The Cabinet Countdown

The Cabinet Countdown

The ag world has its eyes on President-Elect Joe Biden.Fifty-seven days ‘til his expected inauguration, the rumor mill continues to swirl over his Cabinet pick for Secretary of Agriculture.The USDA’s top dog spot is no small job. A $120 billion budget plus...
Bird Quarantines Become the Norm, Too

Bird Quarantines Become the Norm, Too

Flashback to Friday: We noted in Quick Hits that a Germany chicken farm was preparing to cull 70,000 birds to contain an outbreak of H5N8 avian influenza. Well, things are escalating… Dutch authorities culled roughly 190,000 birds after the flu broke on two...
Can a Supercomputer Save Florida’s Avocados?

Can a Supercomputer Save Florida’s Avocados?

Florida’s avocado growers are in a pickle. The $35 million-a-year crop is under siege from laurel wilt disease, a vascular infection seeking to create supply havoc. How we got here: Spread via redbay ambrosia beetles that hide in places like firewood, the crop killer...
The Butter Boom

The Butter Boom

Betty Crocker would be proud to learn of 2020’s favorite pandemic pastime.Quarantine cookies, breads, and baked goods have consumed a lot of Americans’ time, and apparently a lot of butter.The USDA shared that production rose 6% in the first nine months of 2020 and is...
Beef – It’s What’s for Dinner, Right?

Beef – It’s What’s for Dinner, Right?

Flashback: It’s February 2020. You’re at a dine-in restaurant, surrounded by family and friends. The biggest decision you have to make: what cut of beef do I want. Cut to the COVID-19 facts: By April, your options would have been limited. Beef has been in short...