With the Farm Bill being a top priority for many in agriculture, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says it’s critical that Congress finishes a farm bill this year.

Doug McKalip, the Chief Agricultural Negotiator, says recent years in U.S. trade have been positive, with room for advancement.

The USDA is investing $500 million to expand work on the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the goal is to reduce the risk of wildfires for communities, critical infrastructure, and natural resources.

While U.S. milk production is expected to grow this year, according to Michael McConnel of the USDA’s Chief Economist Office. He adds the third and fourth quarters of 2023 showed some contraction, indicating a slower growth rate in 2024.

There’s been a lot of discussion during this farm bill cycle about the need to update Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program spending levels for commodity programs, including for the U.S. Meat Export Federation efforts to promote beef and pork exports. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said additional funding would be put to work right away.

Welcome back to our Propane talks this week. Joining us again, Propane Education Research Council’s Michael Newland says the industry continues to invent new ways to use the clean-burning fuel.

Precision agriculture has come a long way in recent years and will continue to develop quickly. Matt Olson, Precision Ag Manager for John Deere, says off-farm folks might not know how much automation there is on American farms today.

The proposed alterations to the H-2A Visa program by the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security may present significant hurdles for growers nationwide.

The National Agricultural Law Center, based in Arkansas, called 2023 a year for significant developments and changes on the legal front in the ag industry. Harrison Pittman, director of the Ag Law Center, walks us through a few issues to watch for in 2024.

Sunny weather for California reminds producers spring is around the corner, with promises of flower blooms and with that, worms. Join us to hear what options producers have for herd health.