Harvest USA Report

HUSA March 16 2026 - Extreme Weather

We currently have just about every type of weather going on across the country. Extreme heat watch, blizzards, tornado watches and warnings, freeze warnings, cold weather advisories, wildfires in Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma, dust storms in Texas, flooding in the Northeast, severe thunderstorms and hail. Every type of weather possible throughout the country right now.
Speaking of those wildfires, there are several organizations that have come together to be the point of contact for fire relief. The official page for Nebraska Sandhills Rancher Relief is the Nebraska Sandhills Rancher Fire Relief page. Speaking of that, the Sandhills Fire that has left families, ranchers and entire communities facing devastating losses, homes, livelihoods and landscapes that have stood for generations are now forever changed and the road to recovery will be long. If you're able, please contact any local organizations providing relief.
In Nebraska, that would include the Nebraska Sandhills Rancher Fire Relief in conjunction with a fund that is set up at the Oregon Trail Community Foundation in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. That one has also labeled the Sandhills Fire Relief Fund and the United Way of Western Nebraska has announced that they can also get funds to individuals in need. There is an official Facebook page for that Morrill Fire, the largest fire in Nebraska history. You can find it on our page pinned at the top.
The Morrill Fire, which started in Morrill County, Nebraska, has now burned over a half a million acres is the largest fire in Nebraska history, has claimed one death and could possibly break into the top 10 for largest fires in US history. Please continue to pray for our farmers, ranchers, firemen and everyone involved.

HUSA March 13 2026 - Diminishing Farmland

We've lost 536,543 farms. Over half a million farms.
The loss of farmland to large solar projects, data centers and housing developments is concerning. Once productive farmland is paved over or covered with infrastructure, it's usually gone for good. That means less land available to grow food for future generations. As farms disappear, food production becomes more concentrated in fewer areas and controlled by fewer producers. That can make the food system more fragile and lead to higher food prices, supply shortages and less local food security. There's also a loss to local rural communities. Farms support local economies, equipment dealers, feed mills, veterinarians, truck drivers and small businesses all depend on agriculture. When farmland disappears, those communities often shrink with it. That's why many farmers say farmland is the most valuable resource we have, because it feeds people, supports communities and once it's gone, it's extremely hard to get back.
C & K Harvesting and Trucking is gearing up for the season. They wrote, "spring is springing around here, winter seems to have gone by fast, it doesn't feel like we've slowed down much at all this winter. Trucks continue to stay busy hauling and harvest prep continues, which will be here before we know it."
 
 
Kiowa Honey Company, located in both California and Nebraska, says spring is sprung on the west coast. As the bees begin to bring in nectar and build up, we prepare for the next venture. Orange honey is on its way. See more on that post about honeybees from Kiowa Honey Company on our Facebook page at Harvest USA Report. 
 

HUSA March 12 2026 - National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month and it's the perfect time to evaluate your eating habits and consider adding more nutritious foods to your daily meals. Fun fact, many of the ingredients that contribute to a balanced and healthy diet wouldn't be possible without honey bees, including foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and crop seeds. Join us this month in celebrating the humble honey bee and all they do to keep our food world buzzing.
Do you know about the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure? The RSFI is a USDA-led initiative designed to strengthen local and regional food systems by building critical links between farm production and consumer access, including processing, aggregation, storage, transportation, and distribution. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has funded 7 infrastructure grants and 8 equipment-only grants through this initiative. You can view a list of programs funded at the grants at the Nebraska Department of Agriculture website at nda.nebraska.gov. You can also find a link to that right on our Harvest USA Report Facebook page.
Don't forget about the BRAD scholarship. That's from Hale Harvesting LLC. The application deadline is April 4th. No further applications will be accepted. Bradley-Heil Memorial Advancing Agriculture Scholarship is open to all students interested in pursuing an agriculture education or career or AG adjacent education or career. Find this information on our Facebook page at HarvestUSA report.

HUSA March 11 2026 - No Offseason For Some

Off-season, there's no off-season according to Van Driesten Harvesting. They recently posted that some people relax in their spare time. We talk about the harvest, think about the harvest, and dream about the harvest. They're not sitting around doing nothing in the off-season.
March is a nutty month according to the Texas Farm Bureau, and that's not just because of the unpredictable weather, but because it's National Peanut Month. Did you know that peanuts grow underground and that one acre of peanuts will make about 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches? Did you know Texas is the only state to grow all four varieties of peanuts and organic peanuts? Peanut butter is the leading use of peanuts. Every American eats enough peanut butter to coat the floor of the Grand Canyon. Brothers Brandon and Matthew Bourner are two Texas farmers who grow peanuts in pilot point. See those photos by Shelby Shank on our Facebook page at Harvest USA Report from the Texas Farm Bureau.
Well, the American Beekeeping Foundation has a SA contest. That's right, it's the 2026 4-H Honey Bee SA contest. For this SA 4-H student should answer these questions, how is pollen important to bees? Has pollen been changing in plants and in our landscapes? And if so, are those changes affecting bees? When do you observe the most and least pollen in your colonies and how does that impact their temperament and productivity? All rules can be found on the website listed on our Facebook page at Harvest USA Report. All essays must be submitted by May 1st. That's from the American Beekeeping Foundation.

