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by Jeff Ishee A new report from the USDA Economic Research Service indicates retail food prices are expected to continue rising through the end of this year. Prices for fresh vegetables are expected to rise in 2026. Image credit - USDA According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, food price inflation is driven by a mix of supply‑side pressures, demand surges, and structural bottlenecks. The most consistently cited causes include labor shortages, supply‑chain disruptions, higher

Source: USDA news release Robotic milking systems--in which dairy cows enter a box-like stall, are milked automatically without manual labor, and then exit--are becoming more common on U.S. dairy operations. However, the impact on labor expenses varies with herd size. For smaller dairies with fewer than 150 head, paid labor is often difficult to find and afford, so the operator and household members provide much of the work unpaid, which ERS values as an opportunity cost usin

Source: American Forest Foundation Washington, D.C. – The American Forest Foundation’s (AFF) Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) recently reached 200,000 total acres enrolled, a major milestone in its mission to support family landowners, bolster rural economies, and deliver meaningful conservation impact. As part of FFCP, these 200,000 acres — greater than the land area of New York City — are set to remove 3.5 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent from the atmosphere and g

Source: VA Farm Bureau LURAY, VA — As June’s National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month shines a spotlight on fresh produce, farmers' markets are welcoming shoppers back for the season. Whether held in town squares, parking lots, or along roadsides, farmers' markets draw shoppers in with locally grown fruits and vegetables, meats, and handmade goods, while growers connect directly with consumers. Farmers' markets offer a diverse array of locally-produced items. Image credit -

Source: American Farmland Trust (Washington, D.C.) - American Farmland Trust has launched a new podcast focused on the challenges farmers and ranchers face when transitioning land from one generation to the next. LANDED features succession stories of both young and elder producers and focuses on how they plan for the future of their land. “We hope that this new series will reach farmers and ranchers across the country, as well as urban and suburban people who may not underst

Sources include NYSDAM and USDA A late‑April Arctic blast delivered severe damage to fruit farms across New York, wiping out large portions of the 2026 crop and leaving growers bracing for long‑term financial losses. Temperatures plunged to 21°F in parts of the Hudson Valley on April 21, a level growers say they have never seen during full bloom. Following an early bloom due to warmer than normal temperatures, frost conditions in late April significantly impacted many apple,

Data source: U.S. Drought Monitor by Jeff Ishee Drought conditions across the southeastern United States have intensified this spring, putting mounting pressure on farmers already contending with a challenging farm economy, labor shortages, high fuel prices, and depleted soil moisture. As of May 12, 2026, nearly the entire region remains in drought, with large areas classified in "severe" to "exceptional" categories — the most widespread spring dryness the Southeast has seen

Source: American Farm Bureau Egg markets have encountered massive volatility since outbreaks of HPAI began in 2022. Retail shell egg prices hit a record level in 2025 but are now nearly 60% lower than a year ago as supplies have strengthened and HPAI cases declined. This demonstrates growing resilience in the poultry industry, but as egg supplies rebound, prices are now falling while expenses remain elevated, threatening farm profitability. Image credit - WIX U.S. Egg Market

Source - NCDA&CS Raleigh - Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, NCDA&CS Farmland Preservation staff and stakeholders from across the state recently gathered in Raleigh to highlight the importance of farmland preservation and the need for increased funding to support land conservation. Around 150 people came to show their support for North Carolina farmland and visit with their legislative representatives to share why protecting working lands matters — for the economy, food

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 5, 2026) – Kentucky cattle producers and industry representatives joined Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell Monday as he signed a proclamation commemorating the month of May as Kentucky Beef Month. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Kentucky is home to 31,060 beef cattle producers of the 69,400 total farms in the state. Image credit - KDA “Through the hard work of our cattle farmers, Kentucky retains its distinctio