The Dirt

USDA, DHS Step Up Screwworm Response

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Glen Smith Confirmed for USDA Rural Development

The U. S. Senate has confirmed Glen R. Smith of Atlantic, Iowa, as United States Department of Agriculture( USDA) Under Secretary for Rural Development. Smith is a longtime farmer, rancher, and agricultural lender with experience in both farming and rural finance.

Smith has farmed and ranched for more than 50 years, raising soybeans, corn, hay, and cattle. He also founded Smith Land Service Co., an agricultural service company focused on farm management, land appraisal and farm brokerage.

He most recently served on the Farm Credit Administration Board of Directors and was appointed chairman from 2019 to 2022. Smith is a graduate of Iowa State University.

In his new role, Smith said he plans to work with rural communities on economic development and ways to strengthen the rural economy. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins cited his firsthand experience with agriculture and rural lending as relevant to the position.

Precision Tech Adoption Continues to Rise

Precision technology is becoming a more common part of farm operations, according to a new CNH survey of 217 farmers and ranchers across the United States and Canada. The survey found that 89 % use auto-guidance, while 71 % consider precision technology important to their operation’ s success.

More than half of respondents, 54 %, said they expect to invest in additional precision technology over the next two years. Lower input costs were the top reason for adoption, followed by saving time, improving labor efficiency, and increasing yields. The technology still has to make financial sense, however. Cost was cited as a barrier by 56 % of respondents, while 36 % pointed to uncertainty about return on investment. Still, 62 % said their current precision technology provides moderate or extremely high value.

The findings suggest farmers are continuing to adopt

New World screwworm is getting some more federal attention. USDA and the Department of Homeland Security( DHS) have signed an agreement aimed at improving how the agencies detect and respond to the pest, along with other threats to U. S. agriculture.

The agreement calls for more coordination at the border, real-time sharing of biosurveillance information, and joint response planning. USDA and DHS also plan to use tools such as artificial intelligence and unmanned aircraft to improve screening, detection, and interdiction at and around ports of entry.

Livestock movement across the U. S.-Mexico border is another major focus. USDA said undocumented animal movement can bypass health inspections and traceability systems, creating additional biosecurity concerns and potentially allowing animal health threats to spread.

The agencies also plan to expand research partnerships, training, and response capabilities focused on New World screwworm and other emerging threats. The agreement builds on USDA’ s National Farm Security Action Plan and brings the two departments’ animal health, border and inspection efforts into closer coordination.

The effort is another layer of the ongoing screwworm response. With detection, border monitoring, and livestock safeguards all working together, federal officials are aiming to catch threats earlier and strengthen protections for U. S. livestock and agriculture.

Honorable Mentions

( What we didn’ t have room for on the porch railing)

• USDA recognizes National Farmers Market Week, highlighting farmers markets as a sales opportunity for producers and a link to consumers

• Kyle Hildebrand of Ag West Ltd. won AGCO ' s 2025 Technician of the Year award after a three-day competition in Minnesota

• Case IH expands its Nutri-Tiller 1000 series with a 16-row folding toolbar and new knife / coulter configuration for strip-till operations

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