Technology

USDA launches effort to modernize loan and grant systems

lydia@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:00:55 -0400

The Agriculture Department is moving forward with a major overhaul of its loan and grant technology systems by launching a modernization effort that agency officials say will improve access to financing for farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

Corteva basks in seed prowess while chasing new breakthroughs

Wed, 20 May 2026 06:05:00 -0400

As Corteva prepares to split its seed and crop genetics business into a separate company, the agribusiness is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its Pioneer brand, which helped revolutionize modern agriculture.

EPA approves citrus rootstock to combat greening disease

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:02:00 -0400

EPA has approved a gene-edited citrus rootstock designed to help protect trees from citrus greening disease, giving growers a new tool against a bacterial infection that has devastated U.S. growers.

National Proving Grounds Network to focus on pilot projects in 2026

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:01:00 -0400

A new Agricultural Research Service initiative to test the effectiveness of AgTech products will begin with some pilots in 2026 and scale up in coming years, a USDA official told Agri-Pulse Tuesday.

Former climate-smart grantees work to gain approval for new projects

steve@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:05:00 -0400

Some of the conservation projects under a $3.1 billion program that has been rebranded from a focus on climate-smart agriculture to expanding markets for farmers are slowly moving toward approval by USDA.

Mississippi bans lab-grown dairy

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:02:00 -0400

Mississippi has become the first U.S. state to ban cell‑cultured dairy products. The law follows a 2024 measure banning lab‑grown meat in the state.

Texas A&M to build new meat science center

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:01:00 -0400

Texas A&M University will invest $133 million to build a new meat science center on its main campus by 2028.

Food scientist turned humanitarian aid leader named World Food Prize Laureate

lydia@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:46:11 -0400

Huub Lelieveld, a Dutch scientist who led a global food safety movement and dismantled barriers to trade and humanitarian aid, was selected as the 2026 World Food Prize Laureate for his life work supporting breakthroughs that have reshaped the fields of food and agriculture.

Trade body to investigate Chinese biotech subsidies

oliver@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:18:45 -0500

The International Trade Commission has announced it will investigate Chinese state support in the biotechnology sector as part of a pair of new probes looking at the U.S. trade relationship with Beijing.

EPA approves over-the-top use of dicamba for two years

steve@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:19:43 -0500

The Environmental Protection Agency has approved dicamba for over-the-top application in soybeans and cotton in a decision that it called a direct response to grower pleas.

EPA demands data from diesel manufacturers over DEF system failures

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 06:03:00 -0500

The Environmental Protection Agency is requiring 14 major diesel engine manufacturers to provide detailed information about Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system failures that have affected farmers and truckers nationwide.

Gates grant seeks to transform banana farming in Africa

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 06:01:00 -0500

Clemson University scientists have secured a $1.2 million Gates Foundation grant to develop innovative hydroponic technology that could transform banana production across Africa while benefiting South Carolina farmers.

Virtual fencing gaining some traction with USDA, private funding

parker@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 06:04:00 -0500

When heavy rains flooded pastures in East Hardwick, Maine, in July 2023, rancher Ben Nottermann couldn’t reach his livestock for days.

Defense bill compromise drops audit on Chinese drones

oliver@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 06:03:00 -0500

The compromise House-Senate text of a must-pass annual defense bill drops an earlier measure that could have led to a ban on Chinese drones.

USDA’s decade-long struggle on GMO labeling lands in Trump administration's lap

philip@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 06:06:00 -0500

Nine years ago, lawmakers thought they had settled the issue of GMO labeling. A law passed in the summer of 2016 after months of negotiation shut down state labeling requirements and gave companies a way to keep biotech information off food labels. But a protracted legal battle is forcing USDA to rework key aspects of the labeling regulations.

Cultivar STL announces new Core Facilities Access Fund

parker@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 06:01:00 -0500

Agtech initiative Cultivar STL, which aims to boost the agricultural technology sector in St. Louis by connecting with international businesses, has launched a new Core Facilities Access Fund.

ASTA is taking over advocacy for biotech crop technology

philip@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 06:03:00 -0400

The American Seed Trade Association will be the lead advocate for crop biotechnology now that the Biotechnology Innovation Organization has eliminated its agriculture and environment section.

IFPA ramps up ‘Fight for Fresh’ on the global stage

sara@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:26:42 -0400

Many of the threats that have faced the global produce industry over the last two years, including geopolitical risks, tariffs, inflation, labor and artificial intelligence, remain key challenges. However, the leader of the International Fresh Produce Association says IFPA is ramping up advocacy efforts and making progress on several fronts in the “Fight for Fresh.”

State Department could restart Feed the Future labs as soon as this year

oliver@agri-pulse.com — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 13:40:47 -0400

Funding for Feed the Future innovation labs emerged from this summer’s rescission blitz intact, but work remains in limbo following stop-work orders issued earlier this year.

What the Corteva breakup means for agriculture

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 06:07:00 -0400

Agribusiness giant Corteva Inc.’s plan to separate crop protection products from its 99-year-old seed empire is shining a light on the crossroads facing a $1.5 trillion U.S. farm and food industry.

U.S. ag productivity growth has slowed dramatically, report finds

oliver@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:15:01 -0400

Agricultural productivity growth in the U.S. has slowed significantly in the last decade, new analysis finds. Globally, growth has also dipped and now stands well below the rate required to sustainably meet evolving global demand.

Corteva splitting crop protection, seed businesses into two companies

steve@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:43:11 -0400

Corteva Agriscience’s board of directors has approved a plan to split its crop protection and seed businesses into two separate, publicly traded companies. The crop protection company will be called New Corteva. SpinCo is the new name for the seed business.

FAA proposal aims to streamline drone certifications

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 06:07:00 -0400

Agricultural drone operators could see simpler licensing processes under a proposed Federal Aviation Administration rule that aims to make it easier for them to pilot devices beyond their line of sight.

New EPA guidance issued to prevent vehicle shutdowns from diesel exhaust fluid loss

noah@agri-pulse.com — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 11:21:57 -0400

EPA is urging machinery manufacturers to update their equipment to prevent shutdowns when diesel exhaust fluid runs out.

Deere rolls out new repair tool

noah@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 14:20:16 -0400

A new digital tool from John Deere aims to help customers fix their machines and reprogram software.

Reservoir Farms: A new model for unleashing ag-tech innovation

sara@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 07:07:00 -0400

The concept builds on Western Growers’ Agtech Initiative from more than a decade ago, which was based on the view that technology startups need grower input about field-level challenges.

Inside the ‘Hail Mary’ to save USAID’s ag innovation work

oliver@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 06:07:00 -0400

Officials carrying out USAID's work on food security and agricultural innovation have less than a week before their jobs are set to be culled, but they're hoping for an eleventh-hour reprieve.

USDA nominees questioned on research, regulatory staff cuts

philip@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 21 May 2025 13:44:04 -0400

President Donald Trump's nominees to lead USDA's regulatory and research programs, Dudley Hoskins and Scott Hutchins, faced questioning from the Senate Ag Committee as to how they would deal with brain drain resulting from the loss of staff through recent buyouts.

Fifteen USDA programs under review, Klobuchar says

noah@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:57:45 -0400

The Agriculture Department is reviewing 15 of its programs amid ongoing Trump Administration scrutiny over spending, according to a list provided to Agri-Pulse on Thursday by Senate Ag Committee ranking member Amy Klobuchar's office.

Ag research community worries about staffing, funding cuts

steve@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 06:05:00 -0400

Land-grant universities are sounding the alarm about potential damage to agricultural research as USDA goes through a rapid transformation that's likely to include deep funding and staff cuts.