Year of the Woman Farmer & Seed Protection

This week, we learned that 2026 will be the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Florida is taking a stance against lab-grown meat, Busch Light has brought back its corn cans, and the creators of a global seed vault?designed to safeguard the?world’s?agricultural diversity won an award.?

Read on to learn what else the week had to offer.?

Busch Light Corn Cans

Busch?Light’s?fan-favorite Busch Light Corn Cans are back and hitting shelves across the nation. For each case of Corn Cans sold through June 2024, Busch Light will donate $0.10 –?up to $200,000?– to its longtime partner?Farm?Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to providing critical material aid to family farms and ranches throughout the Midwest. Read more about it in our?Busch Light Releases Fan-Favorite Corn Cans Supporting American Farmers & Ranchers ?article.

Lab-Grown Meat In Florida

Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 1084 to prohibit the sale of lab-grown meat in?the state of?Florida. Florida is taking action to stop the World Economic?Forum’s?goal of forcing the world to eat lab-grown meat and insects,?“an overlooked source of protein.”??While the World Economic Forum is telling the world to forgo meat consumption, Florida is increasing meat?production,?and encouraging residents to continue to consume and enjoy 100%?real?Florida beef. Read more?about it?in our?Governor DeSantis Signs Legislation to Keep Lab-Grown Meat Out of Florida ?article.?

2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer

In the presence of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield and U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small, the UN General Assembly declared 2026?as?the International Year of the Woman Farmer. The?resolution,?and the U.S.?government’s?efforts to generate support for?it,?were spearheaded by USDA and garnered more than 100 co-sponsors, underscoring the global importance of uplifting women throughout the agriculture sector. Read more?about it?in our?U.S. Paves Way for UN to Declare 2026 as International Year of the Woman Farmer ?article.?

Protecting Vital Seeds in an Artic Circle Vault

Two men who were instrumental in the?“craziest idea anyone ever had”?of creating a global seed vault?designed to safeguard the?world’s?agricultural diversity will be honored as the 2024?World Food Prize laureates, officials announced Thursday in Washington. Cary Fowler, the U.S. special envoy for Global Food Security, and Geoffrey Hawtin, an agricultural scientist from the United Kingdom and executive board member at the Global Crop Diversity Trust, will be awarded the annual prize this fall in Des Moines, Iowa, where the food prize foundation is based. They will split a $500,000 award. Read more about it in our?World Food Prize Goes to 2 Who Helped Protect Vital Seeds in an Arctic Circle Vault ?article.?

Sustainable Agriculture

Instream water rights and the future of irrigated ag. The Klamath River Basin and the Endangered Species Act. The future of water quality in the West. Legal ethics and state water boards.?Each of?these issues and more will be on the agenda for the National Agricultural Law?Center’s?2nd Annual Western Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference, set for June 13-14 in Reno, Nevada. Read more about it in our?Water Rights, Law on Agenda for June 13-14 Western Ag and Environmental Law Conference ?article.?

In other news, urine may not be the most?obvious?fertilizer, but?it’s?one of the most readily available. And it could be an?important?ingredient in helping cultivate more sustainable agriculture and food systems that produce less environmental waste. Urine could also be a handy resource in tending home gardens and compost piles, thanks to an interdisciplinary collaboration between Cornell Engineering students Nadia Barakatain?’24??and Veda Balte?’24?and?Rebecca Nelson, professor of plant science and global development in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Read more about it in our?Grow as You Go:?‘Peecycling’?Helps Plants and Compost Thrive ?article.?

Crop and Food World

Waiting on the weather is an old story in agriculture, but as climate change drives an increase in spring rains across the Midwest, the usual anxiety around the?ritual of spring planting?is expected?to rise along with it. In Ohio, for example, farmers have lost about five days of fieldwork in the month of April since 1995, according to Aaron Wilson, the?state’s?climatologist. Read more about it in our?For Farmers, Watching and Waiting Is a Spring Planting Ritual. Climate Change Is Adding to Anxiety ?article.?

In other news, bringing awareness to the importance of composting is the goal of International Compost Awareness Week. Slated May 5-11, it is a time to?shine a light on?why people should be composting organic materials and using compost to create healthier soil. This?year’s?theme is COMPOST…?Nature’s?Climate Champion. Read more?about it?in our?International Compost Awareness Week Slated May 5-11 ?article.?

Also, setting yourself up for success through the rapid growth?time frame?starts before the seed goes in the ground.?“Start with a soil test,”?McCord recommends.?“That gives a baseline on?what’s?available in the soil?that you?can build on through the season.”?Read more about it in our?Set Your Crop up for Success During Growth Phase ?article.?

Finally, Iowa State University researchers developing?large, vision-based artificial intelligence tools to identify and eventually recommend controls for agricultural pests are one of the first teams to win computing support from the new National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Pilot. Read more about it in our?Researchers Developing AI Tool That Identifies Agricultural Pests From Snapshots ?article.?

