased about 70%.
GFB Commodity Award and Summer Dessert Fruits
10d ago
Georgia Farm Bureau presented Representative Lynn Smith with its 2026 GFB Commodity Award, and the summer abundance of U.S.-grown produce makes it the perfect time to enjoy fruit pies and other desserts.
Sterile Fly Facility and Negotiating Canadian Tariffs
11d ago
USDA says a Texas facility designed to produce sterile flies for New World Screwworm control will open next spring, earlier than expected, and Canadian trade officials are meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer as both countries work to avoid new tariffs scheduled to take effect tonight.
Ag Tractor Sales Down and Wheat Harvest Update
12d ago
U.S. agricultural tractor sales dropped nearly 11% in July compared to last year, with combine sales down more than 5%, and Hard Red Winter wheat harvest is nearly complete, with less than 10% remaining, and the crop continues to grade U.S. No. 1.
Feral Swine Eradication and Klobuchar on Farm Bill
13d ago
The USDA has $35 million for partnerships to respond to the threat of feral swine to American agriculture, and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar says she’s committed to working with Senate Ag Chair John Boozman to advance a new Farm Bill.
NFU on Farm Bill Failure and Beef Export Value
16d ago
After the Senate Ag Committee failed to advance the farm bill, National Farmers Union President Rob Larew said farmers cannot afford more delay, and although volume of U.S. beef exports was down slightly in June, the value was up to $790 million.
Post Recess Farm Bill and Trade Deficit Decline
17d ago
Senate Ag Chair John Boozman says he will reconvene committee members in September to vote again on his farm bill package, and the U.S. trade deficit declined in June but remains only slightly below levels seen before President Trump’s second term.
Joint Ag Issues Summit and Cyclospora Investigation
18d ago
The annual Joint Ag Issues Summit will be held Aug. 20, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, and the International Fresh Produce Association is asking federal health officials to expand how they investigate Cyclospora outbreaks.
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and Cyclospora Investigation
18d ago
California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act could ultimately remove 500,000 to 1 million acres from production as farmers adapt to limited groundwater supplies, and the International Fresh Produce Association is asking federal health officials to expand how they investigate Cyclospora outbreaks.
Support Farmers Markets and Net Income Higher
19d ago
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins is encouraging Americans to continue supporting local producers following National Farmers Market Week, and the Farm Credit System reports net income of $2.2 billion for the second quarter, up from $1.9 billion during the same period last year.
California Cling Peach Harvest and Senate Farm Bill Fails to Pass
20d ago
Harvest is expected to conclude soon for California cling peaches, which are used for canning, and the Senate Ag Committee failed to advance its Farm Bill Thursday after Democrats rejected the Republican proposal.
South Carolina State Fair Hiring and Senate Farm Bill Fails to Pass
20d ago
The South Carolina State Fair is now hiring for this year’s fair, taking place Oct. 15-25, and the Senate Ag Committee failed to advance its Farm Bill Thursday after Democrats rejected the Republican proposal.
Adoption of High-Tech Sprayers and Farmland Values Climb
23d ago
An increasing number of California specialty crop farmers are minimizing labor and chemical costs through the adoption of high-tech herbicide sprayers, and the average value of U.S. cropland has climbed above $6,000 an acre for the first time.
Discover Dairy Adopt a Cow and Farmland Values Climb
23d ago
The Dairy Alliance is proud to again support the Discover Dairy Adopt a Cow program for the 2026–27 school year, and the average value of U.S. cropland has climbed above $6,000 an acre for the first time.
AFBF on Farm Bill Markup and Farmers Spend More on Diesel
25d ago
The American Farm Bureau Federation welcomed the release of Senate farm bill text and a scheduled markup by the Senate Ag Committee, and a new study found U.S. farmers spent $1.4 billion MORE on diesel fuel during the 2025–26 planting season than they did last season.
Senate Farm Bill Markup and U.S.-Mexico Dairy Summit
26d ago
and dairy leaders from the U.S. and Mexico concluded the 2026 U.S.-Mexico Binational Dairy Summit last week, reaffirming shared priorities on trade.
Drone Rules Change and USDA Reorganization Criticized
27d ago
Advocacy groups urge FAA to reject a proposal that would allow large livestock operations and slaughterhouses to restrict drone flights over their facilities, and Senate Ag Democrats warn a proposed reorganization of USDA’s Rural Development area could limit access to critical programs.