Daily Radio Reports Focused on Agriculture & Rural Issues!

by Jeff Ishee February 19, 2026 - A new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows the nation’s agricultural landscape continued to contract last year, with thousands of farms disappearing amid ongoing economic pressures. According to the USDA, approximately 15,000 farms were lost nationwide in 2025, marking one of the steepest single‑year declines in more than a decade. Total land in farms, at 873,950,000 acres, decreased 2,510,000 acres from 2024. See the full rep

by Jeff Ishee February 2, 2026 - We were recently invited to take an owner-guided tour of Noer Vineyards in Verona, Virginia. According to owner John Noer, the operation recently opened for limited sales after several years of construction and planting. When the entire acreage is under vine (approx. 200 acres), it will be one of the largest family-owned vineyards in the Mid-Atlantic region. Stunning view from atop the ridge where the future tasting room may be situated. This

by Jeff Ishee Updated Jan. 30, 2026 - A surge of Arctic air pushed sub‑zero temperatures into the Mid‑Atlantic region in late January, raising serious concerns for livestock producers already battling frozen ground, icy winds, and strained infrastructure. Reports have been received about collapsed poultry houses and greenhouses due to heavy sleet and snow. Barns, hay sheds, and other farm facilities also did not survive the storm in some areas. Agricultural experts warn that

by Jeff Ishee Early assessments show the region’s agriculture sector suffered far more damage than was first believed. ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VA — Farmers across the Shenandoah Valley are still digging out after a late January winter storm. Early assessments show the region’s agriculture sector suffered far more damage than was first believed. Image credit - Farmer who would like to remain anonymous Officials with Virginia Cooperative Extension and the USDA’s Farm Service Agency

A new report published by USDA on Friday, Feb. 14 shows a significant loss of farms in 2024. Highlights include: The number of farms in the United States for 2024 is estimated at 1,880,000, down 14,950 farms from 2023. Total land in farms, at 876,460,000 acres, decreased 2,100,000 acres from 2023. The number of farms decreased in all sales classes except the $1,000,000 or more sales class. In 2024, 48.1 percent of all farms had less than $10,000 in sales and 78.9 percent of a

By John Markon, Virginia NRCS Public Affairs DECEMBER 23, 2024 - One reason “conservation” is such a useful word is that so many things can be conserved – everything from time and energy to plums and peaches. But how about a method? Visitors to Elisha Barnes’ Pop-Son Farm in Southampton County often remark on the unusual appearance of his peanut fields, which are staked every year in the fall with five-foot poles. Freshly unearthed nuts are left on the vine and wrapped around

Source: National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) news release December 16 - The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is excited to announce the winners of the 2024 Yield Contest. Participants delivered outstanding yields, once again showcasing the ingenuity and resilience that define U.S. agriculture. The highest yield for the year came out of Charles City, Virginia at 490.6276 bushels per acre in Class H (strip-till irrigated) for David Hula. Hula set a new world record