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Farm equipment giant John Deere inserted language acknowledging customers’ abilities to use mechanics “of their own choosing” for emissions control device repairs into 556 of its product manuals in order to comply with Environmental Protection Agency regulations, newly unearthed documents show.

Nearly 80 beef cattle died in Wyoming due to a natural occurrence of anthrax, a bacterial pathogen that can survive in the soil for years or even decades, “resulting in sporadic outbreaks which usually occur after periods of drought followed by heavy rain,” the Wyoming Livestock Board said.

USDA is making $500 million available in fiscal 2025, which begins Oct. 1, for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.

Some House Republicans say they hope the farmer fly-ins this week will spur action on a farm bill, although there’s no sign of a breakthrough between the House and Senate, and time is fast running out.

Leading advocates for former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris clashed over trade, immigration and tax policy during an informal debate Monday.

Farmers who grow the crops being hammered the hardest by commodity market declines are hitting Capitol Hill this week, accompanied by ag bankers and Farm Credit lenders, to make a last-ditch push for a new farm bill.

The farm economy is in much better shape than feared at the beginning of the year, according to USDA’s revised farm income forecast. USDA now estimates that net farm income will decline by 7% and remain above the 20-year historical average. Back in February, USDA had projected net farm income would plummet by nearly 26%. 

USDA is due out today with its latest forecast for farm income, and the numbers are expected to be bad. Look for more new calls for Congress to pass a new farm bill to shore up incomes of row crop producers. 

Two House subcommittees will look into into the food shortages that have plagued tribal communities throughout the summer. The House Ag subcommittee that oversees nutrition programs and the House Ag Appropriations Subcommittee have scheduled a joint hearing for next Wednesday.