Montana Farmers Union Member Testifies Importance of Credit and Risk Management to Family Farmers

Montana Farmers Union member John Wicks Wednesday testified in front of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management and Credit, to detail the impo...

Nebraska Files Likely Billion Dollar Suit v. Colorado over water

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a statement he anticipates the court battle will cost over a billion dollars and, he said, no one in either state will be better off.

Murnin Departs WLJ and joins Livestock Marketing Assn.

He’s new to LMA, but Billings, Montana’s Devin Murnin is no stranger to the cattle business. Raised on a commercial operation, he began as a USDA markets reporter before joining the Western Livestock...

Corn Grower Leaders Call on Trump to Intervene with MAHA Commission

The president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and farmer leaders from 19 state-based corn grower groups sent a letter to President Trump today asking him to intervene as the Make Ameri...

USDA’s Grassland Conservation Reserve Program Signup Now Open

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can now enroll in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP). The sign-up run...

Farm Bureau Extends Deadline for Top Dog Honors

Farmers have until July 25 to submit nominations for the 2026 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, which comes with cash prizes and bragging rights. This is the eighth year of the contest, suppor...

Judge Denies Access to John Deere Database in Right-to-Repair Lawsuits

A John Deere database will not be made available to the Federal Trade Commission, five states and a group of farmer plaintiffs in ongoing antitrust right-to-repair lawsuits, as a federal judge denied...

Fifth-Generation Western Colorado Farmer Joseph Bernal Elected to American AgCredit Board

The farmers and ranchers who own American AgCredit elected Joseph Bernal to the cooperative’s board of directors. Bernal, who operates a corn, wheat, and alfalfa farm, and partners with his son and ne...

New Marketing Report Reveals Positive Insights for American Lamb Amidst Stagnant Q1 Growth

The Q1 2025 U.S. Quarterly Lamb Report conducted by Midan Marketing shows many positive trends for American Lamb despite relatively flat numbers. The report compares lamb sales from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025...

Risk, Retention & Record Prices: 2025 Cattle Market

July 13, 2025 - In the latest installment of the LaneCast Ag podcast, Lane Nordlund checks in with Don Close of Terrain at the Cattle Industry Summer Meeting in San Diego. They discuss soaring cattle...

New CPW appointees drawing criticism

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced a slew of appointments to the states boards and commissions, including Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Frances Silva Blayney of Colorado Springs and Dr. John Emerick...

National Wheat Foundation Names Anne Osborne as Executive Director

The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Anne Osborne as Executive Director, effective July 1, 2025. Osborne has served as the Foundation’s Proj...

Screwworm Threat Forces USDA to Act—Ports Closed Again

July 9, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has once again closed southern ports of entry to cattle shipments following the detection of New World screwworm in northern Veracruz, Mexico....

USDA Announces $16 Billion in Disaster Assistance for Farmers and Ranchers

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced today that agricultural producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can now apply for $16 billion in...

Trump Administration Unveils Plan to Ban Chinese Ownership of U.S. Farmland and Agriculture

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins led a team of other Cabinet officials, Republican governors and members of Congress at USDA's headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to announce a new "Natio...

Trump Administration Kicks Off Great American State Fair in Celebration of America’s 250th Birthday

The Great American State Fair will travel across the country, bringing America 250 programing to existing state and county fairs and will culminate with a festival on the National Mall on July 4, 2026...

Beef Raised by Michigan Cattleman Served at White House 4th of July Celebration

Michigan cattle producer and former Michigan Cattlemen’s Association board member Don Nevill raised some of the high-quality beef that was served to the White House’s guests, a guest list that include...

Wins and Losses for Rural America in 'One Big Beautiful Bill'

Farmers are among the biggest winners in the "One Big Beautiful Bill" that is now headed to President Donald Trump's desk after the House passed the bill early Thursday. However, Lower income people w...

Summer Brings Raised Pinkeye Concerns in Cowherds

While grazing summer pasture is generally celebrated among cattle producers, this time of year also comes with a greater incidence of pinkeye in cattle as the summer progresses. While treatment succe...

Farmers Applaud Trump Administration's Decision to Protect Lower Snake River Dams

Farmers across the Pacific Northwest are applauding the Trump administration's recent memorandum protecting the Lower Snake River dams. Washington farmer and Washington Association of Wheat Growers pa...

Colorado Wolf Program $2.2 million over budget in FY24

The Blue Book, the voter information booklet sent to voters prior to the narrow passage of Proposition 114, which began the release of gray wolves into Western Colorado, indicated the wolf program wou...

