Florida is the fourth state now to ban lab-grown meat from being sold in the state. Also, USDA has tested ground beef and found no signs of the H5N1 virus that has plagued the dairy herd. In...
- Bryce Anderson
- John Baranick
- Alan Brugler
- Joel Burgio
- Jennifer Carrico
- Chris Clayton
- Lori Culler
- Katie Micik Dehlinger
- Brian Ethridge
- Myke Feinman
- David M Fiala
- Mike Fontaine
- Liubov Georges
- Anthony Greder
- Jerry Gulke
- Jerry Hagstrom
- Chris Hill
- Gregg Hillyer
- Greg D Horstmeier
- Duane Howell
- Todd Hultman
- Cliff Jamieson
- Jason Jenkins
- Joel Karlin
- Scott R Kemper
- Mary Kennedy
- Rick Kment
- Elaine Kub
- Urban C Lehner
- Loren Lindler
- Dana Mantini
- Rod Mauszycki
- Dan Miller
- Darren Miller
- Brian L Milne
- Kathy Myers
- Victoria G Myers
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- Joel Reichenberger
- Mary Roth
- Kim Ruberti
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- Robin Schmahl
- Beth Schweitz
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- Elaine Shein
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- DTN Staff
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- Lin Tan
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Chris Clayton
Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton has been writing and editing for DTN/The Progressive Farmer since 2005 after working more than seven years as a reporter for the Omaha World-Herald.
Chris has been recognized as writer of the year by the American Agricultural Editors' Association and won story of the year multiple times from the organization. He also has won the Glenn Cunningham Agricultural Journalist of the Year Award from the North American Agricultural Journalists and served as the group's president in 2012-13. The National Farmers Union and American Coalition for Ethanol also each have named Chris communicator of the year.
Chris graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1993 with a degree in journalism. He has worked for news organizations in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Nebraska. Chris lives in Glenwood, Iowa, with his wife and children.Recent Blogs by Author
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After months of talks and delays, leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees each laid out separate farm-bill frameworks Wednesday with goals of pushing Congress to pass a new bill...
More From This Author
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Farm Bill and Farmer Income Caps
A provision in the Senate Agriculture Committee Democratic framework for a new farm bill would reduce the income eligibility for commodity programs from $900,000 adjusted gross income (AGI) down to $700,000 AGI. The House plan...
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Moroccan Phosphate Trade Battle
The Commerce Department announced plans to raise tariffs on phosphorous fertilizers imported from Morocco from 2.12% to 14.21%. This continues a battle over phosphate import tariffs going back to 2021.
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Ag Leaders Detail Farm Bill Plans
After months of talks and delays, leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees each laid out separate farm-bill frameworks Wednesday with goals of pushing Congress to pass a new bill this year. The proposals still...
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Some Groups Pan SAF Rules for Farmers
A collection of groups and interests immediately weighed in after the U.S. Treasury Department released its guidance Tuesday for U.S. biofuel producers to receive sustainable aviation fuel 40B tax credits. Some groups were...
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SAF Tax Credit Rules for Biofuels
Treasury Department officials on Tuesday released the rules for the first round of sustainable aviation fuel tax credits. To qualify, biofuel producers will have to show they can have at least 50% lower emissions than...
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Bird Flu Update: Colorado Dairy to List
USDA's Animal and Health Plant Inspection Service added Colorado to its list of states with dairy herd infections. It's the first herd with a reported infection in the past week. USDA now shows nine states with a total of 34...
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USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report
Nationwide, corn planting reached 23% complete and soybean planting reached 16% as of Sunday, April 28. Winter wheat conditions were rated 49% good to excellent, down 1 point from 50% the previous week.
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Bird Flu Cattle Update
USDA's Animal and Health Plant Inspection Service added Colorado to its list of states with dairy herd infections -- the first herd with a reported infection in the past week. USDA now shows nine states with a total of 34 infected...
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DTN Ag Policy Blog
A trade mission this week to India largely appeared positive as officials talked about the potential to boost exports after India lowered tariffs on several agricultural products from the U.S. last year. Currently, India only...
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USDA Issues Dairy Cow Testing Mandate
USDA is issuing an order Thursday that will go into effect April 29 requiring dairy farmers sending lactating cows across state lines to have those cows tested for H5N1 before they can move. FDA also announced it will conduct...
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Dairy Cow Bird Flu Investigation
Samples tested by the FDA show remnants or fragments of highly pathogenic avian influenza in pasteurized milk, indicating the H5N1 virus has spread across more dairy herds than federal investigators had discovered. FDA and dairy...
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Canada Questions Grain Giants' Merger
One problem the Canadian government cited in the Bunge acquisition of Viterra is that Bunge already holds a 25% minority interest in another Canadian grain company, G3. Combined, the three companies hold substantial control over...
