Mississippi’s sweet potato industry is bracing for a challenging year as growers confront reduced yields, financial pressure, and unpredictable weather. With expectations of a below-average sweet potato crop, industry leaders warn that many farmers are facing one of their hardest seasons in recent memory. Growers Under Pressure as Yields Drop Leadership Perspective Caleb Englert, who … Read more
Many farmers are discovering that composting, combined with cover cropping and regenerative agriculture practices, can dramatically boost soil health, reduce input costs, and improve long-term productivity. One of the most effective — and often overlooked — materials for composting is rice hulls, a carbon-rich byproduct available across the Delta region at no cost. Arkansas farmer … Read more
Modern soybean growers aiming to push their fields toward higher yields understand that true productivity comes from maintaining a balanced nutrient program. While traditional focus has always centered on nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, today’s research shows that secondary nutrients—especially calcium—play a much larger role than previously believed. Once treated as a minor component, calcium is … Read more
Growing a successful wheat crop begins long before seeds enter the soil. Farmers invest significant effort in variety selection, soil preparation, and nutrient management long ahead of planting. Even after seedlings emerge, the work certainly does not stop. Modern wheat farming demands strategic planning, timely interventions, and the right tools to help plants withstand a … Read more
Fourth-generation Texas farmer Eric Smith is rethinking how his family’s operation should move forward. Instead of sticking to traditional practices, he focuses on what makes financial sense today. Increasingly, that means expanding stocker cattle numbers and reducing reliance on row crops like cotton, especially as drought, shrinking irrigation, rising input costs, and weak commodity prices … Read more
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reinstated several farmer support programs after Congress approved a continuing resolution earlier this week. While this move provides temporary relief for producers facing unstable market conditions, many experts argue that these programs are outdated, built on old data, and no longer aligned with the current realities of modern … Read more
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the Trump administration intends to require all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to reapply for their benefits. This major policy change is being framed as an effort to fight SNAP fraud, reduce abuse, and ensure only eligible individuals continue receiving food assistance. During an appearance on Newsmax’s “Rob … Read more
A federal appeals court has affirmed an order requiring the Trump administration to release full SNAP benefits for the month of November. Although millions of dollars in food assistance payments were already issued, the situation became more complicated late Friday when the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily paused the order, creating uncertainty for SNAP recipients across … Read more
Most people assume that plants need unlimited sunlight to grow well. While sunlight is essential, excessive sun exposure can actually damage many crops. Every plant has a specific sunlight requirement, and when that limit is exceeded, growth slows, water loss increases, and crop stress rises. To solve this problem, farmers are turning to an unexpected … Read more
Leaders in Idaho’s agriculture industry stress that migrant workers are essential to keeping farms operating, and without meaningful immigration reform, the state’s agricultural economy could face serious setbacks. This was the central message at a recent public forum hosted by The City Club of Idaho Falls, where local experts emphasized the urgent need for change. … Read more