The Latest

• 

  Ranchers will soon need to beef up traceability with electronic cattle ID tags

  The new rule, which has taken on more importance amid the spread of bird flu in dairy cows, is set to take effect in early November. But farmers are raising concerns.

  Meat

• 

  Wayne-Sanderson Farms names new CEO

  Chief Operating Officer Kevin McDaniel will lead the third largest poultry producer in the U.S. following the retirement of Clint Rivers next year. 

  Meat

• 

  Candy producers using less chocolate this Halloween amid record cocoa prices: Wells Fargo

  Hershey and other big chocolate producers are turning to gummies and other candy to offset supply issues with the crop.

  Crops

• 

  Deere under FTC investigation over farms’ right to repair equipment

  A probe into whether the tractor giant violated consumer protection law comes as farmers say they have little choice but to overpay for dealer repairs. 

  Technology

• 

  Hurricane Milton caused up to $2.5B in Florida farm damage

  The storm ravaged infrastructure and flooded the state's orange crops, with some growers expecting tree death.

  Crops

• 

  Food waste responsible for 14% of US methane emissions: ReFED

  The report, produced with Global Methane Hub, identifies the top emission reduction solutions both upstream and downstream of consumers.

  Sustainability

• 

  Q&A

  The regenerative ag revolution starts with women: Q&A with Stephanie Anderson

  In her new book, Anderson, a former farmer turned creative writing professor, talks to women across the U.S. who are leading the movement to transform the food system.

  Crops

• 

  Column

  Agtech seedlings: US lawmakers propose tax credits for agtech investments

  Also in this week's farm technology news: A former Monsanto exec is named the CEO of Freight Farms, and fruit breeding company Bloom Fresh adds blueberries to its portfolio.

  Crops

• 

  Deep Dive

  Driving automation on the farm: Self-driving tractors look to fill agriculture’s labor shortage

  John Deere and startup Agtonomy are introducing new ways to bring artificial intelligence to the field, with execs saying the technology holds the potential to open new job pathways for the next generation of farmers.

  Crops

• 

  Deere lays off more workers in Iowa, Illinois as farm slump hits sales

  The tractor manufacturer said the move is due to declining demand and unrelated to plans to shift some production to Mexico.

  Technology

• 

  Hershey invests $500M to improve cocoa farming struggles

  The confectionery giant is working with cooperatives in Côte d’Ivoire to partner with growers as a way to standardize cocoa cultivation and lift profits.

  Crops

• 

  Organic crop farming faces shrinking profits

  A recent study shows that average net returns for organic commodity crops has plummeted to the lowest ever recorded.

  Crops

• 

  More snacks to include fruit and vegetable ingredients: report

  As consumers' eating habits evolve, so has the way food manufacturers think about ingredients and their placement in products.

  Crops

• 

  Chicken processor recalls nearly 12M pounds of meat over listeria concerns

  BrucePac, a producer of precooked meat and poultry, has recalled hundreds of ready-to-eat food items available in grocery stores, schools and restaurants.

  Meat

• 

  Pecan farmers suffer devastating blow from Hurricane Helene

  The recent storm shows why farmers and manufacturers need to be proactive for the next disaster, according to the CEO of pecan milk brand PKN.

  Crops

• 

  Understanding EPA’s new rules protecting farmworkers from pesticide exposure

  Changes controversially expand the boundaries for “application exclusion zones” to include areas outside the farm.

  Crops

• 

  Fresh Del Monte boosts regenerative agriculture 11% across farms

  The produce giant said it's met a number of sustainability targets ahead of a 2030 deadline and also introduced new goals to improve human rights in agriculture.

  Crops

• 

  Clemens Food Group to close Pennsylvania pork plant

  The closure affects a plant acquired from Kunzler & Co. with production set to be moved to another facility in the state.  

  Meat

• 

  US farms on track to harvest record corn and soybean crops

  Latest production estimates from USDA contribute to expectations of sharp profit declines for growers. 

  Crops

• 

  Cal-Maine plans $40M investment to expand cage-free egg production

  The U.S.' largest egg producer also said it's working with growers to add more free-range hens as it converts a former Tyson facility in Missouri.

  Meat

• 

  From a small apple farm to a $54M cider business: Charting the rise of Blake’s Hard Cider

  A third-generation farmer has grown his family’s Michigan orchard into a multi-million dollar operation with a national footprint.

  Crops

• 

  Helene damage to Georgia agriculture tops $6B in preliminary estimate

  "The future is uncertain for thousands of Georgia farmers," the state's agriculture commissioner said, with poultry growers and pecan farmers facing years of recovery from widespread destruction.

  Crops

• 

  Mormon Church pays $289M for dozens of US farms

  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' real estate arm is acquiring more than 41,000 acres of land with the intention of leasing it to farmers. 

  Crops

• 

  Moldy motel rooms, unlicensed drivers: Farm banned from H-2A program after labor violations

  Harvest Plus LLC is paying more than $250,000 in fines after the Department of Labor said the company illegally withheld wages and transported temporary farmworkers in “dilapidated” vehicles.

  Regulations

• 

  Column

  Agtech Seedlings: Deere launches dairy sustainability tool with DeLaval

  Also in this week's farm technology news: Cibo Technologies partners with Scoular to prepare for biofuel tax credits, and AcreShield raises $2.5 million to help farmers with seed selection.

  Crops

More stories