Drone Starter Kit: Here Is What You Need

Getting into the drone space may seem intimidating. However, Cody Garrison, head of sales for Apexx Drone Solutions in Montgomery, Ind., shares that there are many options now to meet farmers’ and applicators’ needs. Here is a breakdown of what you need to get started. Most items are available at Apexx Drone Solutions.

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Trump’s Cabinet Nominees Now Up Odds for Expanding U.S. Trade/Economic War with China

President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Howard Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, as Commerce Secretary highlights plans to leverage tariffs in trade negotiations, with Lutnick emphasizing their use as both a revenue source and bargaining tool.

Lutnick has called the tariffs a negotiating tool that could be used to convince other countries to bring down their own levies or to force companies to move production to the U.S. He has said Trump would avoid taxes on products U.S. companies don’t make.

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Lt. Col. Dan Rooney to Keynote American Farm Bureau Convention

Air Force Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, a decorated F-16 fighter pilot, will address attendees as mid general session keynote speaker during the 2025 American Farm Bureau Convention on Sunday, Jan. 26. Rooney is founder and CEO of Folds of Honor, a nonprofit foundation that provides educational scholarships for children and spouses of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders. The foundation has provided nearly 62,000 military and first responder families with $290 million in scholarships since its founding in 2007.

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Could Trump Actually Be Good for U.S. Ag Trade?

Threats of widespread tariffs and concerns about retaliation continue to stoke uneasiness in agriculture. With a growing trade deficit and hopes the U.S. could re-embark on the Phase One trade deal with China, could the focus back on trade be positive for agriculture?

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Mexico’s Push for Self-Sufficiency in Dry Bean Production May Reduce U.S. Imports

Mexico has not formally imposed an embargo against U.S. dry beans, but recent agricultural policies under President Claudia Sheinbaum indicate a significant shift toward self-sufficiency in bean production that could reduce reliance on U.S. imports. This initiative is part of a broader strategy aimed at revitalizing domestic agriculture and ensuring food sovereignty, reminiscent of practices from the 1980s.

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Mixed Reactions Greet Stabenow’s $39 Billion Rural Prosperity Act

On Monday, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, introduced the $39 billion Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act. The proposal aims to address food insecurity, support rural economies, and strengthen agricultural policies.

The announcement highlights the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the farm bill, as the current extension nears expiration and Stabenow’s opposition (the incoming Republican majority) is poised to take control of the Senate in January.

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Wishing You a Happy, Mellow and Blessed Thanksgiving

It seems like Thanksgiving always sneaks up on me, I think it is because all the retail stores decorate for Halloween and quickly go right into the Christmas Holiday mode, many times before we even celebrate Halloween.

I'm afraid its part of our society's hurry up and get it done mentality so we can move on to the next project or job.

I'm not sure if it’s just a “California” thing, and our pace of life is faster than other parts of the country. It seems like when I visit our friends in Louisiana who are farmers, and busy, they seem to take time to enjoy life and family at a slower pace.

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New Name Surfaces for Trump’s Secretary of Ag Pick — This One Has Strong Ties to Regenerative Ag

Names continue to be added to the list of possible candidates for Secretary of Agriculture. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly playing an active role in the cabinet selection, and the latest name added to the list, Jimmy Emmons, has a heavy background in regenerative agriculture. Emmons is the senior vice president of climate-smart programs for Trust In Food, Farm Journal’s sustainable agriculture division, but is on leave of absence from Farm Journal.

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