The ag sector is weighing on USDA’s new strategy to put small family farms first. With 86% of farms falling in this category, it has a number of provisions aiming to eliminate barriers and keep operations viable.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig spoke with RFD-TV’s Suzanne Alexander on what stands out to him and farm transition.
Related Stories
Harvest Marches on as River Logistics And Inputs Steer Bids
John Appel with the Farmers Business Network (FBN) joins us for a closer look at the 2026 Crop Protection Market Outlook Report.
Farmers display a unique optimism — planting with the expectation that weather, basis, and prices will improve by harvest — asserting that the profession is an identity, not just a job.
Imported lean beef continues to play a critical role in U.S. hamburger and ground-beef production, with any added volume from Argentina serving as a supplement — not a market overhaul.
Margin Protection and the new MCO add county-level margin tools — with earlier price discovery, input cost triggers, and high subsidy rates — to complement on-farm risk plans for 2026.
For aging operators and their rural neighbors, staying socially engaged is a practical strategy to preserve decision-making capacity and farm vitality.