Livestock Movement Resumes at U.S.-Mexico Border

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin phased, risk-based reopening of select southern border ports...

Montana State Winifred Asbjornson Plant Sciences Chair Filled

Great Falls, MT – The Montana Wheat & Barley Committee (MWBC), Montana Grains Foundation (MGF) and Montana Grain Growers Association (MGGA) trumpeted big news today with the long-awaited filling of th...

Max Cederberg Wraps Up Service to Montana Grain Industry

Great Falls, MT – Max Cederberg of Turner, MT is completing his time with the Montana Wheat & Barley Committee (MWBC) following six years of service, but he’s also retiring from farming. “What a life...

Corn, Soybean, Wheat Acreage Adjusted

June 30, 2025 - Farmers planted 95.2 million acres of corn and 83.4 million acres of soybeans in spring of 2025, USDA said, slight adjustments from March that were within the range of pre-report estim...

U.S. Grains Council Participates in Rail Transport Logistics Roundtable in Mexico

U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Vice President Cary Sifferath recently traveled to Mexico City to join USGC Director in Mexico Heidi Bringenberg at a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) roundtable event...

Cattle Producers Join President Trump to Push for Tax Relief

On Thursday, farmers and ranchers affiliated with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) joined President Donald J. Trump at the White House for an event urging Congress to pass the “One Big...

Cost of Summer Cookout Nearly Unchanged from 2024

Families celebrating the Fourth of July holiday continue to find high prices at the grocery store, based on the 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation annual marketbasket survey. An Independence Day coo...

New Canola Variety Targets Heat Stress

June 24, 2025 - Farmers, agribusiness leaders, and rural advocates gathered in Great Falls for the launch of BASF’s newest canola innovation—InVigor® Gold, a yellow-seeded canola hybrid tailored for t...

Gordon: wind leases a nod to property rights and economic development

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon said his vote approving potential wind development on state land in Niobrara and Converse Counties isn’t a slight to the state’s other industries, but a nod to private pro...

Is the Cattle Market Bulletproof?

June 22, 2025 - On the latest episode of the LaneCast Ag Podcast, ag economist Dr. Derrell Peel of Oklahoma State University joins the show to break down the key market forces shaping the U.S. cattle...

Trump Administration Plans to Finalize New WOTUS Definition Rule by End of 2025

Public listening sessions on the future of the waters of the U.S. rule have wrapped up and the Trump administration this week said it plans to have the rule completed by the end of the year. Throughou...

USDA Invests $8.5 Million in Texas Sterile Fly Facility to Combat Screwworm Threat at Southern Border

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Wednesday, that a U.S.-based sterile fly dispersal facility will be built at the Moore Airfield Base in South Texas to help combat the spread of...

ICE Immigration Raids on Farms Will Resume Despite Trump's Take on Ag Labor

Despite comments from President Donald Trump to back off immigration raids on farms, the Department of Homeland Security told Immigration and Customs Enforcement leaders of its 30 field agencies on Mo...

Corn Belt Classic 2025

June 18, 2025 - Lane Nordlund checks in with auctioneer Kyle Shobe, who’s on the block during the Superior Livestock Auction Corn Belt Classic.

Wheat Growers Applaud President Trump’s Memorandum to Protect the Lower Snake River Dams

The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) applauds President Donald J. Trump’s recent Presidential Memorandum revoking the Biden Administration’s memorandum titled “Restoring Healthy and Abunda...

Final Report: Cattle Grazing Aids Sage Grouse, Doesn’t Harm Populations

June 16, 2025 - The University of Idaho released the finalized results of their 10- year study looking into the impacts of grazing on greater sage grouse populations. The study concluded that cattle g...

Trump Signals Support for Migrant Farm Labor

June 13, 2025 - With immigration enforcement intensifying across the country, President Donald Trump says an executive order is on the way that could help U.S. farmers retain longtime laborers—many of...

Senate Ag Proposal Boosts Payments, Expands Base Acres for 2025

June 13, 2025 - Farmers would be paid the higher calculated payment rate under Price Loss Coverage or Agricultural Risk Coverage for the 2025 crop year under the Senate Agriculture Committee's proposa...

Alberta Bid-Caller Dean Edge Wins World Livestock Auctioneer Championship

Dean Edge was crowed 2025 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion during the WLAC competition in Dunlap, IA. Hailing from Rimbey, Alberta, Edge became only the third Canadian to win the contest, which deb...

Federal Court Rejects Deere's Motion to Dismiss FTC Right-to-Repair Lawsuit

The lawsuit alleges Deere violates antitrust laws in not giving farmers and independent repair shops all the necessary diagnostic tools to repair tractors and combines. The FTC asked the U.S. District...

