The Latest
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Courtesy of C.H. Guenther & Son
Hormel Foods CEO to retire
The departure of James Snee, who took over the top post in 2016, is the third leader from a major food company to announce they are leaving since December.
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Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
USDA withdraws rule defining unfair practices in meat markets
The regulation would have paved the way for increased enforcement against anticompetitive practices in the meatpacking industry.
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EPA warns PFAS in biosolid fertilizers could pose health risks
The agency said farmers could be at risk due to the chemicals leaching into food and water in its draft risk assessment, now open for comment.
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andresr via Getty Images
US poultry, swine workers face increased health risks, studies show
The USDA-backed research comes as meat producers push to increase factory line speeds in processing facilities, which critics say compounds the likelihood of injury.
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Chet Strange via Getty Images
JBS will pay $4M to counter illegal child labor practices
A DOL official praised the remedial steps proposed by the world’s largest meat processor as “creative and forward-thinking.”
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Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Chipotle invests to reduce methane emissions from cows
The restaurant chain's venture fund is also backing efforts to produce plant-based meat from duckweed.
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Courtesy of CHS, Inc.
CHS leans into supply chain investments as profits tank
The agribusiness giant, which saw net income fall by more than half in the first quarter, is announcing new products, shipping terminals and agronomy services to turn around market declines.
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Permission granted by CNH
Bridgestone offers buyouts to workers at Iowa tractor tire plant
The offers come in response to a down farm economy that has rattled John Deere, CNH and other tractor makers.
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Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Seafood company not on the hook for overtime in COVID lockdown case, court rules
The case highlights the complexities involved with determining compensability under the Fair Labor Standards Act, particularly when workers are kept on campus.
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Scott Olson via Getty Images
US corn exports off to strong start
First quarter sales reached the highest level in roughly six years thanks to plentiful supply, competitive pricing and an uncharacteristically weak harvest from main competitor Brazil.
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Scott Olson via Getty Images
USDA invests $180M in biofuels and clean energy projects
The Biden administration has doled out $3.3 billion to expand solar, wind and biofuels infrastructure across rural America.
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Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Adopt a class cow? How schools are helping students understand where food comes from.
A variety of new resources are giving students hands-on opportunities that illustrate the role tech plays in agriculture.
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Brandon Bell via Getty Images
Higher egg prices boost Cal Maine earnings
Bird flu outbreaks have created supply shocks at the grocery store, with some retailers limiting consumer purchases.
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Sean Gallup via Getty Images
ColumnAgtech seedlings: Bayer, European refinery to scale US biofuel production
Also in this week's farm technology news: Inari raised $144 million to bring gene-edited seeds to market and an Israel-based startup looks to develop its computer vision technology for horticulture.
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Louis Dreyfus buys BASF’s food and health ingredients business
The food processor seeks to dominate the plant-based space while chemical producer BASF shifts its focus to other areas.
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Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Will $10B in economic payments offset farm income losses?
Researchers are still projecting negative returns for grain producers even after assistance from Washington, highlighting the extent of the downturn in the agricultural industry.
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Courtesy of Deere & Co.
Deere lays off 75 workers at Iowa tractor plant
The job cuts are some of the first in 2025 after the company reduced its workforce by the thousands last year in response to slowing demand.
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Joe Raedle via Getty Images
East Coast port strike averted after tentative deal reached
The agreement comes a week before a previous agreement was set to expire, allaying concerns of supply chain disruptions at major shipping hubs.
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Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Deep Dive5 agriculture trends to watch in 2025
It could be a tumultuous year for farmers with experts predicting low commodity prices, extreme weather events and changes in food policy to reshape industry priorities.
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Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Tropicana orange supplier Alico to exit citrus business
The company concluded that "growing citrus is no longer economically viable for us in Florida," with disease and hurricanes reducing production by 73%.
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Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
Shippers urge deal to avert East Coast port strike as deadline looms
Worker contracts will expire again on Jan. 15, prompting fears of supply chain disruption acorss industries including agriculture.
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Wolterk via Getty Images
Smithfield Foods files for public offering on US stock exchange
The proposed listing comes amid pricing pressures in the pork industry and mounting public scrutiny over the agriculture industry's ties to China.
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Farmland values increase despite income declines
Farmers National Company said its agricultural listings are down 25% compared to recent years, showing strong demand for available farmland.
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Scott Olson via Getty Images
US wins trade dispute against Mexico over genetically modified corn ban
A dispute panel found the prohibition on biotech corn was not grounded in science and undermined an important economic market for farmers in the United States.
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Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Confection companies may pass higher cocoa costs on to consumers for Valentine’s Day
The price increase comes after cocoa futures doubled in late 2024, putting pressure on food makers already paying more for the commodity.
