U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is making domestic fertilizer production investments in nine states to increase competition, lower fertilizer costs for American farmers and lower food costs for U.S. consumers.
Farm Bureau farmer and rancher members play an important role in our communities and our organization by serving on governing boards and committees at local, state and national levels. Several newly appointed volunteers will provide leadership beginning in 2025 as members of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Promotion & Education and Young Farmers & Ranchers committees.
Total sales of aquaculture products in 2023 were $1.9 billion, an increase of 26 percent from 2018, according to the 2023 Census of Aquaculture released by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. In 2023, there were 3,453 aquaculture farms with sales in the United States, up 18 percent from 2018. Five states – Mississippi, Washington, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama – accounted for 55 percent of aquaculture sales and 49 percent of aquaculture farms in 2023. Food fish and mollusks were the largest product categories for sales, with catfish and oysters the top species.
The House Republican Steering Committee has selected the Republican members who will serve on the House Committee on Agriculture for the 119th Congress. The House Steering Committee is responsible for recommending Members to serve on standing Committees in the House of Representatives. The recommendations are subject to approval by the House Republican Conference.
The American Royal Association has received a grant for $20,000 from Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S. The grant will be used to support the American Royal K-12 agricultural education programming in 2025.
A Michigan State University agricultural economist has been awarded a $650,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) to evaluate labor challenges affecting the U.S. food supply chain and identify potential policy options to alleviate them. Zach Rutledge, an assistant professor in the MSU Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, has studied issues relating to labor scarcity in the agricultural sector over the past several years.
Learn about the latest in agronomic practices, market outlooks and regulatory updates at Soybean Summit 2025. Take advantage of this expanded, two-day event in person for actionable and practical production insights that will help maximize your return on investment, introduce you to global and domestic market opportunities, and engage your input on sound policies designed to protect your freedom to farm.
Producers can improve the bottom-line of their farming operation with knowledge, connections and information gained at the 48th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference, held at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center, Jan. 16, 2025. The show hours will be 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Peanut farmers and those involved in the peanut industry will be able to learn more about the latest products, services and peanut research at the show, which is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission.
