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By John Newton, VP of Public Policy and Economic Analysis, American Farm Bureau Federation Washington, DC -- USDA's most recent Commodity Costs and Returns , World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates and Farm Sector Income & Finances reports confirm what those in agriculture have known for several years: U.S. farm income is under immense pressure as input costs have increased dramatically while crop prices have fallen sharply - resulting in crop and specialty crop marg

Source: USDA Forest Service Roanoke VA, Nov. 21, 2025 —The George Washington and Jefferson National Forest delivered a 32-foot red spruce tree to the nation’s capital for the holiday season. In collaboration with the National Park Service, on November 15, the James River and Warm Springs Ranger District selected the tree from the high-elevation mountains of Highland County, Virginia for transport to the White House. This year's National Christmas Tree is a 32-foot red spruce

by Jeff Ishee The US Drought Monitor recently published their forecast for drought conditions this winter. The report is not favorable for farmers in the Southeastern United States. The US Drought Monitor is published by the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center. The "Seasonal Drought Outlook" is published once a month, specifically on the third Thursday of each month. Several areas in the Southeast are expected to see drought conditions develop between now and t

Source: American Farm Bureau NOVEMBER 20, 2025 - More than a decade after USDA regulations banned whole milk from school menus, Congress is considering a comeback. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act would overturn 2012 rules that limited schools to fat-free or 1% milk, aiming to revive a category losing ground and reconnect kids with milk’s taste and nutrition. Behind the debate is a market challenge: U.S. milk output is hitting record highs while fluid consumption falls. A

Source: VA Farm Bureau RICHMOND, VA — The average price for a 10-person Thanksgiving meal in Virginia is $80.48, down from $81.07 last year. According to an informal survey conducted by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, the average cost to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal with items sufficient to make 10 servings is $8.05 per person. Image credit - VA Farm Bureau The survey’s menu consists of turkey, ham, stuffing, sweet potatoes, russet potatoes, rolls, carrots, c

Numerous sources including the US Commerce Department, the REAL Christmas Tree Board, and Michigan Farm Bureau November 18 - Based on the current outlook from wholesale growers, the average cost of a live Christmas tree in 2025 is expected to remain stable, likely falling in the typical range of $80 to $100 for a 6-foot tree. Here's a breakdown of the forecast: Stable Wholesale Prices: The Real Christmas Tree Board's annual survey indicates that a large majority of wholesale

October 31 - The Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative recently announced the opening of its incentives program for landowners and farmers. Now through Nov 30, farmers in 16 counties across the Blue Ridge, northern Virginia Piedmont, and now also in the Shenandoah Valley can apply for financial incentives to implement practices that help support nesting grassland birds during the 2026 haying and grazing season. “Delayed haying until at least July 1 is a game changer for birds

WASHINGTON, DC - After 6 weeks of the federal government being shut down, the National Agricultural Statistics Service released a new crop production report on Friday, November 14th. The report indicates that American farmers should see record-high corn and soybean yields this fall. Corn production for grain is forecast at 16.8 billion bushels, down less than 1 percent from the previous forecast but up 12 percent from 2024. If realized, this would be the highest grain product

HAMPTON, VA — The pearls of the commonwealth, Virginia-grown oysters are known for their variety, value and environmental impact. With over 40 million oysters sold each year since 2016, Virginia ranks No. 1 on the East Coast for oyster landings, according to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Virginia’s eight oyster regions taste like the waters they came from—whether they were fished out of the Rappahannock, the Chesapeake Bay, or the Atlantic Ocean. Image credit - vi

According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturer's monthly "Flash Report," the sale of all tractors during October, 2025 in the U.S. were down 20% from the same month last year. In October, a total of 17,758 tractors were sold, which compares to 21,457 sold in 2024. Image credit - Jeff Ishee For the month, two-wheel drive smaller tractors (under 40 HP) were down 22% from last year, while 40 & under 100 HP were down 11%. Sales of 2-wheel drive 100+ HP were down 17%, whil