Livestock World

In recent months, there has been a lot of discussion surrounding?EID’s, traceability, and identification. From cattle industry?associations’??policy positions to amendments of current federal rules and federal funding discussions, there seems to be as much confusion as ever as to what?the heck?is going on with animal identification and traceability. I, for one, know that it is?incredibly hard?to keep up with all?of?the different topics that have occurred?and?it’s?my full-time job! However, as a fellow cattle producer, I hope?that this?article will help boil all of the?hoopla?down into some real?“cowboy talk”?to help you understand where things currently stand. Read more?about it?in our?Op-Ed: The Wild, Wild West of Animal Identification,?EID’s?and Traceability ?article.?

In other news, tune into the latest episode of The Dairy Signal, a must-listen podcast for anyone in the dairy industry. Whether?you’re?a seasoned dairy producer, a newcomer to the field, or?simply?a curious listener, The Dairy Signal offers insightful discussions, expert interviews, and practical advice to help you understand and navigate the complexities of dairy production. Read more?about it?in our?The Dairy Signal: Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions ?article.?

Farming Economy/Policy

Farmer sentiment declined sharply in April, as indicated by the?Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, which fell 15 points from March to a reading of 99. Both subindexes of the barometer also declined: The?Current Condition Index?dropped by 18 points to 83, while the?Future Expectations Index?fell by 14 points to 106. April marked the lowest farmer sentiment reading since June 2022 and was just 3 points better than?in?April 2020. This?April’s?current condition rating was its weakest since May 2020. Read more about it in our?Weakened Financial Outlook: Farmer Sentiment Declines to Lowest Level Since June 2022 ?article.?

In other news, A new report from the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences?Department of Agricultural Economics?will help consumers understand and prepare for anticipated changes in the price of?key?cuts of beef, pork, and chicken for summer and beyond. The?Texas A&M University Food Price Predictor?study integrates historical data, current market trends, and predictive models to offer a detailed projection of future retail meat prices.?Timed with grilling season, this report assists consumers in effectively planning for summer barbecues. Read more about it in our?What’s?in Store for Future Beef, Pork, and Chicken Prices? ?article.?

Also, March exports of U.S. pork were steady with last?year’s?volume and edged higher in value, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports were below last??March’s?large volume, but the export value was the highest since June 2023. Read more about it in our?USMEF: Beef Export Value Highest in Nine Months ?article.

Finally, the Texas Corn Producers, Texas Sorghum Producers, and National Sorghum Producers have petitioned the Fifth Circuit for a review of the fuel economy test procedures in the Environmental Protection?Agency’s?(EPA) new Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles. Read more?about it?in our?Organizations Challenge?EPA’s?Fuel Economy Test Procedures ?article.?

New With USDA

The?USDA Announced Milestones in Climate Action , selected?Hosts to Train Leaders for the American Climate Corps , and announced?$22M to Support Underserved and Veteran Farmers Through the 2501 Program .?

Also, in response to President?Biden’s?Executive Order 14081,?“Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy,”?the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have developed a plan?to update, streamline, and clarify their regulations and oversight mechanisms for products of biotechnology. Read more?about it?in our?EPA, FDA, and USDA Issue Joint Regulatory Plan for Biotechnology ?article.?

Other Top Stories

Results from a PROSPERITY study presented at the American College of?Cardiology’s?Annual Scientific Session offers egg lovers some good news. The study showed egg consumption did not raise cholesterol levels in adults who ate fortified eggs over four months.?That’s?good news since Americans love eggs.?Statista?reports U.S. citizens ate an average of 281.3 eggs per person in 2023. That number may increase to as many as 284.4 eggs per person in 2024.?This?is a stark contrast?to the year 2000 when Americans only ate about 250 eggs per person. Read more about it in our?Eggs Regain Their Place as a Staple of Healthy Eating ?article.?

In other news, when we want to add color to the garden, most of us set our sights on flowers. But many leaf-forward plants can outlast and even outcompete those with colorful blossoms. For starters, foliage plants?don’t?wax and wane or have a limited bloom time. In addition, many can?brighten up shady spots?that?don’t?offer enough sunlight for flowers. And they tend to be lower maintenance since they?don’t?need pruning or?deadheading?to keep blooming or look their best. Read more about it in our?How to Paint With Foliage: Flowers?Aren’t?the Only Way to Add Color to a Garden ?article.?

Also, are Americans?truly?aware of their deep-rooted obsession with buttermilk biscuits? This iconic staple has woven?its way?into American culture, from breakfast tables to dinner spreads. The history behind this enduring love affair with the flaky, buttery goodness is quite interesting. Read more about it in our?America’s?Buttermilk Biscuit Obsession Revealed ?article.?

Come Back Next Week!? ? ??

Be sure to check in next week for our?weekly?national news roundup, and?don't?forget to follow us on all our socials! We?can't?wait to see what next week holds for agricultural news.? ? ??