R-CALF USA Urges Approval of Ivermectin Feed-Through to Prevent Screwworm Outbreak

In a formal letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), R-CALF USA’s Animal Health Committee called for swift approval to add ivermectin as an oral feed-thr...

Keeping It Sweet During National Candy Month

June is National Candy Month, a celebration of all things sweet. This month—and every month—we take great pride in the hard work and dedication of America’s sugarbeet and sugarcane farmers and workers...

Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Deadline Extended to June 15

The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, has extended the deadline for entrepreneurs to apply online for the 2026 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge to June 15. Now in it...

Cattle Market Trends with CattleFax's Matt McQuagge

June 5, 2025 - As the ranchers prepares for the summer video sale season, Matt McQuagge with CattleFax shares more on the cattle market dynamics, beef demand and pockets of herd rebuilding during the...

President Trump's Trade Agenda Discussed at Wyoming Cattle Industry Convention

President Trump’s trade policies continue to dominate the headlines. During the Wyoming Cattle Industry Convention in Laramie, NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus told cattle prod...

Chinese Nationals Arrested for Smuggling Dangerous Crop Pathogen Into U.S.

Two Chinese nationals, including a scholar at the University of Michigan, were arrested for allegedly smuggling a pathogen into the U.S. that is known to be destructive to corn, wheat, rice and barley...

Laramie Hosts Wyoming Stock Growers Association Summer Convention

Cattle producers from across the Cowboy State are gathered this week in Laramie for the Wyoming Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show. Saratoga rancher Jack Berger says its been the privilege of a...

Failure to Extend Tax Cuts Could Cost Farmers Billions

The latest American Farm Bureau Market Intel reports says if Congress fails to extend current tax provisions, America’s farmers and ranchers will be forced to pay $9 billion more in federal taxes ever...

U.S Grains Council Connects Major Mexican Brewer To Idaho Barley Growers

In May, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), in collaboration with the Idaho Barley Commission (IBC), escorted a team of representatives from one of the largest brewing companies in the world to find new s...

Ranchers, Get Ready: Bledsoe’s Weather Outlook Could Change Your Summer

5.30.25 - Meteorologist Brian Bledsoe joins us at the Montana Stockgrowers Association’s summer meeting to break down the 2025 summer weather outlook.

Montana Farmers Union Calls Court's Rejection of Tariffs a Win for Farmers, Ranchers and Consumers

In what Montana Farmers Union called a win for farmers and ranchers, the United States Court of International Trade Wednesday ruled that the law does not authorize any of the tariffs imposed by the Tr...

OP-ED: Senator Mike Lee’s OFF Act is an Attack on American Agriculture

Senator Mike Lee, R-UT, is at it again with his reintroduction of the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act—a deceptively named bill that threatens the ability of farmers and ranchers to uni...

Montana Stockgrowers Meet in Butte

5.29.25 - This week, ranchers from across the Big Sky State have gathered in historic Butte for the Montana Stockgrowers Association’s Mid-Year Meeting. Held at a new location each year, this event g...

Broad Daylight Wolf Attack in Northwest Colorado Sparks Outrage Among Ranchers

A series of devastating wolf attacks occurred over Memorial Day weekend at the Lost Marbles Ranch, Crystal River Ranch and McCabe Ranch, leaving two calves dead and others injured. A broad daylight at...

USDA to Provide $1 Billion to Livestock Producers Impacted by Drought or Wildfire in 2023 and 2024

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins has announced the release of Congressionally mandated Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) payments to cover grazing losses due to eligible drought...

USDA Secretary Rollins says Current Restrictions on Mexican Live Animal Imports to Remain in Place

Current restrictions on live animal imports from Mexico remain in place, and as previously announced, USDA will continue to evaluate the current suspension every 30 days. Additionally, USDA’s Animal a...

Checkoff Dollars Hard at Work Keeping Beef in the Center of the Grill

Another summer grilling season is officially here. Cattlemen's Beef Board Chair, Ryan Moorhouse from Amarillo, Texas says beef checkoff dollars are hard at work making sure that beef is on the minds o...

American Solar Grazing Association Conducts Census

The American Solar Grazing Association recently published the results of its first-ever U.S. Solar Grazing Census. There were 129,000 acres of solar grazed by more than 113,000 sheep in 2024 according...

$83.5M Available in JBS Antitrust Payout—Claim Deadline Nears

May 23, 2025 - Ranchers who have claims to file in the $83.5 million settlement in a JBS anti-trust case have until Sept. 15, 2025, to get that done.

