Editor’s Note
Welcome to the first issue of Ag Notes Weekly.
There’s a lot happening in agriculture, and keeping up shouldn’t feel like homework.
This week, we’re covering federal decisions affecting farmers, harvest updates from across the country, new research, and community efforts worth knowing about.
Whether you’re in agriculture or simply curious, I’m glad you’re here.
Let’s get into it.
EPA Proposes Changes to Protect Demand for Farm-Based Fuels
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed changes on October 13 that could help maintain demand for corn, soybeans, and other crops used to make fuel. The proposal would make up for exceptions previously granted to smaller oil refineries, helping preserve the amount of renewable fuel expected to be used in 2026 and 2027.
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Many drivers already use renewable fuels without thinking much about them. Ethanol, commonly made from corn, is blended into much of the gasoline sold in the United States. Biodiesel, which can be made from soybean oil and other materials, is another example.
Federal rules require certain fuel companies to meet targets for renewable fuel use. These requirements help create a market for crops used to produce those fuels.
However, some smaller oil refineries can receive exemptions if meeting the requirements would cause economic hardship. When those exemptions are granted, the amount of renewable fuel required under the program can decrease.
In August, the EPA granted exemptions to 29 small refineries. The exemptions covered more renewable fuel requirements than the agency had expected when setting its targets for 2026 and 2027.
That’s where the new proposal comes in.
The EPA wants to account for the unexpected exemptions by adjusting requirements for other fuel companies. The adjustment involves 770 million renewable fuel credits, which are used to track whether companies have met their obligations.
The agency is considering two options: spreading the adjustment across 2026 and 2027 or applying it entirely to 2027.
Why does this matter for agriculture?
Corn, soybeans, and other agricultural products are used to manufacture renewable fuels. When fuel companies need more of those fuels, that can support demand for the crops used to make them.
The EPA’s proposal aims to prevent the additional refinery exemptions from weakening that demand. Biofuel producers and agricultural organizations have supported this approach, while smaller refineries have raised concerns about the cost of meeting fuel requirements.
What happens next?
The changes are not yet final. The EPA will hold a public hearing on November 4 and accept public comments through December 4, 2026.
Sources: EPA proposal · Federal Register, October 16
USDA Awards $86.6 Million to Support Fruits, Vegetables, and Other Specialty Crops
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $86.6 million in funding on October 13 to support about 609 agricultural projects across 56 states and territories. The money will help improve how fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other crops are grown, protected from pests and diseases, and brought to market.
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The USDA calls these specialty crops, a category that includes familiar foods like apples, blueberries, and potatoes, as well as plants like herbs and flowers. They’re classified separately from major field crops like corn, wheat, and soybeans, which are commonly grown on very large areas of farmland. Despite the name, specialty crops aren’t necessarily rare or unusual.
Growing and selling these crops comes with challenges. Farmers may face plant diseases, damaging insects, production costs, or difficulty finding buyers. Some growers also need better information, equipment, or research to help their businesses succeed.
The new funding is intended to address challenges like these.
How does the funding work?
The money comes through a federal program called the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
Rather than giving the entire amount directly to individual farmers, the USDA distributes funding to state and territorial agriculture departments. Those departments then support approved projects that benefit specialty crop growers and the wider industry.
The projects can involve developing improved crop varieties, researching ways to control pests, teaching growers new production methods, improving food safety, or helping businesses reach more customers.
Where is the money going?
Different states will use their funding to address different agricultural needs.
For example:
Florida will receive more than $4.3 million for projects involving crops such as mangoes, blueberries, sweet corn, and muscadine grapes.
Michigan will receive more than $2.64 million to support crops including apples, blueberries, mushrooms, herbs, and grapes.
Texas will receive more than $2 million for projects supporting crops such as watermelons, pecans, onions, spinach, and grapes.
Georgia will receive more than $1.7 million for research, education, and marketing projects involving crops such as peaches, pecans, blueberries, peppers, and Vidalia onions.
These are examples of the nationwide funding, not a complete list of recipients.
Why does this matter?
Specialty crops are an important part of American agriculture, from small farms and local markets to large commercial growing operations.
Research, education, and improved access to markets can help growers address problems that affect their crops and businesses. The grants are intended to support that work, although the results will depend on how individual projects are carried out.
For farmers, researchers, and agricultural organizations, the announcement also highlights the kinds of projects receiving support across the country.