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Iowa Fertilizer Plant Sale Opposed
Iowa farmers oppose Netherlands-based Orascom Constructions Industries (OCI) selling a seven-year-old fertilizer plant on the Mississippi River near Wever, Iowa, in the state's southeast corner.
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Best Blog of the Week
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters USDA had to fill in a 5.2% increase departmentwide in salaries with a flat budget that came seven months into the year. That was a big driver for NASS having to cut back on three...
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Daisy to Invest in New Iowa Plant
Daisy Brand LLC will build a 75,000-square-foot facility in Boone, Iowa, that could expand to employ as many as 255 people. State officials approved an incentive package for the project that totals more than $67 million. The state...
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Selling More European Food to Americans
The European Union already has strong agri-food export sales to the U.S. but now is rolling out a first-of-its-kind marketing campaign in the U.S. to sell more high-end food to influential and young American consumers.
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USTR Defends Ag 'Singles and Doubles'
Responding to bipartisan concerns, the Biden administration launched an investigation Wednesday to explore increasing tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum from China. The administration also has made no efforts to achieve a full...
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A Possible Summer Farm Bill?
The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson, plans to bring a farm bill to his committee for a vote before the end of May. Thompson's bill would make moves with both IRA conservation dollars and the...
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Vilsack on Budget, HPAI, China, GREET
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke Monday to the North American Agricultural Journalists (NAAJ) annual meeting. Vilsack's talk with reporters touched on the farm bill, the relationship with China, highly pathogenic avian...
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Data, Markets and NASS Reports
Cattle producers and others are upset after the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced last week that the agency would drop three reports over the next year over budget issues, including the midyear cattle...
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KC Fed Chief Insights to Ag Leaders
The tight labor market and its impact on inflation are driving reasons the president of the Kansas City Federal Reserve explained to a group of agricultural leaders that it is better for the Fed to hold steady on interest rates...
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HPAI in Dairy Cows Hits Two More States
Two more states reported cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy farms, bringing the total to eight states and 24 herds where cattle have been infected with the H5N1 virus.
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AFBF Still Hopeful on Farm Bill
Without a broad push to demand Congress act, a top lobbyist for the American Farm Bureau Federation said it will be harder to get a farm bill done this year now that the presidential nominees are already chosen. Congress is less...
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Best Blog of the Week
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is running for president and has a plan to revolutionize ag, including reversing 80 years of farm policy.
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Five Major Issues for EPA and Farmers
EPA Administrator Michael Regan on Friday spotlighted rural investments in new green funds while saying the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (GREET) model update is coming in the "very near...
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DTN Ag Policy Blog
Groups have through July 2, 2024, to apply for funding under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). USDA rolled out the announcement for RCPP, noting the $1.5 billion is a record amount for a single year.
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Person Infected With Bird Flu in Texas
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday that a patient in Texas was showing signs of conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye. The patient is believed to be associated with the recent detections of...
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Dairy HPAI Cases Now in 5 States
USDA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are reporting more cases of HPAI in Michigan, as well as presumptive positive cases in Idaho and New Mexico.
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New EPA Emissions Rule for Semi-Trucks
EPA announced new national emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles for model years 2027-32. The rule impacts delivery trucks, refuse haulers or dump trucks, public utility trucks, transit, shuttles, school buses and semi-trucks...
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Officials Confirm HPAI Dairy Infections
USDA stated the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state veterinarians and public health officials are investigating the illness that has recently hit "primarily older dairy cows in...
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Help Wanted for Farm Labor Challenges
Farmers lobbying last week for changes to the H-2A guest worker program are frustrated that Congress or USDA are not offering any help to provide more labor or slow the constant increases in wages for guest workers on farms.
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Pressing for GREET Model Update
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack explained Thursday the changes to the emissions model for sustainable aviation fuel tax credits will recognize some key climate-smart farming practices, but more work will be needed to include all...
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Examining Chinese Threats to Ag
The House Agriculture Committee delved into some of the risks of China attempting to expand its agricultural footprint in the U.S., while looking to steal intellectual property. Lawmakers highlighted the need to further restrict...
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Ag Day and Recognition for Farmers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture hosted a National Ag Day event Tuesday morning which included speeches from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. A first-generation farmer also...
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Avoiding SAF Flight Cancellation
The ethanol industry is primed for an alcohol-to-jet conversion, but that will require both tax credits and changes to how EPA scores out corn-based ethanol in the Renewable Fuel Standard. That was a major discussion at a policy...
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Sage Grouse Protections and Livestock
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced a new draft plan on March 14 to protect the greater sage grouse, a bird that nests on the ground and is known for the strutting displays by males during mating season. The BLM...
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DTN Ag Policy Blog
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the near rule at the National Farmers Union annual convention on Monday in Scottsdale, Ariz. The rule tightens the language on what products can be defined as Product of USA or Made...