HUSA March 10 2026 - Oklahoma Fire Relief

I'm sure everyone is heard by now of the devastating fires in Texas and Oklahoma and even Kansas. Well here's a message from Texas on mission. After devastating Panhandle fires swept through Beaver City, Oklahoma, rancher and fire chief Levi Smith lost his 12,000 acre family ranch. The fire destroyed his parents home and killed about a hundred cattle, roughly a tenth of us heard, but no lives were lost. Two of Levi's firefighters were helping him as he tried to save the ranch. When one firefighter was overtaken by flames, Levi prayed and refused to give up. Both firefighters survived alongside Levi and his family.
Praise God.
Texans on mission donated 34 rolls of hay to Levi's ranch with the help of independent hay broker Heath Ritchie, adding to the support already pouring in. Even after losing so much, Levi is using his burned land to store donated hay and distribute it to other ranchers in need. In the midst of loss, Levi remains grateful. He reflects on Exodus 10 21 through 28 as he led his family through the disaster that changed so much. Please pray for Levi's family and for every family and every firefighter impacted by the Panhandle fires as they work to recover.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced what he describes as a new farmer incentive program specifically structured to help producers move away from chemical heavy farming systems that have dominated modern agriculture for decades. The emphasis is not on punishment or abrupt bans, but on incentives, financial, logistical and policy-based support that allows farmers to gradually transition away from synthetic chemical reliance while maintaining crop viability and economic stability. Learn more about RFK Jr.'s new proposed move on our Facebook page at Harvest USA Report. 

HUSA March 9 2026 - DST Not Farmers Fault

Well we all experienced a time zone change there this weekend unless you're in Arizona. And did you know that farmers were some of daylight savings times loudest opponents? When the US adopted daylight savings time in 1918, many farmers objected. Livestock and crops follow sunlight, not the clock. The shift meant darker mornings and disrupted market schedules. The time change farmers get blamed for was one they fought. Share this with someone who still blames farmers for daylight savings time. From the farmers Almanac, the newly defunct organization after being around since 1818.
The alarm has been sounding for farmers and it's getting louder. American farmers have been squeezed by artificially inflated fertilizer costs for too long. Now according to Bloomberg, the DOJ is reportedly investigating whether some of the nation's largest fertilizer companies colluded to raise prices. TCPA President Hagen Hunt said we're grateful to see this step forward. Farmers across this country have been dealing with artificially inflated input costs for far too long and an investigation will send a clear signal that those days may be numbered. Our farm families deserve a fair and competitive marketplace and we are encouraged by the reports that the DOJ is working to deliver one.
Harvest 2026 is right around the corner and Sanders Harvesting and Trucking will be looking for tractor and card operators and Class A CDL drivers. They do not participate in the H2A program so please respond if you are a US citizen. Contact Sanders Harvesting and Trucking on Facebook. You can find them right through our Facebook page at Harvest USA Report.

HUSA March 6 2026 - Hawkan Cornia

We're talking to Hawkan Cornia and you're from Randolph, Utah?
The outmost of the land in Woodruff, Utah, which is about 10 minutes south of Randolph.
And that Bear River that goes down on through Cache Valley and on out this great salt lake, right?
That's another fight over water because it starts in Wyoming and it's Wyoming's water and then they built the reservoir right on the border from the reservoir. It runs into Utah, which is where we irrigate out of. And then from Utah it goes back into Wyoming, then into Idaho, and then it loops around and comes and dumps into the Salt Lake. So it's kind of a big fight there because the people in Salt Lake are wanting to fill the lake up because they're getting dust on their cars. And meanwhile we're fighting to keep all the water we can here so we can grow crops and make a living and feed all the people we need to. That's another blessing too. You know this bare river running through our place is good because like I say we always have a place to water. There's some guys who if they don't own right on the Bear River and they're off, you know they only have water so many months of the year so they've either got a whole water to those places or dig a well. But like I say we're pretty fortunate to where we don't really have to worry about stalk water because the bare river runs right through that. They do say that Woodruff is a well-drillers dream because they find water more often than they don't. If you go down 300 feet pretty much anywhere you can get water. The problem is is how much and how good you know if you're trying to drill a well for a pivot and you're needing a couple second feet that's kind of hard to do but if you're just wanting to house well or like I say 30 gallons a minute to put cows on that's pretty easy to find here especially in the low bottoms most of the wells on my dad's place are only 30 or 40 feet deep.

HUSA March 5 2026 - Andy Puskas

Community Garden Management: The conversation revolves around Andy Puskas and his role in the community garden in Taber, Alberta, which is associated with the Taber Food Bank. Andy functions as a manager and liaison, organizing activities such as preparing soil and planning for the planting season. The garden utilizes compost from GFL and has volunteer and community involvement with personalized plots for individuals. The initiative aims to engage families and educate children about gardening.
Challenges and History: The garden, developed on virgin prairie land, has faced challenges like hail damage in the past but has seen improved yield each season due to enhanced soil treatment techniques. The site, previously an unused open pit mine, has been transformed into productive agricultural land.
Cowboy Poetry Gathering: Andy is also involved with the Taber Area Cowboy Heritage Society, organizing cowboy poetry gatherings as a cultural event. These gatherings offer a platform for cowboy poets and musicians to perform their original works in a welcoming environment. The society aims to revive and celebrate the history of cowboy poetry and its cultural significance through these events, promoting community involvement and education for younger generations.
Community and Cultural Significance: The efforts in both the community garden and the cowboy poetry gatherings reflect Taber's commitment to fostering community spirit, preserving cultural heritage, and providing educational opportunities, all supported by local businesses and generous donors.