Did you miss some news this week? We’ve got you covered. Here’s a collection of the top headlines in agriculture.

USDA issues $235 million in disaster aid

USDA has begun issuing more than $235 million in payments to farmers impacted by recent natural disasters. Included in that total is $143 million in crop insurance payments for Florida farmers impacted by Hurricane Milton. An additional $92 million will go to livestock producers across the country affected by droughts and wildfires in 2022. – Farm Progress

Four-bean pods vs. bigger beans

Are more beans per pod better than pods with fewer but bigger beans? Agronomist Steve Gauck explores this conundrum. “It’s a catch 22,” he says.“What you really want are four-bean pods with bigger beans. The question is whether there are enough inputs, including water, coming into the plant to make that happen.” – Indiana Prairie Farmer

Estimate hay needs for your cattle

Wondering if you have enough hay for winter? Extension specialist Mark Johnson explains the basic rules of thumb to follow when determining the hay supplies you will need to sustain your cow herd over the next few months. Check out these three tips. – Beef Producer

EPA approves alternative herbicide to dicamba  

The registration of glufosinate-P and glufosinate-P ammonium will provide corn and soybean growers with a way to manage their crops without dicamba, which was blocked earlier this year due to human health risks. It’s also the first time the EPA approved an herbicide under a new strategy meant to protect endangered species from harm. – Agriculture Dive

Related:A snapshot of the U.S. economy and what the future may hold

U.S. spots first bird flu case in swine

A pig tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu for the first time in the state of Oregon, government officials said on Wednesday, a feared development that could help the virus further evolve and put humans at risk. “Of all the hosts that we know of influenza, pigs are the one that can be a bridge to humans,” Richard Webby, a flu specialist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, said. – Bloomberg

Number of large farm operating loans skyrockets

Plummeting crop prices and high production costs have contributed to the rapid uptick in farm operating debt. The volume of new operating loans at commercial banks increased over 40% from last year, and interest rates remain elevated. And for the first time in at least two decades, the volume of loans larger than $1 million eclipsed the volume of loans smaller than $1 million. – Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

How will Election Day results impact ag?

Related:7 ag stories you can’t miss – November 22, 2024

Tuesday is election day. But according to NBC News, more than 59 million Americans have cast their vote already in the 2024 general election, equivalent to about 40% of the total vote in 2020. Have you cast your ballot yet? Check out these stories from policy editor Joshua Baethge: