Chris Clayton

Documents about the company provided an overview of sales and business dealings by Smithfield and WH Group in recent years. The country's largest pork producer, Smithfield, had $14.46 billion in annual sales of packaged meat in...

Tensions escalate in U.S. trade relations with Canada and Mexico as Trump proposes significant tariffs. Farmers and trade experts raise concerns about economic impacts, jeopardizing the USMCA agreement and key agricultural...

The attorneys general for 25 states are asking the Supreme Court to keep in place a court injunction blocking the federal government from requiring businesses to file Beneficial Ownership Information with the Department of...

As President-elect Donald Trump talks more about U.S. expansion, he highlights the need for the U.S. to control the Panama Canal. Overall, more than 70% of all cargo going through the Panama Canal is coming from U.S. ports or...

A report released Monday by Rabobank's research arm looked at the impact of a new tariff war on U.S. soybeans. The report suggests as much as a $2 drop in prices and 5 million fewer soybean acres.

DTN/Progressive Farmer writers were asked to think back on their year and choose a favorite story they wrote. DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton shares how writing a story about a convent and conservation inspired and reminded...

The Biden administration has allocated $306 million to bolster the response to H5N1 avian influenza, focusing on hospital preparedness, research and local monitoring. USDA is also tightening biosecurity standards for poultry farms...

The University of Missouri's Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) offers one look at how $10 billion in economic aid breaks down by state and crop.

The No. 1 story on DTN's list of the Top 10 Ag Stories of the Year is Congress failing to pass a new farm bill.

In an interview with DTN earlier this month, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack talked about the complications that come up when USDA looks to trim its budget. Often Congress responds negatively, even when Congress forces those cuts.

In a wide-ranging interview with DTN this month, Vilsack talking about what he sees as historic investments in rural America during the Biden administration and why he thinks the country's approach to farm policy fails most American...

The same federal appeals court that reinstated the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting rule under the Corporate Transparency Act on Monday has now reversed itself. The Fifth Circuit instead reinstated a nationwide...

No. 3 on DTN's list of the Top 10 Ag Stories of the Year focuses on the wild election season, its twists and turns, and the eventual re-election of Donald Trump as president.

A federal appeals court on Monday reinstated Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting rules under the Corporate Transparency Act. This requires businesses, including farms, to disclose ownership details to the Treasury...

Congress left several items out of the final continuing resolution funding bill at the end of last week. That includes cutting out year-round E15 and dropping several farm bill programs that do not have permanent funding...

The House of Representatives and Senate both voted Friday evening to approve year-end legislation to keep the federal government operating. The legislation also includes more than $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in...

The House of Representatives voted Friday evening to approve year-end legislation to keep the federal government operating. The legislation also includes more than $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in economic aid to...

A dispute panel under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) gave U.S. corn growers a win on Friday by rejecting all of Mexico's arguments for trying to ban biotech corn imports. Mexico is the largest importer of U.S. corn...

The House on Thursday evening voted down a continuing resolution, or CR, that still includes a major disaster aid package. The new version of the bill maintains $30.78 billion in aid to farmers for both natural disasters and economic...

A $31 billion aid package for farmers faces collapse, as President-elect Donald Trump, JD Vance and Elon Musk oppose it, citing overspending. GOP infighting, Democratic opposition and looming deadlines heighten fears of a government...

The year-end funding bill congressional leaders released late Tuesday includes nearly $21 billion to help farmers recovering from natural disasters and another $10 billion in economic aid to crop producers.

While congressional leaders announced that a deal had been reached on a short-term funding bill for the government and $100 billion in aid for natural disasters, the actual bill text had not been released by late afternoon on...

Financial aid for farmers became a major sticking point over the weekend as lawmakers from both parties said they would not support a new funding bill without including some economic support for farmers facing low prices.

Farm groups nationally are urging Congress to resolve the impasse on economic aid for farmers in a year-end funding package. Agricultural leaders in Congress are blaming the other party for the breakdown in talks.

Republican leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees early Saturday released a joint statement blaming Democratic leaders in Congress for rejecting a $12 billion package for farmers. Their complaints come after...

Leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees, along with farm-state allies, are trying to craft a plan that would provide payments to producers who are suffering from low prices. Democrats came up with nearly $10 billion...

Farmers could face an $8.9 billion tax hike if the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act isn't extended, with increased tax rates, reduced deductions, and estate tax changes significantly impacting costs, particularly for moderate-sized farms...

Congress is set for final passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2024, advancing billions for new major water infrastructure projects. The bill prioritizes port deepening, flood risk management, inland...

Congress is set to pass the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2024, advancing billions for new major water infrastructure projects. The bill prioritizes port deepening, flood risk management, inland waterways, and...

The House Freedom Caucus, a bloc of roughly 40 GOP members, late Wednesday released a statement opposing a nearly $100 billion disaster supplemental bill. Other Republicans in both the House and Senate have called on lawmakers to...

An injunction issued Tuesday in the U.S District Court of Eastern Texas granted a nationwide preliminary injunction against the Treasury Department from enforcing the Corporate Transparency Act's Beneficial Ownership Information...

U.S. farmer optimism hit a two-year high in November, despite major layoffs and lower profits by companies such as Cargill, Tyson and ADM. While farmers foresee better finances and less regulation ahead, concerns about trade risks...

Smithfield had announced plans to cut its ownership of U.S. hog production by as much as 20%. The shift in ownership of 150,000 sows in North Carolina to Murphy Family Ventures would likely achieve much of that goal. Smithfield's...

Congress faces a Dec. 20 deadline to pass a funding resolution, disaster aid, and a farm bill extension. On Monday, Republican governors pressed Congress to pass a farm bill now rather than wait until 2025 as well.

USDA on Tuesday released its latest update of U.S. agricultural trade. The report showed a slight bump in exports to $170 billion for fiscal year 2025. Imports are expected to grow, reaching $215.5 billion.

Agricultural commodity prices slipped slightly Tuesday in morning trade following President-elect Donald Trump's vow to impose 25% import tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and a 10% tariff on products from China.

While President-elect Donald Trump has picked an agriculture secretary, his transition team remains stalled in learning about some of the key issues at USDA and other federal agencies because Trump's team has not signed key...

U.S. agriculture will need to remain at the climate negotiating table under the Trump administration because of all the investments that have been made to reduce emissions and build resiliency on farms, Agriculture Secretary Tom...

President-elect Donald Trump has named Brooke L. Rollins as the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. A native Texan with deep agricultural roots, Rollins will oversee USDA programs, advise on the upcoming farm bill and lead rural...

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., on Monday dropped her proposal for a new farm bill that she hopes Congress will take up in a lame-duck session of Congress. The farm bill is now likely on a back burner until a new Congress is...

David Wilcox was the president of Global Processing Inc., a buyer and exporter of non-GMO and organic soybeans. A federal indictment alleges the company withheld payments from farmers for Wilcox's personal benefit.

Rod Snyder, former EPA adviser, emphasized agriculture's critical role in addressing climate change during the Sustainable Agriculture Summit. He highlighted private-sector commitments will likely continue even as the new president...

Rod Snyder, former EPA adviser, emphasized agriculture's critical role in addressing climate change during the Sustainable Agriculture Summit. He highlighted private-sector commitments will likely continue even as the new president...

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing with officials from multiple federal agencies dealing with disasters. The hearing comes just days after the White House proposed a nearly $100 billion disaster package that...

Different groups are assessing what to expect under the Trump administration when it comes to farm labor and what the impacts of mass deportations could mean. A former adviser for agricultural labor in the first Trump term...

For USDA, President Biden proposed $23.5 billion in aid overall, the lion's share of which would go to help farmers and ranchers who have suffered livestock or crop losses due to hurricanes, drought and wildfires.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., on Monday dropped her proposal for a new farm bill she hopes Congress will take up in a lame-duck session. The farm bill is likely on the backburner until a new Congress is convened early in 2025.

John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association, urges equitable agricultural policies, timely credit access, and unity among farmers. He talked about credit issues at the national Agricultural Bankers Conference. He...

Congress' lame-duck session may address a new farm bill and disaster aid, but priorities are unclear. With budget deadlines and aid requests from recent disasters, lawmakers face pressure to act.

President-elect Donald Trump's tax policies and influence on the Federal Reserve could impact interest rates, deficits, and economic stability, with experts highlighting potential constraints, risks, and market reactions.

A decline in producer profitability overall concerns bankers, though that varies by region and commodities. Lenders to livestock producers are more optimistic than bankers lending to crop producers. Overall, lenders also are...

