Category: Ag News
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Pillen Signs LB 1187 to Overhaul Nebraska Brand Committee and Fees
New Nebraska Brand Law Signed to Modernize Cattle Inspection and GovernanceLINCOLN — Governor Jim Pillen has officially signed LB 1187, a landmark overhaul of the Nebraska Livestock Brand Act designed to settle long-standing industry disputes. The new law expands the Nebraska Brand Committee from five to seven members, specifically adding representatives for cattle feeders and…
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Grizzly Emergence Prompts Predator Conflict Warnings
Apr 24, 2026 As grizzly bears emerge from hibernation this month, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is urging livestock producers and homeowners to take proactive steps to avoid conflicts. Biologists recently spotted the first grizzly of 2026 scavenging on a bison carcass in Yellowstone’s northern backcountry. While males emerge in March, females with cubs are beginning to appear…
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USDA Selects Iowa as Hub for National Food Safety Center
Apr 24, 2026 The USDA officially announced on Thursday that Urbandale, Iowa, will become the primary hub for the National Food Safety Center (NFSC). The new center will consolidate administrative and technical operations for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), bringing roughly 200 jobs to the state. Secretary Brooke Rollins stated the move is designed to…
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Wildfires Scorch Thousands of Acres Across Nebraska and South Dakota
Apr 23, 2026High winds and extreme drought conditions ignited at least 11 separate wildfires across the Western Corn Belt and Sandhills on Wednesday. The largest blaze, the Andrews Fire in Nebraska’s Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest, has chared 2,500 acres with zero containment as of Thursday morning. Neighboring South Dakota also faced multiple outbreaks, including the 350-acre…
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USDA Declares 56 Oklahoma Counties Natural Disaster Areas
Apr 23, 2026The USDA has issued a Secretarial natural disaster designation for 56 Oklahoma counties following months of persistent, extreme drought. The move opens access to emergency loans for farmers and ranchers struggling with stunted forages and declining wheat prospects. Current reports show that 48% of the state’s winter wheat is now rated in poor to very…
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Nafziger warns Iowa farmers on early nitrogen risk
6 As planting gets underway across Iowa, nitrogen management is front and center and Emerson Nafziger says early applications carry risk. Nafziger, a longtime Extension agronomist, has warned that applying nitrogen too far ahead of crop uptake can lead to losses if conditions turn wet. “If soils stay wet for extended periods, nitrogen can be…