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A recent court ruling is increasing the heat on price-fixing lawsuits against major meat-packers. A federal judge ruled Tyson Foods, JBS USA, Smithfield Foods, Seaboard Foods, and others will have to face lawsuits accusing them of conspiracy to fix prices and limit supplies.   ICYMI: In 2018, retail companies sued the meat-packers for fixing pork prices while “systematically controlling their output.” The lawsuit claimed the conspiracy went on for at least a decade.

The Trump Administration’s bird flu response is ruffling feathers with House Democrats. What’s crack-a-lackin’: The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating Secretary of Health and Human Services RFK Jr. after his recent remarks about bird flu.   Talk to the flock: In a letter to Secretary Kennedy, the Committee expressed concern over his suggestion to allow avian influenza to “run through the flock,” so birds with immunity can be identified an

Scary, but true: Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins just admitted the USDA doesn’t really know how farmers will be impacted by Trump’s latest tariffs. Soundbite: “In fact, it may be months before we really know, especially in the row crops. They are being planted right now.” — Rollins Sound off: The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) said the tariffs threaten farmers’ competitiveness and could erode market share and lead to long-term damage.

Ready, set, grow: It’s no secret that farmers and plant fanatics must keep a close eye on their jolly green friends to keep them healthy. But oftentimes, plant SOS signals appear when it’s too late to help them. Now, researchers have developed patch-style sensors to detect plants’ stress levels before they wilt or wither.

Oh the FTC won’t let Deere be, and Deere says let me be me, and then we’ll see… A little Slim Shady for your Friday as Deere casts shade at the FTC in the ongoing “Right to Repair” lawsuit. Denied! In a 49-page court filing submitted March 17, “Deere denies nearly every substantive allegation in the FTC’s amended complaint and asserts a series of affirmative defenses.”

You know those times you’ve said something you regret and you’re lying in bed several years later, still thinking about the scenario that made you put your foot in your mouth? A handful of countries in Europe are staring at the ceiling in disbelief with their first cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in decades. It wasn’t what you said, it was what you did: This bout of FMD started in Germany, with its first case in 30 years (found in water buffalo).

When agricultural spray droplets hit leaves, they tend to bounce—literally. A new solution from MIT and spinoff AgZen helps droplets stick around on leaves, which could slice into waste and environmental impact. How it works: Out of the nozzle, each droplet is coated in a super thin layer of oily material. When the droplets land on water-repellent surfaces (read: plant leaves), they spread out and stay put instead of bouncing off-target.

Proposed shipping fees could hurt agricultural exports as the ag economy struggles to stay afloat. Freight fight: The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed new fees on Chinese-affiliated ocean carriers to counter China's dominance in global shipping. A new report commissioned by more than 30 industry groups concluded U.S. agriculture could feel the brunt of those fees.

“It smells like money!” If you grew up in agriculture, we don’t have to explain this timeless phrase to you.   But “it smells like PFAS” is probably a new one for you.    ICYMI: Sewage sludge (yes, we’re talking about human sewage sludge) has been used as a fertilizer in various parts of the nation for more than 20 years.

Grain exports are back in (the) Black… Sea—maybe. Renewed talks between the U.S. and Russia could revive the old Black Sea Grain Initiative. Reviving the deal is a part of recent negotiations for a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Rollback: The original deal was signed in the summer of 2022 after a five-month blockade inhibited Ukraine’s ability to export grain, following Russia’s invasion of the country’s eastern border. 

Like Arby’s said… “we have the meats.” Or, errrrr, we at least have a positive update that meat sales are higher than ever. How high? In 2024, Americans spent $104.6B on meat, with pounds sold rising by 2.3%. This is according to this month’s Power of Meat report, which was released at the Annual Meat Conference hosted by the Meat Institute and the Food Industry Association (FMI).

“In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, I am the very model of a modern Major-General.” — the musical “Pirates of Penzance,” but also President Trump. We gotta get that P: Mineral-speaking, Trump wants to boost domestic production of several minerals, but the one we’re focusing on is potash, an important fertilizer for farmers in the U.S. Most of the potash used in the U.S. (more than90%) is imported (a lot of that from our friends in Canada… *pending tariffs, h

Researchers just ID’d potential protection against the most common virus in agriculture and horticulture. More than just cukes: Despite the name, cucumber mosaic virus is a bad deal for more than 1,200 plant species. It arrives via aphid, creates a mosaic pattern on the plant’s leaves, and leaves the rest of the plant to suffer.

The United States and Mexico are having a water fight, but there’s nothing fun about it. Last week, the U.S. denied Mexico’s water delivery request from the Colorado River. This is the first time the U.S. refused to fulfill a request since entering a water agreement eight decades ago.

Some egg-citing news as we enter spring: A bipartisan bill is on the table to lower egg prices for consumers. Tell us more: The legislation, as proposed by the House, would cut the red tape that forces farmers to dispose of millions of eggs each year. Smashing eggs is the law: Eggs are required to be refrigerated within 36 hours of being laid.

U.S. pig and poultry processing speed could get a whole lot faster. Breaking barriers: The Trump administration announced plans to speed up poultry and hog slaughter permanently. The USDA will start a process that allows for faster processing speeds. Under the new rule, poultry plants with a waiver can process up to 175 birds per minute, compared to 140.

If we asked a Magic 8 Ball about glyphosate and other farm chemicals, the response would probably be something like “Future is hazy, try again.” Between litigation trying to ban glyphosate, one of the most popular herbicides in the nation, and RFK Jr. (a staunch opponent of glyphosate and other chemicals) sitting on Trump’s team, it’s no wonder the future is a bit murky for these crop protection methods. But a new bill in Tennessee is trying to change all that.

Happy (belated) National Ag Day: here’s $10B. On Tuesday, USDA announced the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for farmers with a $10B price tag. MUSTAAAAAAARD: The economic assistance is for growers of row crops like corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, rice, and more. The payment rates per acre depend on the crop but range from $84.74 for upland cotton to $11.36 for mustard.

A new bill in both the House and Senate has Congresspeople working across the aisle to bring the ag supply chain back home. The Securing...

China is on a mission… that is years in the making.  The country is working on reducing its reliance on grain and feed imports. And it...