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ERS is forecasting inflation-adjusted U.S. net cash farm income, better known as gross cash income minus cash expenses, to increase by $30.6 billion from 2024 to $193.7 billion in 2025.  U.S. net farm income, a broader measure of farm sector profitability, is forecast to increase by $37.7 billion...

ABC News is reporting the USDA has directed agency officials to review and remove content related to climate change from its public websites.  ABC News said they obtained internal e-mails that say the directive instructs web managers to identify, archive, or unpublish materials mentioning climate change by "no later than close of business Friday”.  In an email sent Thursd...

On Wednesday, USDA’s Rural Development announced that it will invest $94 million in Yakama Power's Clean Energy Project.  The funds come via the Powering Affordable Clean Energy program, PACE, where rural electric cooperatives and communities can use funding to lower electricity costs for businesses and families, while reducing climate pollution.    Yakama Power said th...

Late last week, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced another round of states coming on board with the National Milk Testing Strategy.  Washington, Montana, Indiana, Maryland, New York, Ohio and Vermont will make up the second round of testing.  The Str...

Some of the numbers from USDA's latest look at irrigation and water management within agriculture.    “There were 212,714 farms and they irrigated 53 million acres.  It was down a little bit from 2018, where the survey showed that there were 231,000 farms with close to 56 million irrigated acres, so down 8% in total, farms irrigating and about 5% for acres irrigated,” noted Julie Weber with NASS. 

The Food and Drug Administration and the USDA announced a joint request for information about food date labeling, which includes the use of terms like “Sell By,” “Use By,” and “Best By.”  The information request asks for data on industry practices and preferences for date labeling, research results on consumer perceptions of date labeling and any impact date labeling may have on food waste and gro

Last week, the USDA announced it is funding additional projects across Washington via the Rural Energy for America Program in an effort to lower costs, expand access to clean energy as well as strengthen farms and small businesses.  Helen Price Johnson, Rural Development Director for Washington said $5.1 million...

President-elect Donald Trump announced his selection for Ag Secretary over the weekend.  Trump has chosen Brooke Rollins, president of the America First Policy Institute, to head the USDA.   "As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country," Trump said in a statement.   If co...

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, the USDA is out with some encouraging news for those of you looking to prepare the big meal.   “People who are shopping for turkeys for their holidays are likely going to see some good deals out there," noted economist Michael McConnell.  However he ad...

Much like Washington, the early season snowpack across Oregon is reason for optimism and encouragement.  Some are crediting La Nina for the cooler, wetter weather.  But Matt Warbritton with NRCS said that may be premature.   “We can’t ...