The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging Congress to prioritize a disaster and economic aid package for farmers over passing a new farm bill, citing urgent financial needs and expected delays in policy implementation.

The Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota highlighted the state of farm finances Tuesday as the American Bankers Association kicked off its annual Agricultural...

Congress' lame-duck session may address a new farm bill and disaster aid, but priorities are unclear. With budget deadlines and aid requests from recent disasters, lawmakers face pressure to act.

Indiana farmer Kip Tom, co-leader of the Farmers and Ranchers for Trump Coalition, urges quick action in the new Trump administration on trade deals as well as regulatory reform, to support U.S. farmers' competitiveness globally...

There are 25 House races still to be decided, but Republicans are on a path to maintaining control of the House. Republicans captured control of the U.S. Senate for the first time in four years, but there are still three Senate...

The election came down to Donald Trump carrying rural areas by wide margins while Vice President Kamala Harris won the urban and suburban areas by smaller margins than President Joe Biden four years ago. Republicans also won...

The results Tuesday night came down to Trump carrying rural areas by wide margins while Harris was winning the urban and suburban areas by smaller margins than President Joe Biden did four years ago. While the presidential race...

USDA's mandate for electronic identification (EID) eartags in interstate cattle movement took effect Tuesday. In response, R-CALF USA and allied groups filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the rule, arguing it exceeds USDA's...

Along with the presidential race, voters face a pivotal election with numerous high-stakes issues at play. Major ballot measures on abortion and marijuana legalization across multiple states are driving voter turnout. South Dakota...

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Thursday defended USDA's overall loan portfolio following Pure Prairie Poultry's collapse, citing a small rate of overall losses. Pure Prairie Poultry's shutdown affected growers in Iowa, Minnesota...

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke to reporters Thursday about USDA's plans to expand the testing of milk across the country. He also talked about a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus found recently in swine...

Our DTN Progressive Farmer exclusive poll reveals strong support for former President Donald Trump and the top issues on the minds of farmers as they prepare to vote.

A group of World Food Prize laureates has publicly criticized U.S. political candidates for ignoring the issue of global hunger amid a rising global food crisis. The laureates also stressed that addressing hunger is crucial for global...

Before he died, Ohio regenerative farmer David Brandt had begun working with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa to help create a farmer-led learning center on the convent's 343-acre farm. This has evolved into an initiative to...

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) late on Friday issued a news release detailing its attempts to feed and manage the 1.3 million chickens after Pure Prairie Poultry shut down its operations of a...

USDA on Monday announced the Farm Service Agency has started issuing to checks to producers for the 2023 crops. USDA pegs the payments under Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price would be $447 million.

Here's a complete breakdown of the DTN/Progressive Farmer Pulse of Rural America Poll as it looks at the presidential race and some other key issues facing farmers as they vote in the Nov. 5 election.

Our DTN/Progressive Farmer exclusive poll reveals strong support for former President Donald Trump and what are the top issues on the minds of farmers as they prepare to vote.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. argues that current practices damage both the environment and consumers' health. Under former President Donald Trump's campaign, Kennedy has several proposals for major reforms, including banning more farm...

Key Senate races in battleground states like Montana, Wisconsin, and Nebraska could determine control of the Senate in the upcoming election. Republicans aim to flip seats held by Democrats, but a surprise race in Nebraska could...

The USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has reached its highest enrollment level since 2013, with a notable shift toward Grasslands CRP, which supports grazing operations. Under the Biden administration, CRP acreage has...

The USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has reached its highest enrollment level since 2013, with a notable shift toward Grasslands CRP, which supports grazing operations. Under the Biden administration, CRP acreage has...

Farmers and small businesses must comply with the Corporate Transparency Act by Jan. 1, 2025, by filing beneficial ownership information with the U.S. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. This new filing requirement...

The House Ag Committee may have more competitive races among its membership than any other committee in Congress. Political analysts who track congressional elections show nine House Aggies -- five Republicans and four Democrats...

A Wisconsin senator is urging USDA to assist poultry farmers affected by the abrupt closure of Pure Prairie Poultry, a Minnesota-based company that collapsed financially in late September after its bankruptcy case was dismissed.

A South Dakota voter referendum will decide the fate of a new law that could shape the regulation of carbon pipelines in the state. The law, tied to the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project, allows counties to tax and regulate...