MAHA Commission Report Sparks Ag Industry Backlash

May 22, 2025 - The much-anticipated Make American Healthy Again Commission report calls out the potential hazards of glyphosate-based Roundup while saying a balanced approach is needed between improvi...

Feeder Imports from Mexico Down 60% as Border Closes Again

Continued detection of New World screwworm (NWS) in southern Mexico, farther north than initially, has prompted USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to again close the U.S. border...

Historic Common Ground Summit Unites Industry to Secure America’s Agricultural Future

In the face of mounting challenges, 40 leaders from across the livestock industry convened at the Common Ground Summit April 21-23 at Denver’s Brown Palace Hotel. Their shared mission: to safeguard ru...

Tariffs on Lamb and Wool Take Center Stage on ASI Podcast

The economic impact of tariffs can be difficult and complex to understand, so David Anderson, Ph.D., of Texas A&M University joins the American Sheep Industry Association’s Research Update podcast thi...

USDA Announces Farmers First: Small Family Farms Policy Agenda

After nearly 100 days of traveling the nation and visiting directly with hundreds of farmers across America, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins has released the first set of policy propos...

Wyoming Ag Bankers Meet in Torrington for 2025 Conference

This year Ag lenders met in Torrington for the Wyoming Ag Bankers Conference.
Ag Committee Chair Quinn Hunter from Pinnacle Bank Wyoming in Torrington says the conference is an important information...

Rewilding advocate chosen to lead Colorado State Land Board

Nicole Rosmarino is the sole finalist for the director of the State Land Board, which is the state’s second largest landowner with 2.8 million surface acres and 4 million mineral estate acres.

House Ag Committee Passes Farm Bill Reconciliation Package Along Party Lines

The House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday night advanced its piece of the budget reconciliation package on a party-line vote. The House Ag provisions improve the farmer safety net from the 2018 far...

Team USA Wins Big at World Angus Youth Competition in Australia

May 15, 2025 - For the first time ever, the United States sent a team to compete in the World Angus Youth Competition, held in Australia during the 2025 World Angus Forum—and they didn’t just show up,...

Montana Beef Council Teams Up with Wendy's to Celebrate May as National Beef Month

May is National Beef Month and the Montana Beef Council has once again partnered up with Wendy's in Montana for another fun promotion to help celebrate. Montana Beef Council Executive Director Chaley...

General and Continuous CRP Enrollment Now Open

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced several Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enrollment opportunities for agricultural producers and landowners. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA)...

Crossing Hemispheres: Lane Nordlund at the World Angus Forum

From Sydney to Brisbane, Lane Nordlund delivers exclusive coverage of the 2025 World Angus Forum and AngusTREK Tour, taking listeners and viewers deep into the heart of Australia’s beef industry. Alo...

Deere Moves to Protect Chief Financial Officer From Testifying in Right-to-Repair Case

Farmers suing John Deere alleging anti-trust violations in limiting repairs on equipment want to depose the company's Chief Financial Officer Joshua Jepsen, prompting Deere last week to request a prot...

USDA Closes Mexican Border to Protect U.S. Livestock from New World Screwworm

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins on Sunday announced the suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border due to the continued a...

Colorado Brand Division faces $2.8 million deficit, proposes increases and cuts

Colorado Brand Commissioner Todd Inglee announced May 7 the intention of the Colorado State Board of Stock Inspection Commissioners to make changes to the fees charged to resolve a budget shortfall, p...

Farmers Union Members Launch Week of Action

This week Farmers Unions launched a Week of Action across the country to tell Congress it must take quick and decisive legislative action to pass a comprehensive farm bill that supports family farmers...

Disaster Enrollment for $20 Billion in Aid Will Start Before End of May

USDA will open a portal before the end of the month for farmers to apply for nearly $21 billion in aid for dealing with natural disasters over the past two years, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins...

Lines Drawn by Stakeholders on Next WOTUS Rule in Listening Sessions

If the Trump administration was hoping to find common ground between agriculture, industry and environmentalists on a revised waters of the U.S. definition, Thursday's listening sessions may have left...

Don't Miss Out! Register Now for the 2025 Lamb Summit

Join industry leaders and over 10 sheep extension specialists at the 2025 American Lamb Summit. This premier event is your opportunity to engage with all segments of the sheep industry as we explore t...

Agriculture Secretary Rollins Announces New USDA Lawfare Portal

Following the Maude Family case that was dropped last week, Secretary Rollins announced a new USDA portal focused on helping the victims of lawfare persecuted by the Biden administration. Through this...

