The Latest

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  ‘Decades of progress gone in a single instant’: Assessing the farm damage from Hurricane Helene

  With billions of dollars in damages expected, the USDA is deploying "surge teams" to assist with recovery efforts as farmers and food giants work to rebuild local communities.

  Crops

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  Starbucks buys more innovation farms to create climate-proof coffee

  Farmers in Costa Rica and Guatemala will test drones and hybrid crop varieties as the company aims to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the region.

  Crops

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  French fry maker Lamb Weston to close Idaho potato processing plant

  The restructuring comes as the food producer sees a slowdown in demand at restaurants and retailers.

  Supply Chain

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  Deep Dive

  Election 2024: Where Trump and Harris stand on agriculture

  Higher food prices, trade relations with China and other farm issues are becoming more central to party platforms.

  Crops

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  One of California’s major agricultural regions could ban ‘factory farming’

  Residents in Sonoma County are divided on Measure J, which farmers say could yield unintended economic consequences if passed.

  Meat

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  Column

  Agtech seedlings: Chiquita unveils ‘breakthrough in sustainable banana production’

  Also in this week's farm technology news: Biopesticide startup AgroSpheres raises $37 million for sustainable crop production, and Syngenta adds generative AI to its Cropwise platform.

  Crops

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  Dockworkers at East and Gulf Coast ports agree to suspend strike

  The International Dairy Foods Association said “it will take weeks to clear the backlog” from the three-day work stoppage.

  Updated Oct. 3, 2024

  Meat

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  Cal-Maine profits soar, driven by higher egg prices and supply demands

  The largest U.S. egg producer is rebuilding its flocks and supplies following bird flu outbreaks at some of its facilities.

  Meat

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  Former poultry growers sue Cooks Venture execs for operating ‘defacto ponzi scheme’

  The failed startup, which positioned itself as a "next-generation food company," left farmers to pick up the pieces after the company shuttered last November, a lawsuit alleges.

  Meat

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  Farm bill expires again. Here’s what it means for farmers.

  The delay upends some USDA farm conservation and trade promotion programs while setting up costlier disruptions beginning at the year’s end.

  Regulations

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  What to know about the FDA’s reorganization

  The new structure could mean more thorough inspections for food giants, according to experts.

  Meat

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  Top agriculture conferences in 2025

  As attendance increases at farm-related shows, some events are relocating to larger venues to accommodate more exhibitors and programming. Here’s an early look at some of the biggest upcoming shows.

  Crops

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  Hurricane Helene devastates farms across the Southeast

  Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said "every commodity in the state has been damaged," with cotton farmers anticipating hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.

  Crops

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  Biden declines to intervene as East Coast port strike freezes shipping

  The administration is warning ocean carriers not to implement costly surcharges as the work stoppage drags on.

  Meat

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  Opinion

  We need a Farm Bill for all farmers – not the few. Here’s how we get there.

  The House’s proposed bill would only benefit wealthy farms while adding to the deficit and cutting food assistance, experts with the Environmental Working Group argue.

  Crops

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  East Coast and Gulf ports shut down as dockworkers strike

  The USDA does not expect “significant changes to food prices or availability in the near term” due to the work stoppage, though exporters have warned of shipment delays and higher costs. 

  Meat

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  How a new type of ‘smart soil’ can capture water out of thin air

  A hydrogel developed by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin could give plants the power to feed and water themselves, allowing farmers to rely less on irrigation.

  Crops

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  DairyX makes breakthrough advancement in cow-free casein

  The Israeli startup developed a method to recreate the “primary building blocks of dairy products,” which it says paves the way for tastier cheese and yogurt alternatives.

  Dairy

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  Democrats propose paying livestock producers to transition away from ‘factory farming’

  The plan is a gambit to ensure Inflation Reduction Act funding goes to climate-smart agriculture practices that would have the biggest environmental impact.

  Meat

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  Farm groups call for White House intervention as East Coast port strike nears

  East Coast and Gulf Coast seaports are extending hours and sharing contingency plans as they prepare for disruption.

  Supply Chain

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  Column

  Agtech Seedlings: Plenty opens ‘world’s first’ indoor berry farm

  In other farm technology news, Ginkgo Bioworks partners with a Missouri-based firm on cost-effective animal feed, and Minnesota’s Ag Innovation Campus closes after one year.

  Crops

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  JBS accused of abusing immigrant workers at Colorado beef plant

  As many as 500 French-speaking immigrants were allegedly subject to human trafficking and forced to pay hundreds of dollars for poor living conditions, job applications and transportation.

  Meat

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  Deep Dive

  East and Gulf coast port strikes: A shipper’s guide

  A potential dockworker strike starting Oct. 1 would upend meat and grain trade and bring new supply chain slowdowns. Here’s how to prepare.

  Crops

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  Hurricane Helene threatens crops in the Southeast

  Cotton, peanut and citrus growers are preparing for a potentially catastrophic storm that could bring widespread damage to farms in Georgia and Florida.

  Crops

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  Trump threatens Deere with 200% tariffs if it shifts manufacturing to Mexico

  The tractor giant's plan to move some production south of the border is tied up in election politics as the economy becomes more central to campaign messaging.

  Technology

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