Source: USDA announcement, October 13, 2026
Around the Regions
Southwest | Texas
Drought Reduces Pumpkin Harvests by Up to 40%
Extreme summer drought has reduced pumpkin harvests in Floyd County, one of Texas’s leading pumpkin-growing areas. Growers reported yields roughly 30% to 40% below normal, even though their fields were irrigated.
The problem began before planting. Soil held unusually little moisture, and irrigation alone could not make up for the lack of rainfall. Farmers are finishing their harvest earlier than usual, with substantially fewer pumpkins produced on affected acreage.
Source: Texas pumpkin harvest reporting
Midwest | Iowa
Corn and Soybean Harvests Pick Up After Heavy September Rain
Iowa farmers made progress harvesting corn and soybeans after warmer, drier weather gave them more time in their fields. However, unusually heavy September rainfall has left both harvests behind their typical schedules.
As of October 11, farmers had harvested 14% of the state’s corn and 31% of its soybeans. Normally, about 34% of corn and 59% of soybeans would have been harvested by this point. Wet fields remain a challenge, but improved weather has helped farmers resume work.
Source: Iowa Department of Agriculture, October 13
Southeast | Arkansas
New Online Tool Helps Southern Farmers Compare Crop Insurance
University of Arkansas researchers have developed an online tool to help farmers compare federal crop insurance options across 13 Southern states. The tool was created in response to farmers struggling to navigate an increasingly complicated range of coverage choices.
Crop insurance helps protect farmers financially when poor harvests or other covered losses affect their operations. The new Southern Integrated Risk Management Tool lets users compare estimated insurance costs, coverage options, and possible payments under different conditions. It is designed to support decisions, not guarantee financial outcomes.
Source: University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, October 15
Northeast | Pennsylvania
Penn State Releases Final Apple Harvest Report of the Season
Penn State Extension released its final 2026 apple maturity report this week, providing growers with information about when different apple varieties are ready to harvest.
Researchers track factors such as firmness, color, and sugar levels to help farmers determine the right picking time. The October 13 update focused on the closing stages of the season, including late-ripening varieties such as Pink Lady and GoldRush. Although regular testing has ended for the year, some apples still need additional time to mature.
Source: Penn State Extension, October 13
West Coast | California
Warm October Weather Pushes Walnut Harvest Ahead of Schedule
California walnut growers are harvesting earlier than usual as unusually warm October weather changes conditions in their orchards. One grower reported that the industry was running approximately seven to ten days ahead of its normal schedule.
The heat has also increased the need for irrigation at a time when growers would typically begin reducing water use. Farmers are balancing the immediate needs of their walnut harvest with preparing trees for winter. The effects on next year’s growing season remain uncertain.
Source: KCRA, October 6
Mountain West | Montana
Montana Researchers Receive $1.5 Million to Study Grazing Practices
Montana State University researchers have received a $1.5 million state grant to study how ranchers can manage grazing land while maintaining healthy soil, plants, and livestock.
The project will involve 10 to 15 Montana ranches and examine how different grazing practices affect the land and animals. Researchers will also explore tools such as drones, satellite imagery, and flexible fencing to help ranchers make decisions about where cattle graze. The project begins this fall and continues through 2029.
Source: Montana State University, October 12
Worth Noticing
Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners Gather in New Orleans Next Week
The 14th annual Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners (BUGs) Conference will take place October 23–25 at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
This year’s theme, Soil as Sanctuary: Cultivating Culture, Community and Change, brings attention to the connections between agriculture, land, culture, and community. The gathering will bring together farmers, gardeners, educators, organizers, and others for workshops, discussions, farm tours, and opportunities to share knowledge.
The conference will also feature a seed swap, where participants can exchange seeds and growing knowledge with others from across the country.
Source: Black Urban Growers — 2026 Conference
New York Workshops Help Communities Grow More Trees
Cornell Small Farms and its partners are hosting hands-on workshops across New York this October to teach people how to grow and care for young trees.
The sessions focus on air-pruned raised beds, elevated growing containers designed to encourage healthy root development before trees are transplanted. Participants learn how to care for seedlings, prepare them for winter, and move them into new growing spaces.
Following workshops in Brooklyn and Manhattan on October 15–16, additional sessions are scheduled for the Bronx on October 17 and Staten Island on October 22.
The program offers practical skills for people interested in growing trees in their neighborhoods and communities.
Source: Cornell Small Farms — October Workshop Series
In Closing
Thank you for spending a few minutes with Ag Notes Weekly. I hope you found something useful, interesting, or worth sharing.
We’ll be back next Friday with more from across US agriculture.
Until then, take care.