Breaking the silence: First interview with Maude family since indictment over alleged theft of federal property

The morning following the announcement that criminal charges for theft of federal property were dismissed, Charles and Heather Maude said they're ready to return home to South Dakota. Kennedy Maude, t...

Nominations Open for 2026 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year Contest

Farmers and ranchers are invited to submit nominations for the 2026 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, which comes with cash prizes and bragging rights. This is the eighth year of the contest,...

Farm Service Agency Loans Over $500,000 Will Now Require DOGE Oversight

A new Reuters report says more than one-third of USDA farm-loan dollars to farmers -- at least $1.7 billion, based on recent data -- now will need approval not only from the Farm Service Agency but al...

The Fertilizer Institute Releases Its List of 2025-2026 Public Policy Priorities

TFI’s priorities are broken down into eight key areas: Tax & Trade; Energy & Economic Growth; Environment; Transportation; Permitting, Registrations & Designations; Safety & Security; Innovation; and,...

North Dakota Farmers Union President Won’t Seek Reelection

North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne announced he will not seek reelection to a 13th term as president at the organization’s annual meeting in December. Watne was first elected in November...

Corn Growers Disappointed by Trade Commission Decision on Critical Herbicide

Leaders of the National Corn Growers Association expressed disappointment today with a decision by the International Trade Commission affirming that Corteva Agriscience was harmed by imports of a crit...

Federal criminal charges dropped against S.D.'s Maudes

Ranchers and their elected representatives have won a major battle today. Federal criminal charges have been dropped against Charles and Heather Maude of Caputa, SD.

EPA Will Issue Summer Waivers for Accessing Higher Ethanol Blends

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it will use its existing authority to prevent drivers from losing access to lower-cost and lower-emission E15, a higher ethanol blend ofte...

USDA Secretary Issues Mexico Ultimatum to Protect U.S. Livestock Industry from New World Screwworm

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has sent a letter to her counterpart in Mexico demanding Mexico eliminate restrictions on USDA aircraft and waive customs duties on eradication equipment t...

State Officials Remind Horse Owners to Vaccinate Against West Nile Virus

State officials are reminding horse owners to vaccinate their animals against West Nile virus. Horses become infected through mosquito bites, and while many may not show symptoms, some can experience...

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Disappointed with Climate Smart Funding Cancellation

The USDA recently announced the cancellation of the Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities, and it's very disappointing news, says Rocky Mountain Farmers Union President Chad Franke for their orga...

Wild and Domestic Sheep Interaction Meetings Planned in Montana

A series of free, public meetings will be held in Montana communities in April and May to discuss the Wild and Domestic Sheep Comingling Project. The initiative studies the risks of contact between bi...

White House Easter Egg Roll Spotlights America's Egg Farmers

America's egg farmers took center stage at the 2025 White House Easter Egg Roll, where their nearly 50-year legacy of supporting this beloved national tradition was celebrated like never before. Repre...

The Cruzado Legacy: A Farewell Conversation

April 21, 2025 - Dr. Waded Cruzado prepares to step down after 15 years of transformational leadership at Montana State University. In a wide-ranging and personal interview with Lane Nordlund, Dr. Cru...

Servitech Celebrates a Half Century

ServiTech is celebrating 50 years of providing innovation to the agriculture industry. Founded in 1975, ServiTech has provided testing services for the agriculture industry which, in the company’s ini...

Trump Administration Releases Plan to Charge Port Fees on Chinese Ships

Despite concerns from export-dependent industries such as agriculture, the Trump administration on Thursday moved ahead with a plan to charge fees to Chinese ships. The fees will apply to Chinese ship...

Japanese Importers Get Firsthand Look at U.S. Beef Production in Idaho and Kansas

A team of buyers from major Japanese beef importers recently came to the United States to learn about U.S. beef production practices. The team visited U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) headquarters...

Rishel to Join the Prestigious Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery

April 17, 202- William H. “Bill” Rishel of North Platte, Nebraska, has been named the 2025 inductee into the prestigious Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery—often referred to as the Hall of Fame of the...

Crazy Spring Weather Has Farmers Planting Crops in the Snow

It’s a busy time of year for farmers across our region as they burn the midnight oil getting their crops planted. And its always a crap shoot with mother nature and her unpredictability. For Ryegate,...

EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to Host WOTUS Listening Sessions

The EPA and the Department of the Army intend to engage with State and Tribal co-regulators; industry and agricultural stakeholders; environmental and conservation stakeholders; and the public on cert...