Wildfires killed 7,000 cattle: Early estimates say 7,000 head of cattle died in the Smokehouse Creek wildfire that burned more than 1 million acres in the Texas panhandle; the total may not be known for months but could reach 10,000 head. (Texas Tribune)
Soymeal up, soybeans down: Exports of U.S. soybean meal rose to a record $7.4 billion during 2023 to become one of the top 10 farm exports but shipments of soybeans, the No. 1 ag export, shrank by 19 percent, to $27.9 billion, under pressure from a large Brazilian crop. (USDA)
Organic ag and farm bill: The new farm bill should provide larger cost-share assistance for farmers becoming certified as organic producers and create an economic safety net for organic dairy farmers, advocates told lawmakers. (National Organic Coalition)