EVENTS TODAY
- Farm Rescuer Day
- 9:30 AM ET - USDA to host stakeholder meeting on Avian Flu Response Plan
- Women’s History Month
- March 20 - Vernal Equinox / The First Day of Spring!
TODAY’S RURAL RUNDOWN FROM RFD-TV NEWS:
NEW STEPS TO ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF AVIAN FLU
Lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill to increase the U.S. egg supply by eliminating unnecessary regulations. The bill seeks to eliminate the 15-year-old rule forcing farmers to throw away millions of eggs yearly due to refrigeration requirements.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also provided some new updates in its High-Path Avian Flu (HPAI) flu response strategy on Thursday morning. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins updated the media on her five-point strategy to address the virus, which does not include poultry vaccines.
USDA AWARDS TEXAS PRODUCERS $280 MILLION WATER GRANT
The USDA also announced a $280 million agreement to support Texas farmers negatively impacted by Mexico‘s failure to meet water delivery obligations under a 1944 treaty. This funding will help producers recover losses from water shortages affecting crops like sugarcane in 2023 and 2024.
THE PUSH TO PASS THE ‘ACRE’ ACT
Farmers, ranchers, and ag bankers are advocating for the passage of the ACRE Act, which would reduce producers’ borrowing costs. The bill aims to change the tax code on farmland real estate lending and rural housing, which could significantly impact the ag economy.
FERTILIZER PRICES REACT TO MARKET SHIFTS
As farmers prepare for planting season, fertilizer prices have slightly increased, with potash prices climbing due to tariff threats. However, some fertilizer types remain lower than last year.
On the other hand, diesel prices have dropped, offering potential relief for farmers feeling the strain of rising input costs ahead of the busy season.
USDA’S CATTLE-ON-FEED REPORT COMES OUT TOMORROW
The USDA will release its monthly Cattle-on-Feed Report at 3 PM ET tomorrow, Friday. While some market analysts see it as a potential market mover, others, like Darin Newsom, argue the report reflects past data. Look for insights into placements and marketings from February. Also, The USDA announced the return of the July Cattle Inventory Report this year, which was canceled last year due to budget concerns.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH SPOTLIGHT: IOWA FARMHER APRIL HEMMES
March is Women’s History Month, and we’re celebrating the incredible women shaping the future of agriculture! Every day in March, we will showcase feel-good stories and interviews highlighting the passion and persistence of powerful women in agriculture.
Today, RFD-TV’s own Tammi Arender checks back in with Iowa Soybean FarmHER April Hemmes for updates on her journey as a woman in ag and an industry advocate since we first met her back on FarmHER Season 1.
