Rural Exchange

My wife and I are buying a small place in Oklahoma, 1.17 acres. We should be in by November 1st 2026. We want to grow fruit and vegetables plus have an herb garden and winter garden. We are older than most farmers at 69 years and 63 years young, plus we are both disabled, so we may take a little longer to get things done, but we are determined. I hope to tell you all about our progress in the coming months and years. 👍😀 Plus have some progress pictues.

There's a lot moving in the cattle industry right now.

U.S. beef supplies remain tight. Beef cow numbers are down, the calf crop is smaller, and consumers are still seeing historically expensive beef at the grocery store.

At the same time, we're now seeing efforts to increase supply.

The administration has announced plans to temporarily allow more imported ground beef into the U.S. at lower tariffs, while USDA has also started reopening cattle imports from Mexico through select ports under new screwworm safeguards.

Here's the bigger question:

Does increasing imports actually solve the beef-price problem—or does America need to focus more on rebuilding its own cattle herd?

If you could wave a magic wand and fix one challenge in agriculture today, what would it be?

🌾 Access to affordable land

💰 Funding and financing

🐄 Livestock markets

📦 Processing capacity

👨‍🌾 Labor shortages

No matter where you are in your agricultural journey, everyone is working toward something.

What's your biggest goal over the next 12 months?

🐄 Expand your livestock operation

🌾 Start your first farm

🏡 Purchase land

🚜 Improve infrastructure

The U.S. continues to invest in AI, automation, and precision agriculture, while many farmers are still dealing with high input costs, labor shortages, and changing markets.

Here's the question for Rural Exchange:

What do you think will have the biggest impact on agriculture over the next 10 years?

🌾 Artificial Intelligence

🚜 Automation & Robotics

💧 Water Availability

With ongoing discussions surrounding tariffs and the future of agricultural trade agreements, many farmers are concerned about export markets, input costs, and long-term profitability.

My question:

Do tariffs help or hurt American agriculture in the long run?

👍 Help

👎 Hurt

🤔 Depends on the commodity

The New World Screwworm has now been confirmed in multiple cases in Texas and New Mexico, putting livestock producers across the country on alert. Officials are increasing monitoring, quarantines, and control efforts as concerns grow about potential impacts on cattle, sheep, goats, wildlife, and the broader livestock industry.

My question for Rural Exchange:

Do you believe the U.S. is doing enough to prevent a larger outbreak?

👇 Comment below:

✅ Yes, current efforts are enough

❌ No, more action is needed

Drop your city + state and share what you’re seeing this week: what’s selling fast, what’s sitting, and any price ranges you’re comfortable sharing (hay, feeder calves, eggs, produce, freezer beef, etc.). Buyers—comment with what you need and your timeline. Producers—reply with what you have available and how to reach you. Keep it agriculture-focused and respectful so everyone can make better decisions.