water supplies

U.S. farmland prices increased 12.4% over the last year, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. California Ag seen a drop in production as water supplies diminish.

Congress continues its review of the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill as it prepares to debate and reauthorize next year’s farm bill.

The Sierra Nevada snowpack reached 160% of normal on December 30 after a series of early-winter storms. The USDA is planning on four more in-person trade missions this year, including trips to the UK and Kenya

House Ag Committee Chair David Scott and fellow Democrats sent a letter to House and Senate leadership asking them to preserve the ag spending in the Build Back Better Act.

The House Ag Committee approved the reauthorization of Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus, WHIP+, but with added coverage for weather events, crop and ag product losses.

Slower line speeds are now the rule at six pork processing plants under the new Swine Inspection System after a federal court ruling this year ordered packing plants to slow things down.

Tom Vilsack was confirmed to return as Secretary of USDA in a 92 to 7 Senate vote last Tuesday, the job he held during the Obama Administration.

With their water supplies due to run dry by mid-June, farmers in the Klamath Basin say they face the “heartbreaking” prospect of watching crops wither.