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The Looming Tax Hit on Ag
An analysis by USDA's Economic Research Service shows farmers could see higher tax liability through changes in the Child Tax Credit, income tax rates, Alternative Minimum Tax and estate taxes, which could all hit farms around the...
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Rice Farmers Face Challenges in Texas
Most rice production in Texas is concentrated in a handful of counties south of Houston. A big chunk of rice acreage relies on canal water from the Colorado River in Texas. Last year, nearly 71,000 rice acres were idled in the...
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Walmart Dairy Processing Expansion
Walmart stated a new $350 million milk processing facility will produce milk products sourced largely from Texas dairy farmers. The operation will create nearly 400 jobs in Robinson, which is adjacent to Waco, Texas, and provide fluid...
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Farm Bill Debate: All About Base Acres
The major commodity groups representing corn, soybean and wheat farmers are divided on what, if anything, should happen to base acres. All three major groups see a need to increase reference prices, even though they know it's...
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White House 'Strike Force' on Inflation
The White House is rolling out plans for a new task force on inflation as President Joe Biden looks for ways to highlight that his administration is trying to reduce high prices facing consumers. The effort comes as Biden will hold...
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Climate-Smart Spending and Livestock
A top USDA official pushed back against some criticism from environmental groups about funding conservation practices for livestock facilities. Critics such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG) say those projects do not help...
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DTN Ag Policy Blog
After months of stalled funding bills, the chairs and ranking members for appropriations on Sunday released funding packages for USDA, FDA and related agencies, along with five other major funding bills for federal departments as...
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Headwinds for Corn and Soybeans
Farmers and others at the Commodity Classic annual gathering for corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum producers are trying to find some rays of light, especially in the face of declining prices.
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DTN Ag Policy Blog
Right now, the House appropriations bill for USDA includes language that would prevent USDA from spending any money further drafting or implementing new competition rules under the P&S Act. A pair of U.S. senators wrote...
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E15 Year-Round Waiver Granted
The latest EPA decision still creates a problem for the ethanol industry and fuel retailers for this year because they will need an emergency waiver from the EPA to sell 15% ethanol for the 2024 driving season. That impacts more...
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Sewage Sludge and Contaminated Farms
A pair of small farm operations in Johnson County, Texas, allege that their farms were contaminated after Synagro provided a neighboring farmer with a biosolid fertilizer that contained high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl...
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USDA Livestock and Poultry Outlook
The livestock sector will benefit from lower feed prices in 2024 as cattle and beef producers are projected to see higher prices as well. A trend in the livestock and poultry sectors is that exports will be challenged because of...
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Risks and Complication of Prop 12
Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack has increasingly become more vocal over the impacts of California's law, which was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last May. The court's ruling now appears to grant the ability of states to...
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2022 Ag Census Released
USDA released its 2022 Ag Census on Tuesday, a five-year survey that takes a snapshot of American farmers and their operations. The report showed a decline in farms and farm acreage overall. The average age of producers also...
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Trying to Stem a Rural Veterinary Crisis
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) was in Washington, D.C., last week to lobby on legislation to boost the number of rural veterinarians. The shortage of rural veterinarians also was a major point of discussion of...
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Best Blog of the Week
Leaders at the National Association of State Directors of Agriculture (NASDA) winter policy meeting in Washington were stunned Monday by news that Iowa farmer Bill Northey, a former USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and...
- Bryce Anderson
- John Baranick
- Alan Brugler
- Joel Burgio
- Jennifer Carrico
- Chris Clayton
- Lori Culler
- Katie Micik Dehlinger
- Brian Ethridge
- Myke Feinman
- David M Fiala
- Mike Fontaine
- Liubov Georges
- Anthony Greder
- Jerry Gulke
- Jerry Hagstrom
- Chris Hill
- Gregg Hillyer
- Greg D Horstmeier
- Duane Howell
- Todd Hultman
- Cliff Jamieson
- Jason Jenkins
- Joel Karlin
- Scott R Kemper
- Mary Kennedy
- Rick Kment
- Elaine Kub
- Urban C Lehner
- Loren Lindler
- Dana Mantini
- Rod Mauszycki
- Dan Miller
- Darren Miller
- Brian L Milne
- Kathy Myers
- Victoria G Myers
- Todd Neeley
- Linda Nellson
- Richard Oswald
- Mike Palmerino
- Jim Patrico
- Susan Payne
- Russ Quinn
- Joel Reichenberger
- Mary Roth
- Kim Ruberti
- Nick Scalise
- Robin Schmahl
- Beth Schweitz
- Philip Shaw
- Elaine Shein
- Pamela Smith
- Richard Smith
- DTN Staff
- ShayLe Stewart
- Lin Tan
- Tara Trenary
- Emily Unglesbee
- Doug Webster
- Teresa Wells
- Matt Wilde
- Scott Williams
- Elizabeth Williams
- Lance Woodbury
- Cheri Zagurski