U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on Jan. 18 gathered some three dozen Department of Agriculture staff to discuss the future of U.S. agriculture and upcoming farm bill talks.

Two years of drought have had a major impact on hay production, according to the recently released Dec. 1 hay stocks from the USDA.

Based on the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor data, the impact of drought continues to be a theme into the new year even as rains bring relief to beef cattle producers in parts of the West. However, pasture and forage availability in the central and southern Plains likely remain tight as drought continues there.

In addition to setting a global value record with one month to spare, U.S. beef exports also set annual value records in several individual markets.

The Biden administration issued a water law reversal on the last working day of 2022, creating further change in the longstanding issue of how to define navigable waters of the U.S., including streams, runoff and ponds used in agriculture.

The Biden administration issued a water law reversal on the last working day of the year, thus creating more uncertainty in the longstanding issue of how to define navigable waters of the U.S., including streams, runoff and ponds used in agriculture.